Introduction of sulfhydryl groups and disulfide linkage to mungbean 8Sα globulin and effects on physicochemical and functional properties

Sulfhydryl groups and disulfide bond were introduced in mungbean's major storage protein, 8Sα globulin, by protein engineering to improve structural stability and functional properties. Five modified proteins or mutants (F59C, I99C, A213C, one free sulfhydryl group; I99C/A213, one disulfide bridge; F59C/I99C/A213C, one free sulfhydryl group and one disulfide linkage) were expressed in Escherichia coli at a yield similar to that of the unmodified protein or wild type (WT) in soluble form (38%). The number of introduced groups in the mutants was confirmed by Ellman analysis. Mutant and WT proteins exhibited similar elution patterns on gel filtration indicating their trimeric native conformation. Mutants had 2 to 3.8 °C higher T_m values than WT and were digested by chymotrypsin at 52–58% in 60 min but exhibited different digestion patterns. All mutants showed greater hardness of heat-induced gels than WT, especially I99C/A213C and F59C/I99C/A213C. Results indicate the improved structural stability of the modified 8Sα globulin.     

The Visual Resources Association,its role and its future

The Visual Resources Association is an international organization for those involved in image information management. Membership includes image specialists of all types, librarians, museum curators, gallery representatives, system vendors, historians, artists, and those involved in intellectual property. The Association has a publications program, and has been working on several initiatives over the last ten years in the areas of intellectual property, the development of image cataloguing standards, and professional status standards. As the image information profession changes, the Association is moving in new directions to continually serve its membership.     

Effects of antimicrobial use in agricultural animals on drug-resistant foodborne salmonellosis in humans: A systematic literature review

Controversy continues concerning antimicrobial use in food animals and its relationship to drug-resistant infections in humans. We systematically reviewed published literature for evidence of a relationship between antimicrobial use in agricultural animals and drug-resistant meat or dairy-borne non-typhoidal salmonellosis in humans. Based on publications from the United States (U.S.), Canada, and Denmark from January 2010 to July 2014, 858 articles received title and abstract review, 104 met study criteria for full article review with 68 retained for which data are presented. Antibiotic exposure in both cattle and humans found an increased likelihood of Salmonella colonization, whereas in chickens, animals not exposed to antibiotics (organic) were more likely to be Salmonella positive and those that had antibiotic exposure were more likely to harbor antimicrobial resistant Salmonella organisms. In swine literature, only tylosin exposure was examined and no correlation was found among exposure, Salmonella colonization, or antimicrobial resistance. No studies that identified farm antimicrobial use also traced antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella from farm to fork.     

Effects of ethanol,formaldehyde, and gentle heat fixation in confocal resonance Raman microscopy of purple nonsulfur bacteria

Resonance Raman microscopy is well suited to examine living bacterial samples without further preparation. Therefore, comparatively little thought has been given to its compatibility with common fixation methods. However, fixation of cell samples is a very important tool in the microbiological sciences, allowing the preservation of samples in a specific condition for further examination, future measurements, transport, or later reference. We examined the effects of three common fixatives—ethanol, formaldehyde solution, and gentle heat—on the resonant Raman spectrum of three generic bacteria species, Rhodobacter sphaeroides DSM 158^T, Rhodopseudomonas palustris DSM 123^T, and Rhodospirillum rubrum DSM 467^T, holding carotenoid‐ and heme‐chromophores in confocal Raman microscopy. In addition, we analyzed the effect of poly‐L ‐lysine coating of microscope slides, widely used for mounting biological and medical samples, on subsequent confocal Raman measurements of native and fixed samples. The results indicate that ethanol is preferable to formaldehyde as fixative if applied for less than 24 h, whereas heat fixation has a strong, detrimental effect on the resonant Raman spectrum of bacteria. Formaldehyde fixation excels at fixation times above 24 h, but causes an overall reduction in signal intensity. Poly‐L ‐lysine coating has no discernable effect on the Raman spectra of samples fixed with ethanol or heat, but it further decreases the signal intensity, especially at higher wavenumbers, in the spectra of samples fixed with formaldehyde. Microsc. Res. Tech. 74:177–183, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

The nature of polymer grafts and substrate shape on the surface degradation of poly(l‐lactide)

Surface grafting of functional polymers is an effective method to alter material properties and degradation behavior. Two different substrate shapes of poly(l ‐lactide) (PLLA), i.e., films and microparticles, were surface‐grafted with hydrophilic monomers, and their surface degradation was monitored. Surface grafting with a hydrophilic and acidic polymer graft [acrylic acid (AA)] induced large alterations in the surface morphology and topography of the films. In contrast, hydrophilic and neutral polymer grafts [acrylamide (AAm)] had no significant effect on the surface degradation behavior, while the PLLA reference and co‐monomeric (AA/AAm) polymer‐grafted samples exhibited intermediate surface degradation rates. The grafted PAA chains induced a local acidic environment on the surface of the substrates, which in turn catalyzed the surface degradation process. This effect was more pronounced in the films than in the microparticles. Thus, the nature of the grafted chains and substrate geometry were shown to affect the surface degradation behavior of PLLA substrates. © 2015 The Authors Journal of Applied Polymer Science Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42736.     

Land use mapping by local authorities in Britain

This paper reports on a study of great historic and contemporary gardens as perceived by teachers and scholars of landscape architecture and garden history and as portrayed in garden history books. Lists of most frequently cited historic and contemporary gardens are provided and their representation in selected garden history books is discussed.     

Solvent and Extraction Conditions Control the Assayable Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activities of Seeds of Black Beans,Canola and Millet

The effects of extraction solvent and conditions on the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of black beans, canola and foxtail millet were investigated. The antioxidant activity was assayed using 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (DRSA) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). Four solvent systems, namely 70 % acetone, 80 % ethanol, 80 % methanol and a mixture of acetone/methanol/water (7:7:6, v/v/v) were used. The extraction methods adopted in this study included refluxing, homogenization, cold extraction and sonication. The TPC as measured using the Folin Ciocalteu's method were 12.35–28.39, 2.43–16.73, and 1.78–5.06 µmol catechin equivalents/g dry matter (dm) for canola, black beans and foxtail millet, respectively. Aqueous acetone afforded the highest TPC for black beans and canola. Within the same solvent system used, the TPC, DRSA and ORAC obtained from different extraction techniques differed for black beans, canola and foxtail millet. The results demonstrated that the solvent system as well as method influenced the extraction of phenolic compounds and their antioxidant activities, depending on the type of matrix in which phenolics were embedded.