Identification of peptides in traditional and probiotic sheep milk yoghurt with angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity

Two sets of traditional Greek sheep milk yoghurt were produced: the first one (YC) using normal yoghurt culture (Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus ?10.13 and Streptococcus thermophilus ?10.7) and the second (PR) with the same normal culture mixed with Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei DC412. YC and PR had similar physicochemical properties and proteolysis patterns throughout storage. Both products showed similar peptide profiles by RP-HPLC but quantitative differences were observed in respect to storage time. Single-strain cultures of the microorganisms used showed similar peptide profiles for both lactobacilli, yet L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus was the most proteolytic of all three microorganisms. The peptide content and the ACE-inhibitory activity of the water-soluble extracts of yoghurts, YC and PR, increased throughout storage. Major peptides were identified from yoghurt PR and from the separate cultures of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and L. paracasei subsp. paracasei. Most of these peptides were derived from β-casein. A peptide, β-CN f114-121, with well-established ACE-inhibitory and opiate-like activity was identified in yoghurt PR. Further identified peptides were regarded as potential ACE-inhibitors according to their sequence.     

In-situ characterization of microbial community in an A/O submerged membrane bioreactor with nitrogen removal.

The bacterial community involved in removing nitrogen from sewage and their preferred DO environment within an anoxic/oxic membrane bioreactor (A/O MBR) was investigated. A continuously operated laboratory-scale A/O MBR was maintained for 360 d. At a sludge age of 150 d and a C/N ratio of 3.5, the system was capable of removing 88% of the influent nitrogen from raw wastewater through typical nitrogen removal transformations (i.e. aerobic ammonia oxidation and anoxic nitrate reduction). Characterization of the A/O MBR bacterial community was carried out using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques. FISH results further showed that Nitrosospira spp. and Nitrospira spp. were the predominant groups of ammonia and nitrite oxidizing group, respectively. They constituted up to 11% and 6% of eubacteria at DO below 0.05 mg/l (low DO), respectively, and about 14% and 9% of eubacteria at DO between 2-5 mg/l (sufficient DO), respectively, indicating preference of nitrifiers for a higher DO environment. Generally low counts of the genus Paracoccus were detected while negative results were observed for Paracoccus denitrificans, Alcaligenes spp, and Pseudomonas stutzeri under the low and sufficient DO environments. The overall results indicate that Nitrosospira spp., Nitrospira spp. and members of Paracoccus spp. can be metabolically functional in nitrogen removal in the laboratory-scale A/O MBR system.     

Dendrimer-like cyanoruthenate anions with high potential connectivity derived from a [Ru(bpym)3]2+ core

Reaction of [Ru(bpym)₃]²⁺ (bpym = 2,2′-bipyridmidine) with hexacyanoruthenate under forcing conditions affords a mixture of the trinuclear species [(bpym)Ru{(µ-bpym)Ru(CN)₄}₂]^2?, [1]^2?, and the tetranuclear species [Ru{(µ-bpym)Ru(CN)₄}₃]^4?, [2]^4?, in which two or three (respectively) of the peripheral vacant bpym binding sites of [Ru(bpym)₃]²⁺ are occupied by {Ru(CN)₄}^2? fragments. Thus, [1]^2? and [2]^4? have eight and twelve externally-directed cyanide groups respectively for use in forming high connectivity coordination networks. The crystal structure of HK[1]·2MeOH·6.5H₂O reveals a one-dimensional ladder structure in which [1]^2? anions are connected by (i) cyanide/K⁺ and (ii) bpym/K⁺ coordination interactions.     

正交异性钢桥面板改造的组合粘结系统

<正>交异性钢桥面板改造的问题在于既有钢板与第二个钢板的粘结,以降低应力和增加正交异性钢板的使用寿命。通过试验和分析,对梁的弯曲性能进行参数研究。试验考虑不同厚度、温度和跨度的影响。从试验结果可见,应力降低与温度无关。最小化第二块钢板的厚度及最大化粘结层厚度,可降低重量,增加组合结构的刚度,这是最有效的解决方法。组合梁的弹性性能和屈服荷载取决于钢板的性能,温度的影响不显著。然而,粘结层的受剪最终导致梁的破坏,而粘结层的性能受温度的影响较大。     

Influence of water activity and temperature on growth and mycotoxin production by Alternaria alternata on irradiated soya beans

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of water activity (a_w) (0.99-0.90), temperature (15, 25 and 30 °C) and their interactions on growth and alternariol (AOH) and alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) production by Alternaria alternata on irradiated soya beans. Maximum growth rates were obtained at 0.980 a_w and 25 °C. Minimum a_w level for growth was dependent on temperature. Both strains were able to grow at the lowest a_w assayed (0.90). Maximum amount of AOH was produced at 0.98 a_w but at different temperatures, 15 and 25 °C, for the strains RC 21 and RC 39 respectively. Maximum AME production was obtained at 0.98 a_w and 30 °C for both strains. The concentration range of both toxins varied considerably depending on a_w and temperature interactions. The two metabolites were produced over the temperature range 15 to 30 °C and a_w range 0.99 to 0.96. The limiting a_w for detectable mycotoxin production is slightly greater than that for growth. Two-dimensional profiles of a_w × temperature were developed from these data to identify areas where conditions indicate a significant risk from AOH and AME accumulation on soya bean. Knowledge of AOH and AME production under marginal or sub-optimal temperature and a_w conditions for growth can be important since improper storage conditions accompanied by elevated temperature and moisture content in the grain can favour further mycotoxin production and lead to reduction in grain quality. This could present a hazard if the grain is used for human consumption or animal feedstuff.     

