Sperm metabolism is altered during storage by female insects: evidence from two-photon autofluorescence lifetime measurements in bedbugs

We explore the possibility of characterizing sperm cells without the need to stain them using spectral and fluorescence lifetime analyses after multi-photon excitation in an insect model. The autofluorescence emission spectrum of sperm of the common bedbug, Cimex lectularius, was consistent with the presence of flavins and NAD(P)H. The mean fluorescence lifetimes showed smaller variation in sperm extracted from the male (tau m, τ_m = 1.54–1.84 ns) than in that extracted from the female sperm storage organ (tau m, τ_m = 1.26–2.00 ns). The fluorescence lifetime histograms revealed four peaks. These peaks (0.18, 0.92, 2.50 and 3.80 ns) suggest the presence of NAD(P)H and flavins and show that sperm metabolism can be characterized using fluorescence lifetime imaging. The difference in fluorescence lifetime variation between the sexes is consistent with the notion that female animals alter the metabolism of sperm cells during storage. It is not consistent, however, with the idea that sperm metabolism represents a sexually selected character that provides females with information about the male genotype.     

Design of novel urogenital pharmabiotic formulations containing lactobacilli,salivaricin CRL 1328 and non-microbial compounds with different functionalities

Context: The administration of pharmabiotics is a promising alternative to antimicrobial drugs for the treatment and/or prevention of female urogenital infections.

Objective: To design pharmabiotic formulations including bioactive ingredients of microbial origin combined with non-microbial substances and then to evaluate the stability of the combinations during freeze-drying and storage.

Materials and methods: Different formulations including Lactobacillus gasseri CRL 1263, Lactobacillus salivarius CRL 1328, salivaricin CRL 1328 (a bacteriocin) and non-microbial compounds (lactose, inulin and ascorbic acid) were assayed, and the ingredients were freeze-dried together or separately. The formulations were stored in gelatin capsules at 4?°C for 360?d.

Results: The viability of lactobacilli was affected to different extents depending on the strains and on the formulations assayed. L. salivarius and ascorbic acid were successfully combined only after the freeze-drying process. Salivaricin activity was not detected in formulations containing L. gasseri. However, when combined with ascorbic acid, lactose, inulin or L. salivarius, the bacteriocin maintained its activity for 360?d. The selected microorganisms proved to be compatible for their inclusion in multi-strain formulations together with lactose, inulin and ascorbic acid. Salivaricin could be included only in a L. salivarius CRL 1328 single-strain formulation together with non-microbial substances.

Conclusions: This study provides new insights into the design of urogenital pharmabiotics combining beneficial lactobacilli, salivaricin CRL 1328 and compounds with different functionalities.     

Brennstoffzellen

For two applications of fuel cells (SOFC and IMFC) system configurations and energy balances are presented. A decentralized combined heat and power plant on SOFC basis can be designed as a flexible system with high efficiency. A drive system with methanol reformer and fuel cell (IMFC) in comparison with a natural gas combustion engine has lower energy comsumption and much lower emissions.     

A process-dependent real-time controller for sequencing batch reactor plants: results of full-scale operation.

This paper presents results of a research project, in which a process-dependent real-time control (RTC) strategy for a sequencing batch reactor plant was realised in full-scale. The cycle controller is based on NH4 analysers, NO3 probes, TSS probes and sludge level probes. With this new RTC strategy it was possible to increase the treatment capacity by 50%. By implementation of the new controller the TN, TP and NH4-N treatment efficiency could be improved significantly, too. The treatment efficiency concerning COD is comparable.     

Synthesis of Boron Nitride by Self-Propagating Reactions at High Pressure

Peculiarities of the formation of BN in a self-propagating reaction between LiBF₄ and Li₃N have been studied under a wide range of p,T conditions within the region of thermodynamic stability of cBN. Boron nitride crystallized mainly in the form of highly ordered hBN (1700–2100 K), of mesographitic BN (2200–3000 K), or of turbostratic BN (>3000 K). Cubic boron nitride was obtained with a low yield (up to 14 vol%) as a result of precipitation from the metastable eutectic liquid in the BN-Li₃N system. These results give further evidence for an alternative metastable behavior in the BN phase formation under high pressures.     

Effects of sudden pressure changes in the surrounding gas phase on flow properties of bulk solids

The variation in the behaviour of bulk solids as a result of sudden pressure changes in the surrounding gas phase is of interest in the application of lock hoppers for transfer of bulk solids into pressure vessels. By using such sluice systems, problems occur due to consolidation of the pressurized bulk solids. This paper presents the results of experimental and theoretical research, which allow to describe the influence of several parameters on pressure compensation and the degree of consolidation. With reference to the forces and mechanisms responsible for consolidation, it is possible to describe the different consolidation behaviour of incompressible (limestone) and compressible (hard coal) bulk solids.     

Works of adhesion at the carbon fiber-liquid interface determined using a modified wetting technique

Works of adhesion W_SL between aqueous solutions with pH values in the range from 1 to 14 and carbon fibers from different sources, which were additionally treated in an inert atmosphere or in oxygen, were measured by use of a microbalance. These works of adhesion W_SL were found to show distinct stepwise dependencies on the pH value. The works of adhesion W_SL are attributed to dispersion interactions W_SL¹ and various acid-base interactions w_sl^ab—in the latter case between the acidic and basic surface groups of carbon and the various basic and acidic aqueous solutions.     

The effect of lidocaine on growth of cells of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

The relation between 21 absolute body dimensions as well as 20 anthropometric indices and the length as well as the regularity of the menstrual cycle have been investigated in 156 patients of the hormone ambulance of the I. Universit?ts-Frauenklinik in Vienna. It turned out, that the length as well as the regularity of the menstrual cycle significantly negatively with the amount of the subcutaneous fat tissue. With an increasing amount of adipose tissue, the cycle became shorter and more regular. The importance of the subcutaneous fat tissue as a secondary hormonal gland has been discussed as one cause for these significant connections. Regarding the length- and height dimensions and the menstrual cycle patterns, no statistically significantly relationship could be observed between these two trait system. This is also true for the relationship between body built and the bleeding duration.     

Response intensity in content-specific fear conditioning comparing 20% versus 13% CO?-enriched air as unconditioned stimuli.

This study examined the relation between the intensity of CO?-induced psychophysiological responses and content-specific fear conditioning. Sex-balanced groups of undergraduates (N?=?96) were assigned to 1 of 3 conditioned stimuli (CSs) differing in fear-relevance, and within each CS, to either 20% or 13% CO?-enriched air (unconditioned stimuli [UCS]). Several psychophysiological measures were assessed before, during, and following conditioning phases. Consistent with expectation, electrodermal and cardiac conditioned responses were larger and more resistant to extinction when associated with fear-relevant compared with fear-irrelevant stimuli, and this overall effect of fear-relevance was more robust to the more intense UCS. Severity and frequency of DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed ) panic symptoms also varied reliably with UCS intensity, and women reported more distress and symptoms than men. Overall, the findings suggest that content-specific fear conditioning is mediated, in part, by the intensity of the bodily response. The authors discuss clinical and theoretical implications for understanding fear onset in the absence of obvious environmental pain or trauma. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)