Tracing the reaction steps involving oxygen and IR observable species in ethanol photocatalytic oxidation on TiO2.

The rate-determining step of ethanol photocatalytic oxidation was identified to be the adsorption of O(2) by an infrared (IR) spectroscopy coupled with mass spectrometry method. Dosing O(2) during reaction showed that adsorption of O(2) controls the accumulation of photogenerated electrons and the formation of acetate (CH(3)COO(-)(ad)), acyl species (CH(3)CO(ad)), acetaldehyde (CH(3)CHO(ad)), CO(2), and H(2)O. Accumulation of CH(3)COO(-)(ad) on the TiO(2) surface slowed down the conversion of ethanol to CO(2) and H(2)O.

Development and validation of a motion and loading system for a rat knee joint in vivo.

The influence of biomechanical stimuli on modulating cartilage homeostasis is well recognized. However, many aspects of cellular mechanotransduction in cartilage remain unknown. We developed a computer-controlled joint motion and loading system (JMLS) to study the biological response of cartilage under well-characterized mechanical loading environments.

Implementing Lecane quadridentata acute toxicity tests to assess the toxic effects of selected metals (Al, Fe and Zn).

An environmental study revealed that three metals (Al, Fe and Zn) are common in the San Pedro River (SPR) (Aguascalientes, Mexico). Regrettably, in many samples the concentrations of these metals exceeded the maximum allowed toxicant concentrations levels as defined in by Mexican legislation. The highest concentrations of the three metals were found during the 2005 dry season, with elevated Al concentrations present along the entire river.

An immunological method for quantifying antibacterial activity in Salmo salar (Linnaeus, 1758) skin mucus.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a pivotal component of innate immunity in lower vertebrates. The aim of this study was to develop an immunological method for quantifying AMPs in Salmo salar skin mucus. A known antimicrobial peptide derived from histone H1 previously purified and described from S.

Immune response of bovines stimulated by synthetic vaccine SBm7462 against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus.

Ten-month-old calves Bos taurus taurus were immunized with three doses of SBm7462 with saponin as an adjuvant at 30-day intervals and were evaluated for IgG isotypes, phenotype circulating lymphocytes and changes in the lymph nodes (LN). SBm7462 stimulated the production of predominantly IgG1-isotype IgG antibodies. The lymph nodes exhibited activation at the seventh day after the first immunization, with areas of paracortical and interfollicular hyperplasia and the early formation of germinal centers (GC).

Relationships, love and sexuality: what the Filipino teens think and feel.

Background: In order to achieve a change among teens' sexual behavior, an important step is to improve our knowledge about their opinions concerning relationships, love and sexuality.

Methods: A questionnaire including topics on relationships, love and sexuality was distributed to a target population of 4,000 Filipino students from third year high school to third year college. Participants were obtained through multi-stage sampling of clusters of universities and schools.

Changes in calcium-binding protein expression in human cortical contusion tissue.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) produces several cellular changes, such as gliosis, axonal and dendritic plasticity, and inhibition-excitation imbalance, as well as cell death, which can initiate epileptogenesis. It has been demonstrated that dysfunction of the inhibitory components of the cerebral cortex after injury may cause status epilepticus in experimental models; we proposed to analyze the response of cortical interneurons and astrocytes after TBI in humans. Twelve contusion samples were evaluated, identifying the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs).

A novel antifungal peptide designed from the primary structure of a natural antimicrobial peptide purified from Argopecten purpuratus hemocytes.

We have isolated and purified a natural antimicrobial peptide from Argopecten purpuratus hemocytes. 47 residues were determined from its primary structure representing the N-terminal of the complete sequence. This peptide of 5100.

18F-FDG PET/CT for early prediction of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate 18F-FDG PET/CT in predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in large primary breast cancer.

Methods: Fifty consecutive patients underwent PET/CT at baseline and after the second cycle. Baseline MRI was performed to establish tumour size.

Alternative model of the Antonov problem: generalization with the presence of a mass spectrum.

