Evolution and identification of lactic acid bacteria isolated during the ripening of Sardinian sausages

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated during the production and the ripening of Sardinian sausage, a typical Italian dry fermented sausage. Samples were taken at different stages, and 112 strains were isolated. The isolates were characterized using the micromethod proposed by Font de Valdez et al. [Font de Valdez, G., Savoy de Giori, G., Oliver, G., & De Ruiz Holgado, A. P. (1993). Development and optimization of an expensive microsystem for the biochemical characterization of lactobacilli. Microbiologie Aliments Nutrition, 11, 215–219]. Schillinger and Lücke’s [Schillinger, U., & Lücke, F. K. (1987). Identification of lactobacilli from meat and meat products. Food Microbiology. (4), 199–208] scheme and the biochemical patterns given by Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology [Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology (1986). Baltimore: William and Wilkins] were used for preliminary identification. A PCR-based method was then used to confirm the results. LAB were the dominant flora during ripening. They consisted mainly of homofermentative mesophilic rods. Lactobacillus sakei (43,3%), Lactobacillus plantarum (16,6%) and Lactobacillus curvatus (13,3%) were the main isolates. The results of the biochemical identification methods agreed well with those of PCR-based identification (91% agreement).     

UGUS, a reporter for use with destabilizing N-termini

Due to constraints in vector construction, reporter polypeptides often carry N-terminal sequences of extraneous origin. Since protein half-life can be influenced by small determinants in the N-terminus, such foreign sequences can destabilize proteins and compromise results of reporter-based studies. We provide a real-life example of this problem (destabilizing sequences derived from a ribosomal protein) and show that it can be solved with the ubiquitin fusion technique, in which ubiquitin sequences are placed upstream of the reporter, in our case beta-glucuronidase. Post-translational processing by characterized pathways removes the ubiquitin together with destabilizing sequences, generating a stable reporter whose N-terminus is constant.     

移动荷载作用下大跨悬索桥动态影响因素分析

研究移动荷载下大跨悬索桥动态影响因素。与整个桥长相比假定悬索空间很小，因此基于桥的连续模型进行分析。借助于连续分布函数描述梁、塔和悬索系统力的交互作用。采用直接综合方法解决控制平衡方程，对位移和应变变量动态影响因素建议采用无量纲形式进行数值量化。此外，为了量化评估桥的变形和移动荷载耦合影响，分析聚焦在通常被忽视的向心和Coriolis力的非标准条件。     

Reduced-size lung transplantation from adult to neonatal swine

BACKGROUND: Lung donor shortage is a critical factor limiting the expansion of pediatric lung transplantation programs. This report details the surgical technical feasibility of a training model of lobar lung transplantation as well as the perioperative monitoring to evaluate the appropriate pulmonary graft function. METHODS: Ten hybrid Large-White pigs underwent left lower lobe lung allotransplantation; Donors weighed 15 to 20 kg and recipients 5 to 7 kg. The first five animals were used to learn the surgical anatomy and to establish the surgical technique and instrumentation's model (Group A). One hour after transplantation the right lung was excluded. Lung function and hemodynamic data were collected sequentially in the following five animals (Group B). RESULTS: The left inferior pulmonary lobe was found to be the most suitable allograft for transplantation. Usually, bronchial size discrepancy allowed telescoping of the airway anastomosis. Left atrial clamping was well tolerated during the pulmonary vein anastomoses. Preoperative antiaggregation and postoperatively heparinization achieved with ACT values over 200 seconds, prevented left atrial thrombosis. After right lung exclusion, hemodynamic changes consisted of a sustained increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and a reduction in cardiac output. Lung mechanics were also modified, with a gradual rise in airway resistance and a fall in compliance. CONCLUSIONS: The neonatal pig tolerates left lobar pulmonary transplantation satisfactorily. Although it is a useful and promising surgical learning model, questions remain regarding the applicability of this experience to clinical pediatric lung transplantation.     