Myopathy-Sensitive G-Actin Segment 227-235 Is Involved in Salt-Induced Stabilization of Contacts within the Actin Filament

Formation of stable actin filaments, critically important for actin functions, is determined by the ionic strength of the solution. However, not much is known about the elements of the actin fold involved in ionic-strength-dependent filament stabilization. In this work, F-actin was destabilized by Cu²⁺ binding to Cys374, and the effects of solvent conditions on the dynamic properties of F-actin were correlated with the involvement of Segment 227-235 in filament stabilization. The results of our work show that the presence of Mg²⁺ at the high-affinity cation binding site of Cu-modified actin polymerized with MgCl₂ strongly enhances the rate of filament subunit exchange and promotes the filament instability. In the presence of 0.1 M KCl, the filament subunit exchange was 2–3-fold lower than that in the MgCl₂-polymerized F-actin. This effect correlates with the reduced accessibility of the D-loop and Segment 227-235 on opposite filament strands, consistent with an ionic-strength-dependent conformational change that modulates involvement of Segment 227-235 in stabilization of the intermonomer interface. KCl may restrict the mobility of the α-helix encompassing part of Segment 227-235 and/or be bound to Asp236 at the boundary of Segment 227-235. These results provide experimental evidence for the involvement of Segment 227-235 in salt-induced stabilization of contacts within the actin filament and suggest that they can be weakened by mutations characteristic of actin-associated myopathies.     

P16 and HPV Genotype Significance in HPV-Associated Cervical Cancer—A Large Cohort of Two Tertiary Referral Centers

The expression of p16 is a good surrogate of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in HPV-associated cancers. The significance of p16 expression, HPV genotype and genera in the outcome of patients with HPV-associated cervical cancer (CC) is unclear. Our aim is to ascertain the prognostic significance of these factors. Data from 348 patients (median age: 47.5 years old) with CC, diagnosed in two referral centers, were retrospectively collected. Advanced disease (FIGO2018 IB2-IV) was present in 68% of patients. A single HPV genotype was identified in 82.8% of patients. The most common HPVs were HPV16 (69%) and HPV18 (14%). HPV genera reflected this distribution. HPV16 tumors presented at an earlier stage. P16 was negative in 18 cases (5.2%), 83.3% of which were squamous cell carcinomas. These cases occurred in older patients who tended to have advanced disease. In the univariate analysis, HPV16 (HR: 0.58; p = 0.0198), α-9 genera (HR: 0.37; p = 0.0106) and p16 overexpression (HR: 0.54; p = 0.032) were associated with better survival. HPV16 (HR: 0.63; p = 0.0174) and α-9 genera (HR: 0.57; p = 0.0286) were associated with less relapse. In the multivariate analysis, only the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage retained an independent prognostic value. HPV16, α-9 genera and p16 overexpression were associated with better survival, although not as independent prognostic factors. Patients with p16-negative HPV-associated CC were older, presented with advanced disease and had worse prognosis.     

Structure Formation of Integral Asymmetric Composite Membranes of Polystyrene‐block‐Poly(2‐vinylpyridine) on a Nonwoven

The formation of an integral asymmetric membrane composed of a cylinder‐forming polystyrene‐block‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) on a nonwoven by using solvent casting followed by solvent/nonsolvent exchange (phase inversion) is reported for the first time. The influence of parameters such as solvent composition, evaporation time of the solution‐cast block copolymer film before phase inversion, and immersion bath temperature is demonstrated. The optimized membranes are characterized in terms of stimuli‐responsive water flux properties. The morphologies of the membranes as well as of the bulk of the block copolymer are imaged by scanning force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy.

     

Metabolic and DNA Repair Variations in Susceptibility to Genotoxins

An overview on the influence of metabolic and DNA repair polymorphisms on biological indicators of genotoxic risk in occupational, environmental, or lifestyle exposure is presented in this article. Indicators of genotoxic risk include biomarkers of internal dose (urinary concentration of the substance or its metabolites and urinary mutagenicity), biological effective dose (protein and DNA adducts), and indicators of early biological effects (chromosome aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges, micronuclei, COMET assay, HPRT mutants). Genetic polymorphisms include those involved in the activation and detoxification (i.e., P-450 cytochrome, acetyltransferase, glutathione transferase) of various classes of carcinogens and the newly discovered polymorphisms affecting DNA repair enzymes. Genetic polymorphisms are assessed for their importance in detecting the impact of genotype on biological indicators of genotoxic risk.