Temperature influences lipid content in the red harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex barbatus.

Temperature is one of the most important environmental conditions affecting physiological processes in ectothermic organisms like ants. Yet, we often lack information on how certain physiological traits covary with temperature across time. Here, we test predictions on how one trait-lipid content-covaries with temperature using a conspicuous, ground-dwelling harvester ant.

Clinical Significance of Micronutrient Supplementation in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients with Severe ARDS.

The interplay between inflammation and oxidative stress is a vicious circle, potentially resulting in organ damage. Essential micronutrients such as selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) support anti-oxidative defense systems and are commonly depleted in severe disease. This single-center retrospective study investigated micronutrient levels under Se and Zn supplementation in critically ill patients with COVID-19 induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and explored potential relationships with immunological and clinical parameters.

Vitamin D deficiency in critically ill COVID-19 ARDS patients.

Background & Aims: Vitamin D's pleiotropic effects include immune modulation, and its supplementation has been shown to prevent respiratory tract infections. The effectivity of vitamin D as a therapeutic intervention in critical illness remains less defined. The current study analyzed clinical and immunologic effects of vitamin D levels in patients suffering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

The Economics of Optimal Foraging by the Red Imported Fire Ant.

For social organisms, foraging is often a complicated behavior where tasks are divided among numerous individuals. Here, we ask how one species, the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), collectively manages this behavior. We tested the Diminishing Returns Hypothesis, which posits that for social insects 1) foraging investment levels increase until diminishing gains result in a decelerating slope of return and 2) the level of investment is a function of the size of the collective group.

Disturbance Mediates Homogenization of Above and Belowground Invertebrate Communities.

Natural disturbances can occur stochastically with profound impacts on fauna and flora. Here we quantified the impact of a one in 100-yr flood on terrestrial invertebrate communities in south central Oklahoma. Before the flood, we observed 4,082 individuals from 92 species weighing a total of 18.

Analysis of Epithelial Growth Factor-Receptor (EGFR) Phosphorylation in Uterine Smooth Muscle Tumors: Correlation to Mucin-1 and Galectin-3 Expression.

Uterine fibroids are the commonest uterine benign tumors. A potential mechanism of malignant transformation from leiomyomas to leiomyosarcomas has been described. Tyrosine phosphorylation is a key mechanism that controls biological functions, such as proliferation and cell differentiation.

Melanoma cell necrosis facilitates transfer of specific sets of antigens onto MHC class II molecules of dendritic cells.

Vaccine strategies that target dendritic cells (DC) in order to elicit immunity against tumors are the subject of intense research. For the induction and maintenance of anti-tumor immunity, CD4+ helper T cells are often required, which need to see appropriate MHC class II-peptide complexes on DC. So far, it remained widely unclear what type of tumor cells can feed the MHC class II processing pathway of DC with what type of antigens.

Proteomic studies of diauxic lag in the differentiating prokaryote Streptomyces coelicolor reveal a regulatory network of stress-induced proteins and central metabolic enzymes.

Bacteria typically undergo intermittent periods of starvation and adaptation, emulated as diauxic growth in the laboratory. In association with growth arrest elicited by metabolic stress, the differentiating eubacterium Streptomyces coelicolor not only adapts its primary metabolism, but can also activate developmental programmes leading to morphogenesis and antibiotic biosynthesis. Here, we report combined proteomic and metabolomic data of S.

A role for SSU72 in balancing RNA polymerase II transcription elongation and termination.

Interactions of pre-mRNA 3'end factors and the CTD of RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) are required for transcription termination and 3'end processing. Here, we demonstrate that Ssu72p is stably associated with yeast cleavage and polyadenylation factor CPF and provide evidence that it bridges the CPF subunits Pta1p and Ydh1p/Cft2p, the general transcription factor TFIIB, and RNAP II via Rpb2p. Analyses of ssu72-2 mutant cells in the absence and presence of the nuclear exosome component Rrp6p revealed defects in RNAP II transcription elongation and termination.

An immunodominant Kb-restricted peptide from the p15E transmembrane protein of endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus (MuLV) AKR623 that restores susceptibility of a tumor line to anti-AKR/Gross MuLV cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

H-2b tumor cells expressing the endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus (EMV) induce an anti-AKR/Gross murine leukemia virus (MuLV) cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response in the C57BL/6 mouse strain. The EMV clone AKR623 has been used to infect SC.Kb fibroblast cells, resulting in SC.

Major and minor Kb-restricted epitopes encoded by the endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus AKR623 that are recognized by anti-AKR/Gross MuLV CTL.

C57BL/6 mice can generate a type-specific and class IH-2Kb-restricted CTL response against histocompatible AKR/Gross murine leukemia virus (MuLV) cell surface antigen positive (GCSA+) tumor cells. These anti-AKR/Gross MuLV CTL are also known to lyse SC.Kb/623 target cells expressing the molecular MuLV clone AKR623 (derived from the endogenous ecotropic MuLV provirus emv-11).

