Age and Mating Status Do Not Affect Transcript Levels of Odorant Receptor Genes in Male Antennae of Heliothis virescens and Heliothis subflexa

In biological systems, it is expected that gene expression levels generally will correlate with temporally varying physiological and biological needs, and that gene expression levels could regulate biological capabilities. In moth species, male response to female sex pheromones often is affected by moth age and mating status. Odorant receptors (ORs) expressed in neurons within male antennae are critical for detecting the female pheromones. Therefore, we hypothesized that the expression level of these receptor proteins would be affected by age and mating status of male moths. We examined expression levels of two OR genes that are preferentially expressed in the male antennae of Heliothis virescens (HvOR13 and HvOR15) and Heliothis subflexa (HsOR13 and HsOR15). Antennae were dissected from virgin males at 2 h, 1 d, 2 d, 4 d, and 8 d. We also dissected antennae from 4-d-old mated males. We found that age had no effect on expression levels of either OR in either species, except for a small difference in HsOR15 expression between 2 h and 8-d-old virgin males. Furthermore, we found no effect of mating status on expression level of these ORs in either species. We discuss these findings in relationship to studies of age and mating status effects on male electrophysiological and behavioral response to female pheromones, and contrast our results to studies on the effects of age and mating status on gene expression of pheromone receptor proteins and pheromone binding proteins in other moths.     

Speciation of copper in high chloride concentrations,in the context of corrosion of copper canisters

Canisters with a cast iron insert for mechanical strength and a 50-mm thick copper shell as corrosion protection are planned to be used for disposal of spent nuclear fuel in Sweden and Finland. Chloride can be considered “beneficial”, as it promotes active dissolution of copper rather than passivation (which might result in pitting), but a high concentration of chloride in solution would increase the driving force for corrosion through the formation of soluble copper chloro complexes. Thermodynamic calculations are performed in this study with the PHREEQC software and three of its accompanying databases, and a comparison with experimental data is performed to select the database to be used when evaluating repository performance. The activity coefficient models are given special attention. For the assessment of chloride-assisted corrosion of a KBS-3 canister, chloride concentrations pessimistically up to 5 mol/kg are used (in Finland and Sweden, the groundwater and bentonite porewater chloride concentrations are not expected to exceed 1 mol/kg). The resulting copper solubilities are then considered in different mass transport cases.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Application of New Rhodium Complexes for Indirect Electrochemical Cofactor Regeneration

Electroenzymatic synthesis often suffers from electrochemical reaction steps which proceed slower than the coupled enzyme reaction. For indirect electrochemical cofactor regeneration, we here report two new mediators with superior properties compared to the established rhodium complex (2,2′‐bipyridyl)(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)rhodium [Cp*Rh(2,2′‐bipyridine)]. After constructing a robotic system for fast and reliable cyclic voltammetry measurements, we screened twelve rhodium complexes with substituted 2,2′‐bipyridine ligands for their reduction potentials and catalytic activity towards the reduction of NADP. Promising complexes were investigated in more detail by cyclic voltammetry and under batch electrolysis conditions. The new complexes Cp*Rh(5,5′‐methyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine) and Cp*Rh(4,4′‐methoxy‐2,2′‐bipyridine) reduced NADP to NADPH three times faster than the established mediator, resulting in volumetric productivities of up to 136 mmol L⁻¹ d⁻¹ and turnover frequencies of up to 113 h⁻¹. This increased reaction rate of these new mediators makes indirect electrochemical approach significantly more competitive to other methods of cofactor regeneration. Abbreviations: ADH=alcohol dehydrogenase; Ag|AgCl=silver|silver chloride reference electrode; bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine; ci=current increase; Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; CV=cyclic voltammetry; Ep=peak potential; equiv=equivalent; NADP/NADPH=nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidised/reduced form.     

