The “specific” binding of insulin to polyethene and other materials

It is known that insulin is adsorbed onto glass but it has been assumed that it is not adsorbed onto plastic. We find that tritium-labelled insulin is adsorbed onto all materials tried. The adsorption is reduced in the presence of other proteins and can be prevented altogether by coating the vessels with cetyl alcohol.     

Field-scale biofiltration of gasoline vapors extracted from beneath a leaking underground storage tank

Approximately 15000 L of unleaded gasoline werereleased into the surrounding vadose zone from aleaking underground storage tank. Initialremediation was by soil vapor extraction andcombustion which soon became cost prohibitive, asadded propane was required to reach the combustionlimit of the extracted vapors. As a cost effectivealternative, a field-scale compost based biofilterwas used in conjunction with soil vapor extractionto remediate the vadose zone. The biofilter wasconstructed on site using 4:1 diatomaceousearth:composted horse manure. Results of a fivemonth study showed that the biofilter removedapproximately 90% of total petroleum hydrocarbons(TPH) and >90% of the BTEX compounds (benzene,toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene), achieving thestringent permit requirements set at either 90% TPHreduction or less than 1.36 kg per day of volatileorganic compounds (VOC's) released to theatmosphere. The biofilter showed the capacity toreadily adapt to changing environmental conditionssuch as increased contaminant loading, andvariations in temperature and moisture. Thebacterial population in the biofilter was uniformlydiverse throughout the biofilter, suggesting that aconsortium of bacteria was needed for efficientbiodegradation. The cost of biofilter set up andoperation saved 90% in the first year alone of theoperating expenses incurred by soil vapor extractionand combustion.     

Methanogenic Activity and Structural Characteristics of the Microbial Biofilm On a Needle-Punched Polyester Support

In a downflow stationary fixed-film anaerobic reactor receiving a swine waste influent, few bacteria were observed to be tightly adherent to the surfaces of the needle-punched polyester support material. However, there was a morphologically complex, dense population of bacteria trapped within the matrix. Frequently large microcolonies of a uniform morphological type of bacteria were observed. These were particularly evident for methanosarcina-like bacteria which grew forming large aggregates of unseparated cells. Leafy deposits of electron-dense, calcium- and phosphorus-enriched material coated the polyester matrix and some cells. As the biofilm matured there was more extensive mineral deposition which completely entrapped cells. The entrapped cells appeared to autolyze, and many were partially degraded. Further impregnation of the matrix with minerals and apparent cell death may eventually have a deleterious effect on the methanogenic activity of the biofilm.     

Preparation and platelet aggregating activity of I-labeled ristocetin

The antibiotic ristocetin is a glycoproteoid isolated from the culture media of Nocardia lurida N.R.R.L. 2430 whose structural features have yet to be resolved (1–3). The antibiotic has been studied both for its antibiotic properties (4–6) and, more recently, for its inducement of platelet aggregation in humans, both in vivo and in vitro (7–9). This latter phenomena resulted in the discontinued use of ristocetin in antibiotic therapy (10), but has provided a useful tool for studying the bleeding disorder, von Willebrand's disease. The disease is genetic in origin and is characterized by the lack of a functional plasma protein believed to be required for the adhesion of platelets to vascular epithelia during primary thrombotic events (11). This plasma protein, termed von Willebrand's factor, is also necessary to support ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation of human platelets (12). Thus, ristocetin has found increasing use not only in facilitating the diagnosis of von Willebrand's disease but also in characterizing the plasma protein (13).     

Opposition of the vasopressin-induced vasoconstriction in the isolated perfused rat kidney by some prostaglandins

PGE₂ can vasoconstrict or vasolidate the isolated Krebs-perfused rat kidney depending on the tone of the renal vasculature. Thus, it is weakly constrictor (threshold 5–10 ng bolus dose) in the perfused kidney whose perfusion pressure is 47 ± 2 SD mmHg (n = 6), but becomes a vasodilator (threshold ～ 10 pg) in the kidney whose perfusion pressure has been raised to 73 ± 6 SD mmHg (n = 6) or 121 ± 8 SD mmHg (n = 6) through constant infusion of Vasopressin (0.1 and 0.25 mU/ml respectively). PGE₁ was equally effective as PGE₂ while other PGs, I₂, I₁, and 6-keto E₁, were less effective in opposing vasoconstriction. PGF_2α was inactive up to a dose of 10 ng.     