Extension of the life-span of human endothelial cells by an interleukin-1 alpha antisense oligomer.

The proliferative potential of human diploid endothelial cells is finite, and cellular senescence in vitro is accompanied by the failure of the endothelial cell to respond to exogenous growth factors. Senescent human endothelial cells were shown to contain high amounts of the transcript for the cytokine interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), a potent inhibitor of endothelial cell proliferation in vitro. In contrast, transformed human endothelial cells did not contain detectable IL-1 alpha messenger RNA.

Recovery of mitogenic activity of a growth factor mutant with a nuclear translocation sequence.

Heparin-binding growth factor-1 (HBGF-1) is an angiogenic polypeptide mitogen for mesoderm- and neuroectoderm-derived cells in vitro and remains biologically active after truncation of the amino-terminal domain (HBGF-1 alpha) of the HBGF-1 beta precursor. Polymerase chain reaction mutagenesis and prokaryotic expression systems were used to prepare a mutant of HBGF-1 alpha lacking a putative nuclear translocation sequence (amino acid residues 21 to 27; HBGF-1U). Although HBGF-1U retains its ability to bind to heparin, HBGF-1U fails to induce DNA synthesis and cell proliferation at concentrations sufficient to induce intracellular receptor-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation and c-fos expression.

Endotoxic-lipopolysaccharide-specific binding proteins on lymphoid cells of various animal species: association with endotoxin susceptibility.

Endotoxic lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a common structural component of all gram-negative bacteria, is well recognized for its capacity to interact with and perturb immunologically relevant cells. Using a radioiodinated, photoactivatable LPS probe, we have recently identified an 80-kilodalton LPS-specific binding protein on murine B lymphocytes. We now have extended these studies to determine if other mammalian species, as well as representative endotoxin-resistant species (frog and chicken), have a similar LPS-binding protein.

Epitope mapping of human factor VIII inhibitor antibodies by deletion analysis of factor VIII fragments expressed in Escherichia coli.

Epitopes for antibodies that inhibit factor VIII procoagulant protein were analyzed by deletion mapping of factor VIII protein fragments expressed in Escherichia coli. A human factor VIII cDNA clone was used to generate E. coli expression vectors encoding fragments containing the 80-kDa factor VIII light chain (A3, C1, and C2 domains) and the 44-kDa carboxyl-terminal half of the factor VIII heavy chain (A2 domain).

Anti-idiotypic antibodies to a polyomavirus monoclonal antibody recognize cell surface components of mouse kidney cells and prevent polyomavirus infection.

Anti-idiotypic antibodies have been successfully used to identify and isolate the receptor for several cell ligands. To prepare an immunologic probe for identification of the polyomavirus receptor on mouse kidney cells, polyclonal antisera against antipolyomavirus antibodies were prepared in rabbits. Fab fragments of the previously characterized monoclonal antibody E7, which neutralizes polyomavirus infection, were used for immunization (S.

Marker-exchange mutagenesis of a pectate lyase isozyme gene in Erwinia chrysanthemi.

The phytopathogenic enterobacterium Erwinia chrysanthemi contains pel genes encoding several different isozymes of the plant-tissue-disintegrating enzyme pectate lyase (PL). The pelC gene, encoding an isozyme with an approximate isoelectric point of 8.0, was mutagenized by a three-step procedure involving (i) insertional inactivation of the cloned gene by ligation of a kan-containing BamHI fragment from pUC4K with a partial Sau3A digest of E.

Molecular cloning in Escherichia coli of Erwinia chrysanthemi genes encoding multiple forms of pectate lyase.

The phytopathogenic enterobacterium Erwinia chrysanthemi excretes multiple isozymes of the plant tissue-disintegrating enzyme, pectate lyase (PL). Genes encoding PL were cloned from E. chrysanthemi CUCPB 1237 into Escherichia coli HB101 by inserting Sau3A-generated DNA fragments into the BamHI site of pBR322 and then screening recombinant transformants for the ability to sink into pectate semisolid agar.

Dose outside the treatment volume for irradiation with negative pions.

Irradiation of humans with negative pions requires a knowledge of the absorbed dose and radiation quality outside the primary pion beam. In conjunction with early clinical trials at LAMPF, experimental data have been obtained with microdosimetric techniques and multiwire proportional counters. Theoretical calculations have been made for the neutron contribution to the dose and are consistent with these data.

[Experiences with mastodynon in the treatment of the premenstrual syndrome].

Experiences with Mastodynon in the therapy of premenstrual syndrome are reported. The results of the phytohormon Mastodynon were evaluated in 52 cases by measurement of the basal temperature.