A New Approach for Process Development of Plant‐Based Extraction Processes

Over the last few years the impact of products from natural sources in food, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, flavors/fragrances, and also the pharmaceutical industry has increased due to the consumer demand for nature‐derived products. Meeting this demand requires that existing manufacturing processes have to be optimized and process development for a variety of new products, sometimes with short life cycles, has to be accelerated. A scientific literature review covering equipment and modeling for plant‐based extractions shows an enormous demand for new approaches in process design for solvent extraction, isolation, and purification of ingredients from botanical sources and its transfer from academic research into manageable solutions for industrial use. An approach combining the design of experiments and rigorous process modeling on the one hand and an intensified collaboration between different disciplines including process engineering, botany, and analytical chemistry on the other hand seems to be the only way forward to address the current issues and shortcomings systematically and efficiently. Hence, a standard apparatus for the assessment of the governing process parameters for plant‐based extraction processes is proposed.     

Viscoelastic properties of latex paint films in tension: Influence of the inorganic phase and surfactants

The tensile properties of latex coatings were investigated with a set of custom formulated artist-type paints at an age of 1 year. All films in the study contained a poly(methyl methacrylate-cobutyl acrylate) binder exhibiting a glass-transition at approximately 10 °C. The viscoelastic behaviour of the latex matrix is first highlighted through a series of experiments involving different strain histories and temperatures. Influence of the inorganic particle concentration and geometry is then illustrated using TiO₂ and calcined kaolin for the secondary phase. Experimental data from a wide range of conditions are summarised through master curves of secant modulus and failure strains using time–temperature superposition. The results indicate that the latex films behave in a rheologically simple manner and it is possible to predict the response outside of the experimental time-scale. An analysis by similar methods is also given for TiO₂ pigmented films with/without surfactant removed by immersion in water. Differential scanning calorimetry and atomic force microscopy were also used in conjunction with mechanical tests. The combined findings suggest that a fraction of surfactant migrates to the TiO₂ interface during film formation, where it interferes with adhesion of the acrylic matrix.     

Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Biomarkers for Neurodegenerative Diseases

There has been an increasing prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases with the rapid increase in aging societies worldwide. Biomarkers that can be used to detect pathological changes before the development of severe neuronal loss and consequently facilitate early intervention with disease-modifying therapeutic modalities are therefore urgently needed. Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a promising tool that can be used to infer microstructural characteristics of the brain, such as microstructural integrity and complexity, as well as axonal density, order, and myelination, through the utilization of water molecules that are diffused within the tissue, with displacement at the micron scale. Diffusion tensor imaging is the most commonly used diffusion MRI technique to assess the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. However, diffusion tensor imaging has several limitations, and new technologies, including neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging, diffusion kurtosis imaging, and free-water imaging, have been recently developed as approaches to overcome these constraints. This review provides an overview of these technologies and their potential as biomarkers for the early diagnosis and disease progression of major neurodegenerative diseases.     

Novel TTLL5 Variants Associated with Cone-Rod Dystrophy and Early-Onset Severe Retinal Dystrophy

Variants of the TTLL5 gene, which encodes tubulin tyrosine ligase-like family member five, are a rare cause of cone dystrophy (COD) or cone-rod dystrophy (CORD). To date, only a few TTLL5 patients have been clinically and genetically described. In this study, we report five patients harbouring biallelic variants of TTLL5. Four adult patients presented either COD or CORD with onset in the late teenage years. The youngest patient had a phenotype of early onset severe retinal dystrophy (EOSRD). Genetic analysis was performed by targeted next generation sequencing of gene panels and assessment of copy number variants (CNV). We identified eight variants, of which six were novel, including two large multiexon deletions in patients with COD or CORD, while the EOSRD patient harboured the novel homozygous p.(Trp640*) variant and three distinct USH2A variants, which might explain the observed rod involvement. Our study highlights the role of TTLL5 in COD/CORD and the importance of large deletions. These findings suggest that COD or CORD patients lacking variants in known genes may harbour CNVs to be discovered in TTLL5, previously undetected by classical sequencing methods. In addition, variable phenotypes in TTLL5-associated patients might be due to the presence of additional gene defects.