The Acyl CoenzymeA:Monoacylglycerol Acyltransferase 3 (MGAT3) Gene is a Pseudogene in Mice but Encodes a Functional Enzyme in Rats

Triglyceride (TAG) absorption involves its initial hydrolysis to fatty acids and monoacylglycerol (MAG), which are resynthesized back to diacylglycerol (DAG) and TAG within enterocytes. The resynthesis of DAG is facilitated by fatty acyl-CoA dependent monoacylglycerol acyltransferases (MGATs). Three MGAT enzymes have been isolated in humans and the expression of MGAT2 and MGAT3 in the intestines suggests their functional role in the TAG absorption. In this paper, we report that the Mogat3 gene appears to be a pseudogene in mice while it is a functional gene in rats. Examination of the mouse genomic Mogat3 sequence revealed multiple changes that would result in a translational stop codon or frameshifts. The rat Mogat3 gene, however, is predicted to encode a functional enzyme of 362 amino acids. Expression of rat MGAT3 in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells led to the formation of a 36-kDa protein that displayed significant MGAT but not DGAT activity. Tissue expression analysis of rat MGAT3 by real-time PCR analysis indicated that rat MGAT3 has a high level of expression in intestines and pancreas. Our results thus provide the molecular basis to understand the relative functional role of MGAT2 and MGAT3 and also for future exploration of MGAT3 function in animal models.     

Anonymous ethical investigations?

Comments on the article by Anonymous (see record 1995-33982-001) which, in presenting the hidden benefits of managed care, offers a spoof on the managed care debate. The current author contends that this same material has been previously presented in the Fall issue of Division 42's newsletter, The Independent Practitioner (B. Arnold, 1994). It therefore appears that either Anonymous (1995) has plagiarized Arnold (1994), or that Arnold has engaged in inappropriate duplicate publication under the assumed name of "Anonymous." In light of these facts, the current author wonders if and how the American Psychological Association (APA) Ethics Office will investigate this issue. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Medium Evaluation and Plastic Composite Support Ingredient Selection for Biofilm Formation and Succinic Acid Production by Actinobacillus succinogenes

Succinic acid production medium for Actinobacillus succinogenes was simplified. Vitamins and fatty acids were removed from the medium and industrial quality yeast extract was substituted to yield revised succinic acid medium. Customized plastic composite support (PCS) blends were screened for biofilm and succinic acid production. Twenty different PCS blends with and without mineral salt additions were evaluated in twenty simulated repeated-batch fermentations using MgCO₃ for pH control and CO₂ supply. Succinic acid concentrations, percentage yield succinic acid, and biofilm formation for each PCS blend were determined. No correlation was observed for biofilm formation and succinic acid production. The selected customized PCS blend for A. succinogenes succinic acid production consisted of 50% (wt/wt) polypropylene, 35% (wt/wt) dried ground soybean hulls, 5% (wt/wt) dried bovine albumin, 2.5% (wt/wt) soybean flour, 2.5% (wt/wt) yeast extract, 2.5% (wt/wt) dried red blood cells, and 2.5% (wt/wt) peptone, which demonstrated 70% yields for succinic acid compared to 64% yield for suspended cell fermentation.     

Characterization of the melting and wetting of Sn-Ag-X solders

There is tremendous interest at present with Pb-free solder assembly in the surface mount assembly industry in response to recent Japanese and European initiatives and proposed governmental restrictions regarding Pb usage and disposal. Many different solder alloys have been proposed as potential Pb-free solder replacements and the most promising of these fall into the general alloy families of tin-silver (Sn-Ag), tin-silver-copper (Sn-Ag-Cu) and tin-silver-bismuth (Sn-Ag-Bi). Published melting point data on some of these alloys indicates that they should be capable of reduced reflow temperatures relative to the commonly available Sn-3.5Ag alloy, which melts at 221°C. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and reflow visualization was used to characterize the melting and wetting of the Pb-free alloys and generate the practical reflow temperature requirements. This was compared to the DSC data to gain insight on the meaning of the DSC melting data for surface mount applications. The results show that, in general, the wetting performance of the Sn-Ag-Bi alloys are more similar to Sn-Ag and Sn-Ag-Cu than would be predicted by the major onset melting temperature data as measured by the DSC     

Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Method for the Quantification of β-Casein Fragment (f 193-209)

ABSTRACT: Bitter cheese extract was incubated with cell-free extract of Lactobacillus helveticus strain WSU19. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis showed an intense peak at m/z-1880 that was markedly reduced after a 24-h incubation, as was bitterness. The m/z-1880 peptide was identified as β-casein (f193-209). Synthetic β-casein (f193-209) was mixed with internal standards, asparagine or deuterated glutamine substitution in β-casein (f193-209). Concentration ratios of β-casein (f193-209) to internal standard were plotted against signal ratios. Plots were linear for both internal standards. This study shows that MALDI-TOF is a rapid method for measuring a specific peptide in cheese and may be useful for assessing cheese ripening and screening cultures for debittering activity.     

A normal form approach to approximate input-output linearizationfor maximum phase nonlinear SISO systems

A control synthesis scheme is presented for nonlinear single-input-single-output systems which have completely unstable (antistable) zero dynamics. The approach is similar in spirit to linear approaches for nonminimum phase systems and involves the derivation of an input-output linearizing controller for a suitably-defined nonlinear minimum phase approximation to the original system. The linearizing controller achieves an approximately linear input-output response and internal stability