We extend the quasiergodic model proposed as an alternative version of the Antonov isothermal model [L. Velazquez and F. Guzman, Phys.

Ring-fluorinated analog of methyl eugenol: attractiveness to and metabolism in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel).

Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), males are highly attracted to the natural phenylpropanoid methyl eugenol (ME). They compulsively feed on ME and metabolize it to ring and side-chain hydroxylated compounds that have both pheromonal and allomonal functions. Side-chain metabolic activation of ME leading to (E)-coniferyl alcohol has long been recognized as a primary reason for hepatocarcinogenicity of this compound in rodents.

Rabies awareness in eight Asian countries.

Rabies is a deadly zoonotic disease most often transmitted to humans through a dog bite. Human mortality from endemic canine rabies is estimated by WHO to be around 55,000 deaths annually, with over 31,000 deaths in Asia alone, mostly children. Most of these deaths could be prevented through post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), including immediate wound washing, rabies immunoglobulin administration and vaccination.

Ketamine anesthesia reduces intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Aim: To investigate the effects of ketamine anesthesia on the motility alterations and tissue injury caused by ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were used. Ischemia was induced by obstructing blood flow in 25% of the total small intestinal length (ileum) with a vascular clamp for 45 min, after which either 60 min or 24 h of reperfusion was allowed.

Characterization and functional recovery of a novel antimicrobial peptide (CECdir-CECret) from inclusion bodies after expression in Escherichia coli.

CECdir-CECret is a novel non-toxic doublet 8.5 kDa peptide representing the natural coding sequence of the antimicrobial peptide Cecropin A from Drosophila melanogaster fused in-frame to its own inverted version. Expression of this cloned doublet peptide in Escherichia coli, yielded peptides that were mostly packaged into inclusion bodies.

Monocyte-derived dendritic cells from chagasic patients vs healthy donors secrete differential levels of IL-10 and IL-12 when stimulated with a protein fragment of Trypanosoma cruzi heat-shock protein-70.

We analyzed the effect of the truncated heat-shock protein 70 from Trypanosoma cruzi on maturation of human dendritic cells (DCs) derived from monocytes of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors and chagasic patients. The results show that the T-HSP70 is capable of maturing human DCs inducing an increase in the expression level of the CD83, CD86 and human leukocyte antigen-DR surface markers, as well as in the secretion of interleukin (IL)-12, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-6 cytokines. Results also show the existence of a differential functional activity of matured DCs from chagasic patients vs healthy donors in response to T-HSP70 protein and to HSP-70-derived A72 peptide, as only T-HSP70-matured DCs from chagasic patients have an enhanced secretion of IL-10 and a reduced secretion of IL-12.

[Expression of markers on dendritic cells from chronic chagasic patients stimulated with the KMP-11 protein and the K1 peptide from Trypanosoma cruzi].

Introduction: The kinetoplastid membrane protein 11, KMP-11, from Trypanosoma cruzi elicits humoral and cellular immunity in mice that protects them from infection against further parasite challenge.

Objective: To characterize the expression of surface markers on dendritic cells from chronic chagasic patients and healthy individuals, in response to the KMP-11 protein from Trypanosoma cruzi and its N-terminal peptide K1.

Materials And Methods: Monocyte-derived dendritic cells from seven chronic chagasic patients and seven healthy individuals were stimulated with the KMP-11 protein and the K1 peptide.

Extensive simple sequence repeat genotyping of potato landraces supports a major reevaluation of their gene pool structure and classification.

Contrasting taxonomic treatments of potato landraces have continued over the last century, with the recognition of anywhere from 1 to 21 distinct Linnean species, or of Cultivar Groups within the single species Solanum tuberosum. We provide one of the largest molecular marker studies of any crop landraces to date, to include an extensive study of 742 landraces of all cultivated species (or Cultivar Groups) and 8 closely related wild species progenitors, with 50 nuclear simple sequence repeat (SSR) (also known as microsatellite) primer pairs and a plastid DNA deletion marker that distinguishes most lowland Chilean from upland Andean landraces. Neighbor-joining results highlight a tendency to separate three groups: (i) putative diploids, (ii) putative tetraploids, and (iii) the hybrid cultivated species S.

