Improving material efficiency in the life cycle of products: a review of EU Ecolabel criteria

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment - Material efficiency encompasses a range of strategies that support a reduction of material consumption and waste production from a...     

A benign approach to the preparation of freshwater bryozoan statoblasts for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging

Abstract

Several different species of freshwater Bryozoa, belonging to the genera Plumatella, Rumarcanella and Fredericella, were detected within the Northern Mallee Pipeline (NMP) system in Victoria, Australia, that required definitive identification. These organisms produce asexual buds called statoblasts, with valves composed of sclerotised chitin that bear minute micro-ornamentations of considerable taxonomical significance. Imaging and analysis of these distinctive micro-ornamentations using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is often employed for species identification. Meticulous preparation of statoblast samples is therefore required that necessitates the removal of adhering debris, dehydration and drying—whilst mitigating specimen damage and distortion. This technical note describes an approach whereby each of these three steps have been individually designed to be as benign as possible, using mild detergent/sonication to remove debris, a gradual and gentle dehydration procedure using ethanol, and critical point drying. For the overall process, these methods are chosen to optimise control and to minimise the use of harsh and hazardous chemicals.     

Long-lasting inhibition of EGFR autophosphorylation in A549 tumor cells by intracellular accumulation of non-covalent inhibitors

In the present study, a small set of reversible or irreversible 4-anilinoquinazoline EGFR inhibitors was tested in A549 cells at early (1 h) and late (8 h) time points after inhibitor removal from culture medium. A combination of assays was employed to explain the observed long-lasting inhibition of EGFR autophosphorylation. We found that EGFR inhibition at 8 h can be due, besides to the covalent interaction of the inhibitor with Cys797, as for PD168393 (2) and its prodrug 4, to the intracellular accumulation of non-covalent inhibitors by means of an active cell uptake, as for 5 and 6. Compounds 5–6 showed similar potency and duration of inhibition of EGFR autophosphorylation as the covalent inhibitor 2, while being devoid of reactive groups forming covalent bonds with protein thiols.     

Integrative Approach Uncovers New Patterns of Ecomorphological Convergence in Slow Arboreal Xenarthrans

Journal of Mammalian Evolution - Identifying ecomorphological convergence examples is a central focus in evolutionary biology. In xenarthrans, slow arboreality independently arose at least three...     

Osmotic regulation of ATA2 mRNA expression and amino acid transport System A activity

When porcine endothelial cells were exposed to hypertonicity, both the level of ATA2 (amino acid transporter 2) mRNA and activity of amino acid transport System A increased transiently, peaking after about 6 and 9 h, respectively. Cycloheximide, like actinomycin D, prevented both responses, showing that an earlier step also involves protein synthesis. Withdrawal of hypertonicity after 6 h increased the rate of down regulation. These findings confirm that ATA2 is a major isoform of System A and show that changes in the expression of ATA2 mRNA precede both the induction and subsequent down regulation of transport activity.     

The use of adjunctive GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors in patients with unstable angina/non-Q-wave MI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors represent a relatively new therapeutic approach in the field of antiplatelet therapy. Following the development of abciximab a number of small molecule GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors have been introduced such as tirofiban and eptifibatide. In this fast-moving field the interventional cardiologist needs a framework to guide decision-making for the individual patient. This review covers the efficacy and safety data from the clinical trials of GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors in the context of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for unstable angina/non-Q-wave myocardial infarction. There is an increasing body of evidence to support the efficacy of GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors in reducing the risk of adverse ischemic events in high and low risk patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. A number of unresolved efficacy and safety issues remain, including the duration of treatment before and after intervention; whether a reduction in the heparin dose would further decrease the risk of hemorrhage without affecting the periprocedural thrombotic rate in patients undergoing PTCA with adjunctive GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors; and the cost-effectiveness of this therapy. When a thorough analysis of cost-effectiveness has been made, it will be easier to advocate the widespread use of these agents in all patients undergoing coronary intervention.     

A new heptasubstituted (E)-aurone glucoside and other aromatic compounds of Gomphrena agrestis with biological activity

A new aurone 1 and two known substances, aurantiamide acetate (2) and tiliroside (3), were isolated from the ethanolic extract of Gomphrena agrestis. The structural determination of 1 was based on spectroscopic and spectrometric data. The substance was defined as (E)-3'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-4,5,6,4'-tetrahydroxy-7,2'-dimethoxyaurone. Biological activity of the ethanolic crude extract and isolated compounds against bacteria, fungi and Leishmania amazonensis amastigotes was evaluated. This appears to be the first report documenting aurone and aurantiamide compounds in the Amaranthaceae family. In the evaluation of biological activity the ethanolic extract of G. agrestis and compounds 1, 2, and 3 were shown to be active mainly against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.