Production of ethanol from cassava whey

Investigations were conducted into the potential use of enzyme hydrolysed cassava whey for ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae Aspergillus niger grown on whct bran was used as crude enzyme source to saccharify the whey starch. The whey with an initial HCN concentration of 54.0μg/ml was fermented at pH 4.5 and 30°C in a one-step process to produce ethanol. A maximum ethanol concentration of 4.5% (v/v) was obtained in 120 h with a decrease in HCN level to 4.0 μg/ml. In a two-stage fermentation, in which the raw whey was pre-hydrolysed and under the same fermentation conditions, the unsterilized hydrolysate yielded alcohol content of 5.5% (v/v), while the sterilized hydrolysate gave higher alcohol yield, 7.5% (v/v), in 48 h. No HCN was detected in the fermented liquour at the end of the two-stage process.     

云南省角蝉科二新属二新种

最近我们从全国动物学科研单位和高等院校借调来大批的角蝉科标本,进行系统的分类研究,从中发现有二新属及二新种,均采自云南西双版纳,现在先把它们加以记载。     

Different susceptibility to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)-induced DNA damage in lung tissue in male and female non-smokers

The levels of benzo(a)pyrene diol-epoxide (BPDE)-DNA adducts and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were analysed in a limited number of samples of autoptic lung tissue obtained from non-professionally exposed male (n= 13) and female (n= 12) non-smokers in an attempt to evaluate the relationship between gender, lung PAH levels (n= 25) and susceptibility to BPDE-DNA adduct formation (n= 18). Lung concentrations of chrysene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene and benzo(a)pyrene were significantly higher in males than in females (P     

Multipoint Binding of the SLP-76 SH2 Domain to ADAP Is Critical for Oligomerization of SLP-76 Signaling Complexes in Stimulated T Cells

The adapter molecules SLP-76 and LAT play central roles in T cell activation by recruiting enzymes and other adapters into multiprotein complexes that coordinate highly regulated signal transduction pathways. While many of the associated proteins have been characterized, less is known concerning the mechanisms of assembly for these dynamic and potentially heterogeneous signaling complexes. Following T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation, SLP-76 is found in structures called microclusters, which contain many signaling complexes. Previous studies showed that a mutation to the SLP-76 C-terminal SH2 domain nearly abolished SLP-76 microclusters, suggesting that the SH2 domain facilitates incorporation of signaling complexes into microclusters. S. C. Bunnell, A. L. Singer, D. I. Hong, B. H. Jacque, M. S. Jordan, M. C. Seminario, V. A. Barr, G. A. Koretzky, and L. E. Samelson, Mol. Cell. Biol., 26:7155–7166, 2006). Using biophysical methods, we demonstrate that the adapter, ADAP, contains three binding sites for SLP-76, and that multipoint binding to ADAP fragments oligomerizes the SLP-76 SH2 domain in vitro. These results were complemented with confocal imaging and functional studies of cells expressing ADAP with various mutations. Our results demonstrate that all three binding sites are critical for SLP-76 microcluster assembly, but any combination of two sites will partially induce microclusters. These data support a model whereby multipoint binding of SLP-76 to ADAP facilitates the assembly of SLP-76 microclusters. This model has implications for the regulation of SLP-76 and LAT microclusters and, as a result, T cell signaling.     

Academic stress and menstrual disorders among female undergraduates in Uyo, South Eastern Nigeria - the need for health education

The aim of this study was to determine the association between academic stress and menstrual disorders among female undergraduates in Uyo, South Eastern Nigeria. Three hundred and ninety-three (393) female students of the University of Uyo, ages between 16 and 35 years were randomly selected from different departments in the University, and studied during the 2009/2010 academic session. Menstrual history and Student's Stress Assessment Questionnaire (SSAQ) were used for this assessment. They were distributed for participants to fill out. Prevalence of menstrual disorder among participants was 34.6%. A direct association between menstrual disorder and academic stress was observed. Commonest menstrual disorder was menorrhagia (37.5%). Others were: Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS 33.1%), Oligomenorrhea 19.9%, and amenorrhea 5.9%. Those who experienced academic stress had about 2 times chances of having menstrual disorders (OR : 2.0, C.I = 1.224-2.837) This study demonstrated a significant association between academic stress and menstrual disorder among females undergraduate in Uyo, South Eastern Nigeria.     

Bound state solutions of Schrödinger equation with modified Mobius square potential (MMSP) and its thermodynamic properties

We solved the Schrödinger equation with the modified Mobius square potential model using the modified factorization method. Within the framework of the Greene–Aldrich approximation for the centrifugal term and using a suitable transformation scheme, we obtained the energy eigenvalues equation and the corresponding eigenfunction in terms of the hypergeometric function. Using the resulting eigenvalues equation, we calculated the vibrational partition function and other relevant thermodynamic properties. We also showed that the modified Mobius square potential can be reduced to the Hua potential model using appropriate potential constant values.     

Studies on the effects of insulin and acetylcholine on activation of glycogen synthase and on glycogenesis in hepatocytes

The addition of insulin (4.0 × 10^?11 M) or acetylcholine (10^?6 M) to isolated hepatocytes stimulated glycogen accumulation and this stimulation was more pronounced when the medium glucose was raised from 50 to 300 mg percent. Studies with [¹⁴C]-glucose showed a two-fold stimulation in glycogen synthesis by the addition of insulin (4.0 × 10^?11 M) or acetylcholine (10^?6 M). A sixteen percent increase in the activity of glycogen synthase was observed in cells incubated for 10 minutes with insulin (4.0 × 10^?11 M) or acetylcholine (10^?6 M), whereas at one hour incubation a 40 percent increase in activity was observed with the same concentration of insulin or acetylcholine. The effects of insulin and acetylcholine were not additive.     

角蝉科一新属一新种

角蝉科的昆虫,是世界著名的富于拟态性的昆虫。它们的畸形发达的前胸背板给人们以明显的识别的特征。这一科不少种类是果树、森林或农业的重要害虫,造成相当严重的灾害。角蝉科截至目前为止,全世界已记载的共324属2500余种;中国已知的20属152种。 本文记述角蝉科一新属及一新种。     

A rapid plate culture method for screening of amylase producing micro-organisms

A simple and rapid method is described for the detection of amylase-producing micro-organisms on solid media using Remazol Brilliant Blue-starch as substrate. The blue starch is incorporated into nutrient agar and amylase production is detected by the disappearance of the colour around the colonies. The method which is non-destructive, allows for direct visualization and isolation of amylolytic micro-organisms from the environment without prior replication of colonies.     

Proteomic response of Schizosaccharomyces pombe to static and oscillating extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields

There is considerable public concern regarding the health effects of exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields. In addition, the association between exposure and disease incidence or the possible biological effects of exposure are unclear. Using 2D-DIGE and MS in a blind study, we have investigated the effects of static and oscillating extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) on the proteomes of wild type Schizosaccharomyces pombe and a Sty1p deletion mutant which displays increased sensitivity to a variety of cellular stresses. Whilst this study identifies a number of protein isoforms that display significant differential expression across experimental conditions, there was no correlation between their patterns of expression and the ELF EMF exposure regimen. We conclude that there are no significant effects of either static or oscillating EMF on the yeast proteome at the sensitivity afforded by 2D-DIGE. We hypothesise that the proteins identified must be sensitive to subtle changes in culture and/or handling conditions, and that the identification of these proteins in other proteomic studies should be treated with some caution when the results of such studies are interpreted in a biological context.