Lipid participation in intracellular freezing avoidance mechanisms of lettuce seed

Freeze-fracture electron microscopy was used to study water content related freezing resistance in Grand Rapids lettuce seeds. Consistent and recognizable conformational changes occurred in lipid-water phases of lettuce seeds at different moisture contents. In air-dry lettuce seed cotyledons, the lipids lying in spherical lipid bodies near the cell wall appeared amorphous, while the structure was crystalline above 20% water content. The lipid bodies interassociated into membrane bilayers in seeds containing 20 to 25% water. Such lyotropic phase transitions in membrane lipids during lettuce seed hydration are believed to contribute to the biphasic freezing behavior observed in lettuce seeds at different moisture contents and to provide a natural freezing tolerance mechanism for highly desiccated plant tissues such as seeds.     

Pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid reductase from soybean leaves

Pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid reductase was purified 40-fold from soybean leaves (Glycine max L. var Corsoy). The enzyme was fairly unstable, had a broad pH optimum, and was inactivated by heat and acid; NADH and NADPH both served as cofactors. It had a higher activity with NADH (about 4 ×) compared to NADPH, but a lower K_m for NADPH. NADP⁺ inhibited both the NADH- and NADPH-dependent activity. Sulfhydryl group blocking agents reduced the activity as did the carbonyl blocking agent, NH₂OH. Thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid and phosphate inhibited the enzyme and proline inhibited only at high concentrations. ATP, GTP, and CTP were all effective inhibitors of both the NADH- and NADPH-dependent activity. Phosphorylated nucleotide inhibition was reversed by Mg²⁺ ions.     

The association between exposure determined by radiofrequency personal exposimeters and human exposure: A simulation study

The selection of an adequate exposure assessment approach is imperative for the quality of epidemiological studies. The use of personal exposimeters turned out to be a reasonable approach to determine exposure profiles, however, certain limitations regarding the absolute values delivered by the devices have to be considered. Apart from the limited dynamic range, it has to be taken into account that these devices give only an approximation of the exposure due to the influence of the body of the person carrying the exposimeter, the receiver characteristics of the exposimeter, as well as the dependence of the measured value on frequency band, channel, slot configuration, and communication traffic. In this study, the relationship between the field strength measured close to the human body at the location of the exposimeter and the exposure, that is, the field strength at the location of the human body without the human body present, is investigated by numerical means using the Visible Human model as an anatomical phantom. Two different scenarios were chosen: (1) For FM, GSM, and UMTS an urban outdoor scenario was examined that included a transmitting antenna mounted on the roof of one of four buildings at a street crossing, (2) For WLAN an indoor scenario was investigated. For GSM the average degree of underestimation by the exposimeter (relation of the average field levels at the location of the exposimeter to the field level averaged over the volume of the human body without the body present) was 0.76, and for UMTS 0.87; for FM no underestimation was found, the ratio was 1. In the case of WLAN the degree of underestimation was more pronounced, the ratio was 0.64. This study clearly suggests that a careful evaluation of correction factors for different scenarios is needed prior to the definition of the study protocol. It has to be noted that the reference scenario used in this study does not allow for final conclusions on general correction factors. Bioelectromagnetics 31:535–545, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

PFIESTERIA PISCICIDA GEN. ET SP. NOV. (PFIESTERIACEAE FAM. NOV.), A NEW TOXIC DINOFLAGELLATE WITH A COMPLEX LIFE CYCLE AND BEHAVIOR1

The newly described toxic dinoflagellate Pfiesteria piscicida is a polymorphic and multiphasic species with flagellated, amoeboid, and cyst stages. The species is structurally a heterotroph; however, the flagellated stages can have cleptochloroplasts in large food vacuoles and can temporarily function as mixotrophs. The flagellated stage has a typical mesokaryotic nucleus, and the theca is composed of four membranes, two of which are vesicular and contain thin plates arranged in a Kofoidian series of Po, cp, X, 4′, 1a, 5″, 6c, 4s, 5″′, and 2″″. The plate tabulation is unlike that of any other armored dinoflagellate. Nodules often demark the suture lines underneath the outer membrane, but fixation protocols can influence the detection of plates. Amoeboid benthic stages can be filose to lobose, are thecate, and have a reticulate or spiculate appearance. Amoeboid stages have a eukaryotic nuclear profile and are phagocytic. Cyst stages include a small spherical stage with a honeycomb, reticulate surface and possibly another stage that is elongate and oval to spherical with chrysophyte-like scales that can have long bracts. The species is placed in a new family, Pfiesteriaceae, and the order Dinamoebales is emended.