Amino acid domains 280-297 of VP6 and 531-554 of VP4 are implicated in heat shock cognate protein hsc70-mediated rotavirus infection.

The rotavirus infection mechanism seems to be a multi-step process which is still not fully understood. The heat shock cognate protein hsc70 has been proposed as being a co-receptor molecule for rotavirus entry into susceptible cells. In this work, an attempt was made to determine the existence of possible domains for VP4 and VP6 binding to hsc70.

Immunological and structural characterization of an epitope from the Trypanosoma cruzi KMP-11 protein.

The K1 peptide is an HLA-A*0201-restricted cytotoxic epitope derived from the Trypanosoma cruzi KMP-11 protein, this being the etiological agent of Chagas' disease. This work describes the K1 peptide's secondary structure and its recognition by sera from chagasic patients. Circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy analysis revealed that the K1 peptide adopts an alpha-helical conformation.

Localization of sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV) in synergic infection with potyviruses in sweet potato.

Among diseases reported worldwidely for sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) crop, one of the most frequent is the Sweet potato virus disease (SPVD), caused by sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV) and sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) co-infection. In Argentina, there exists the sweet potato chlorotic dwarf (SPCD), a sweet potato disease caused by triple co-infection with SPCSV, SPFMV and sweet potato mild speckling virus (SPMSV). Both diseases cause a synergism between the potyviruses (SPFMV and SPMSV) and the crinivirus (SPCSV).

Synthetic vaccine update: applying lessons learned from recent SPf66 malarial vaccine physicochemical, structural and immunological characterization.

The SPf66 synthetic malaria vaccine, developed and obtained almost 2 decades ago, represents the first approach towards developing a multi-antigenic, multi-stage synthetic malarial vaccine composed of subunits derived from different Plasmodium falciparum stage proteins. It is shown here that batches 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 produced from a few milligrams to kilogram amounts and used in assays on monkeys and humans showed high reproducibility in physicochemical analysis. (1)H NMR two-dimensional studies also revealed high similarity, even in non-oxidized batches.

In vitro effects of gamma radiation from 60Co and 137Cs on plasmid DNA.

The effects of gamma radiation from (60)Co and (137)Cs on DNA in aqueous solution are studied experimentally. Using an improved plasmid purification protocol and improved electrophoretic gel analysis techniques provided results with relatively small uncertainties. The results are compared with both theoretical and experimental results.

BTM-P1 polycationic peptide biological activity and 3D-dimensional structure.

The novel BTM-P1 peptide interferes with energetic processes in mitochondria; its antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria is described here. BTM-P1 three-dimensional structure was determined by 1H NMR to explain its biological mechanisms and membrane activity. Structural data indicated that BTM-P1 can form an alpha-helix; circular dichroism analysis confirmed the peptide's propensity to behave as a typical transmembrane helix in a lipidic environment.

Sequencing of the bicistronic genome segments S7 and S9 of Mal de Río Cuarto virus (Fijivirus, Reoviridae) completes the genome of this virus.

The nucleotide sequences of genomic segments S7 and S9 of Mal de Río Cuarto virus (MRCV, Fijivirus group II) have been determined, thus completing the entire genome sequence of the virus. These segments showed a non-overlapping bicistronic structure, as in other members of the genus. MRCV S7 ORF-1 had a length of 1086 bp and encoded a 41.

Immune response in mice and cattle after immunization with a Boophilus microplus DNA vaccine containing bm86 gene.

Plasmid pBMC2 encoding antigen Bm86 from a Colombian strain of cattle tick Boophilus microplus, was used for DNA-mediated immunization of BALB/c mice, employing doses of 10 and 50microg, delivered by intradermic and intramuscular routes. Anti-Bm86 antibody levels were significantly higher compared to control mice treated with PBS. In the evaluation of immunoglobulin isotypes, significant levels of IgG2a and IgG2b were observed in mice immunized with 50microg of pBMC2.