The type IC hsd loci of the enterobacteria are flanked by DNA with high homology to the phage P1 genome: implications for the evolution and spread of DNA restriction systems

Eco R124I, Eco DXXI and Eco prrI are the known members of the type IC family of DNA restriction and modification systems. The first three are carried on large, conjugative plasmids, while Eco prrI is chromosomally encoded. The enzymes are coded by three genes, hsdR , hsdM and hsdS . Analysis of the DNA sequences upstream and downstream of the type IC hsd loci shows that all are highly homologous to each other and also to sequences present in the bacteriophage P1 genome. The upstream sequences include functional phd and doc genes, which encode an addiction system that stabilizes the P1 prophage state, and extend to and beyond pac , the site at which phage DNA packaging begins. Downstream of the hsd loci, P1 DNA sequences begin at exactly the same place for all of the systems. For Eco DXXI and Eco prrI the P1 homology extends for thousands of base pairs while for Eco R124I an IS 1 insertion and an associated deletion have removed most of the P1-homologous sequences. The significance of these results for the evolution of DNA restriction and modification systems is discussed.     

Effects of static and fluctuating airway pressure on intact pulmonary circulation

The direct effects on the pulmonary circulation of static and fluctuation airway pressure were compared in intact close-chest infant lambs with reactive pulmonary vasculature under alpha-chloralose anesthesia. A preparation developed to permit independent ventilation of right and left lungs and independent measurement of right and left lung blood flow was employed to separate direct from indirect effects of unilateral airway pressure changes on pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Both static and fluctuating unilateral airway pressure interventions directly elevated ipsilateral PVR. For purposes of comparison mean alveolar pressure (PA) was estimated for both static and fluctuating trials. Fluctuating interventions increased PVR more than did static trials at comparable levels of PA. Substantially less PA was needed to double ipsilateral PVR by fluctuating than by static interventions (16 vs. 26 mmHg, respectively). These data indicate that, in the intact animal with reactive pulmonary vasculature, both PA and the waveform of airway pressure applied can influence PVR.     

Participation of splenic vessels in blood supply to the pancreas (experimental-mathematical study)]

In 60 objects the participation of splenic vessels in human pancreas blood supply was studied roentgeno-angiographically and by means of anatomical preparation. Morphometrical data obtained were treated by computers "Minsk-22" and "M-220-M" to calculate main statistic values and their correlations. Some recommendations of applied importance for pancreas surgery were suggested. Maximal and minimal dimensions of the pancreas segments, which can be used for grafting with the following blood supply restoration in the transplant at the expense of the splenic vessels only, were represented.     

Stretch increases inositol trisphosphate and inositol tetrakisphosphate in cultured pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells.

There are no reports of the effect of stretch on inositol phosphates in smooth muscle. Phosphoinositide and inositol phosphate metabolism was studied in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells subjected to stretching. The masses of inositol trisphosphate and tetrakisphosphate increased (+34 +/- 7% and +58 +/- 12%, respectively; p less than 0.001) after 25 s of a single 20% stretch and had returned to control levels by 45 s; phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol phosphate and bisphosphate did not change. Repetitive stretch did not alter the masses of any of the compounds. A single stretch also increased 45Ca2+ efflux (+52 +/- 5%, p less than 0.01). These data suggest that stretch of cultured vascular smooth muscle can elicit a rapid, short-lived increase in inositol phosphates, which may subsequently affect Ca2+.     

Biofilm formation and dispersal in Gram-positive bacteria

Biofilms are structured communities of bacteria, which are adhered to a surface and embedded in a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances. Since biofilms are very resistant to antimicrobial agents, they are at the basis of a range of problems, including quality and safety issues in food industry. Recently, major advances have been made in elucidating the different structural components of the biofilm matrix, the regulatory pathways involved in biofilm formation, and signaling molecules involved in biofilm formation and dispersal, which provide opportunities for prevention and control of these biofilms in the food industry.     

Artificial vision with wirelessly powered subretinal electronic implant alpha-IMS

This study aims at substituting the essential functions of photoreceptors in patients who are blind owing to untreatable forms of hereditary retinal degenerations. A microelectronic neuroprosthetic device, powered via transdermal inductive transmission, carrying 1500 independent microphotodiode-amplifier-electrode elements on a 9 mm² chip, was subretinally implanted in nine blind patients. Light perception (8/9), light localization (7/9), motion detection (5/9, angular speed up to 35 deg s⁻¹), grating acuity measurement (6/9, up to 3.3 cycles per degree) and visual acuity measurement with Landolt C-rings (2/9) up to Snellen visual acuity of 20/546 (corresponding to decimal 0.037 or corresponding to 1.43 logMAR (minimum angle of resolution)) were restored via the subretinal implant. Additionally, the identification, localization and discrimination of objects improved significantly (n = 8; p < 0.05 for each subtest) in repeated tests over a nine-month period. Three subjects were able to read letters spontaneously and one subject was able to read letters after training in an alternative-force choice test. Five subjects reported implant-mediated visual perceptions in daily life within a field of 15° of visual angle. Control tests were performed each time with the implant''s power source switched off. These data show that subretinal implants can restore visual functions that are useful for daily life.     

The impact of paternity on male–infant association in a primate with low paternity certainty

In multimale groups where females mate promiscuously, male–infant associations have rarely been studied. However, recent studies have shown that males selectively support their offspring during agonistic conflicts with other juveniles and that father's presence accelerates offspring maturation. Furthermore, it was shown that males invest in unrelated infants to enhance future mating success with the infant's mother. Hence, infant care might provide fitness gain for males. Here, we investigate male–infant associations in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), a primate with low paternity certainty as females mate with multiple partners and males ensure paternity less efficiently through mate‐guarding. We combined behavioural data with genetic paternity analyses of one cohort of the semi‐free‐ranging population of Cayo Santiago (Puerto Rico) and recorded affiliative and aggressive interactions between focal subjects and adult males from birth to sexual maturation (0–4 years) of focal subjects. Our results revealed that 9.6% of all interactions of focal subjects involved an adult male and 94% of all male–infant interactions were affiliative, indicating the rareness of male–infant aggression. Second and most interestingly, sires were more likely to affiliate with their offspring than nonsires with unrelated infants. This preference was independent of mother's proximity and emphasized during early infancy. Male–infant affiliation rose with infant age and was pronounced between adult males and male rather than female focal subjects. Overall, our results suggest that male–infant affiliation is also an important component in structuring primate societies and affiliation directed towards own offspring presumably represent low‐cost paternal care.     

Recent syntheses of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway inhibitors

This review focuses on the syntheses of PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors that have been reported outside of the patent literature in the last 5 years but is largely centered on synthetic work reported in 2011 and 2012. While focused on syntheses of inhibitors, some information on in vitro and in vivo testing of compounds is also included. Many of these reported compounds are reversible, competitive adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding inhibitors, so given the structural similarities of many of these compounds to the adenine core, this review presents recent work on inhibitors based on where the synthetic chemistry was started, that is, inhibitor syntheses which started with purines/pyrimidines are followed by inhibitor syntheses which began with pyridines, pyrazines, azoles, and triazines then moves to inhibitors which bear no structural resemblance to adenine: liphagal, wortmannin and quercetin analogs. The review then finishes with a short section on recent syntheses of phosphotidyl inositol (PI) analogs since competitive PI binding inhibitors represent an alternative to the competitive ATP binding inhibitors which have received the most attention.