Signatures of Electron-Electron Correlations in the Optical Spectra of α-(BEDT-TTF)2 MHg(SCN)4 (M=NH4 and Rb)

We interpret the optical spectra of α-(BEDT-TTF)₂MHg(SCN)₄ (M=NH₄ and Rb) in terms of a 1/4 filled metallic system close to charge ordering and show that in the conductivity spectra of these compounds a fraction of the spectral weight is shifted from the Drude-peak to higher frequencies due to strong electronic correlations. Analyzing the temperature dependence of the electronic parameters, we distinguish between different aspects of the influence of electronic correlations on optical properties. We conclude, that the correlation effects are slightly weaker in the NH₄ compound compared to the Rb one.     

Parts and early conceptual development: Comment on Tversky and Hemenway.

Comments on B. Tversky and K. Hemenway's (see record 1985-08554-001) article on categorization, noting their qualitative definition of the basic level of categorization. Their "parts" explanation provides a basis for the convergence of a wide variety of measures on the primacy of basic level categories. The relationship of Tversky and Hemenway's conclusions to early conceptual development in children is discussed. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Paclitaxel in combination chemotherapy with radiotherapy in patients with unresectable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer

PURPOSE: The addition of combination chemotherapy to standard radiation therapy has improved treatment for locally unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer. In this phase II study, we evaluated the toxicity and efficacy of a novel chemotherapy regimen that included paclitaxel, cisplatin, and etoposide plus concurrent radiation therapy in this group of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients with previously untreated, unresectable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (stage IIIA, 11 patients; stage IIIB, 22 patients) initially received two courses of chemotherapy, which included paclitaxel 135 mg/m2 by 1-hour infusion on day 1, cisplatin 60 mg/m/ intravenously (i.v.) on day 2, and etoposide 100 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1, 2 and 3. On week 6, radiation therapy (60 Gy in 30 fractions) was initiated in conjunction with two additional courses of chemotherapy: paclitaxel 135 mg/m2 i.v. by 1-hour infusion on day 1, cisplatin 5 mg/m2 i.v. on days 2- to 10, and etoposide 25 mg/m2 on days 1 to 10. RESULTS: This combined modality program was feasible and well tolerated by most patients. During the two courses of induction chemotherapy, grade 3 or 4 myelosuppression occurred in only six patients (18%). Esophagitis was common during combined modality therapy (grade 3, 10 patients; grade 4 five patients). Forty-two percent of patients had partial response after two courses of induction therapy, and 82% of patients had an objective response at completion of therapy. Twelve patients (36%) had a complete response. Nineteen patients remain progression-free at a median of 8 months; the median survival time has not been reached. CONCLUSION: This paclitaxel-containing combined modality therapy is feasible and highly active in patients with inoperable stage III lung cancer. Esophagitis is the most common severe toxicity with this program. Further studies with paclitaxel-containing combination regimens in patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer are indicated.     

Ion-Pair High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Chlorpheniramine Maleate in Cough-Cold Mixtures

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method in the ion-pair mode was developed for the assay of chlorpheniramine maleate in commercial cough-cold mixtures. The method uses a µ Bondapak phenyl column and a mixture of acetonitrile-acetic acid-water (26.5:1.0:72.5, by volume, pH 2.4) containing 0.005M pentanesul-fonic acid sodium salt as the mobile phase. Chlorpheniramine maleate was well resolved from ten other active ingredients. A linear relationship was obtained between detector response at 254 nm and amounts of chlorpheniramine maleate injected ranging from 0.8 to 2.5 µg(r=0.996). A reproducibility study using a standard preparation gave a CV of 1.43% (n = 10). The average recovery values of chlorpheniramine maleate added in various amounts to a single-component tablet composite sample and to a multiple-component tablet composite sample were 99.1 and 100.9%, respectively. The assay of commercial tablets by the proposed method gave results which differed by 0.7 to 3.2% of declared from those obtained by the method of USP XX.     

Analysis of conjugated bile acids by high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry

Because of the known advantages of coupling high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) in biological fluids, studies on the reversed-phase HPLC-MS system for direct analysis of conjugated bile acids in human bile samples are described. Ten samples of gallbladder bile of apparently healthy subjects were examined. The amounts of each tauro- and glycoconjugated bile acid as trifluoracetate were determined by mass fragmentography. Quantitation of at least 1 ng of each bile acid was possible.