Identification of new components from anal glands ofTapinoma simrothi pheonicium

In addition to 2-methyl-4-heptanone, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, and iridodials, the anal gland exudate of the dolichoderine ant,Tapinoma simrothi, contains 4-heptanone and 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone. The secretion functions as an alarm pheromone.     

Biochemical composition and storage of Jamaican yams (Dioscorea sp)

Dioscorea yam tubers of 11 cultivars from five common species grown in Jamaica were analysed for the following: protein content, total phenolics, vitamin C, total lipids, fatty acid composition and activity of the polyphenol oxidase enzyme. The results show that the yams grown in Jamaica are of good nutritional value with considerable amounts of protein, vitamin C, low lipids with only one cultivar ‘renta yam’ (D alata) possessing high levels of phenolic compounds. The fatty acids present in the total lipid extracts show that yam tubers generally possess high levels of saturated fatty acids mainly palmitic acid. However, the species D alata (cv white yam) and the species D trifida (cv yampie) have high levels of the unsaturated fatty acid, linolenic. All the polyphenol oxidases from the 11 cultivars show activities towards the diphenol substrates, catechol and DL-DOPA (DL-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine). However, no oxidation was observed with L-tyrosine, a monophenol substrate. All cultivars studied were found to have different lengths of dormancy which varied with storage conditions. When the harvested tubers were washed, sunned and stored at 20?C in a dark cupboard, it was possible to extend their lengths of dormancy by a further 11 weeks.     

Evaluation of aeration and substrate concentration on the production of carotenoids by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sporidiobolus salmonicolor</Emphasis> (CBS 2636) in bioreactor

This study aimed at optimising the cultivation conditions for the production of carotenoids by Sporidiobolus salmonicolor (CBS 2636) in a bioreactor. The maximum content of total carotenoids in the full factorial design 22 was 3131.3 μg/L in synthetic medium with 80 g/L of glucose, 15 g/L of peptone, 5 g/L of malt extract, aeration of 1.5 vvm, agitation of 180 rpm, initial pH of 4.0 at 25 °C. In the kinetic study, we could observe that the bioproduction of carotenoids is associated with cell growth in the exponential phase, and the average specific growth (μ) in bioreactor is 0.046 h⁻¹ with a maximum yield of 0.19 g cells/L h. The maximum yield of carotenoids (60.0 μg/Lh) is observed at 50-h bioproduction. The conversion factor for total organic carbon (TOC) in cells (Y_X/_SCOT) was 2.97 g/g (0–50 h) and 0.254 g/g (50–100 h), the conversion factor glucose into cells (Y_X/Sglicose) was 0.168 g/g (0–100 h). The specific production of carotenoids (Y_P/_X) was 390 μg of carotenoids per gram of cells, the conversion factor of carbon in the product (Y_P/SCOT) was 107.8 μg/g (0–50 h) and 34.4 μg/g (50–100 h), whereas the factor Y_P/_Sglicose was 69.59 μg/g. The agitation and aeration provided better homogeneity in the culture medium, and hence greater availability of nutrients and oxygen, leading to higher production of carotenoids.     

Preliminary Characterization of Novel Extra-cellular Lipase from Penicillium crustosum Under Solid-State Fermentation and its Potential Application for Triglycerides Hydrolysis

Current studies about lipase production involve the use of agro-industrial residues and newly isolated microorganisms aimed at increasing economic attractiveness of the process. Based on these aspects, the main objective of this work is to perform the partial characterization of enzymatic extracts produced by a newly isolated Penicillium crustosum in solid-state fermentation. Lipase extract presented optimal temperature and pH of 37?°C and 9?C10, respectively. The concentrated enzymatic extract showed more stability at 25?°C and pH?7. The enzymes kept 100% of their enzymatic activity until 60?days of storage at 4 and ?10?°C. The stability under calcium salts indicated that the hydrolytic activity presented decay with the increase of calcium concentration. The specificity under several substrates indicated good enzyme activities in triglycerides from C4 to C18.     

Microbial incorporation of 13C-labeled acetate at the field scale: detection of microbes responsible for reduction of U(VI)

A field-scale acetate amendment experiment was performed in a contaminated aquifer at Old Rifle, CO to stimulate in situ microbial reduction of U(VI) in groundwater. To evaluate the microorganisms responsible for microbial uranium reduction during the experiment, 13C-labeled acetate was introduced into well bores via bio-traps containing porous activated carbon beads (Bio-Sep). Incorporation of the 13C from labeled acetate into cellular DNA and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) biomarkers was analyzed in parallel with geochemical parameters. An enrichment of active sigma-proteobacteria was demonstrated in downgradient monitoring wells: Geobacter dominated in wells closer to the acetate injection gallery, while various sulfate reducers were prominent in different downgradient wells. These results were consistent with the geochemical evidence of Fe(III), U(VI), and SO(4)2- reduction. PLFA profiling of bio-traps suspended in the monitoring wells also showed the incorporation of 13C into bacterial cellular lipids. Community composition of downgradient monitoring wells based on quinone and PLFA profiling was in general agreement with the 13C-DNA result. The direct application of 13C label to biosystems, coupled with DNA and PLFA analysis,     

Self-acceptance, acceptance-of-others, and verbal conditioning with mental hospital patients.

A previous study by the authors with military personnel demonstrated that (a) the frequency of endorsement of self-accepting questionnaire items can be increased by standard verbal conditioning techniques, and (b) this increase generalizes to similar but novel items as well as to items indicative of more positive attitudes towards others. The present study attempted to extend these findings to 60 male hospitalized psychiatric patients who scored low on a selected portion of a self-acceptance questionnaire. Experimental Ss were reinforced for accepting responses to 18 self-acceptance items on 3 successive days, while controls received no reinforcement. A postexperimental scale, comprising the original 18 self-acceptance items and an additional 32 novel items, was administered to all Ss. Results support the previous findings, showing that attitudes, which are theoretically relevant to social interaction, can be modified by means of verbal conditioning techniques. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Occupational rehabilitation in the construction industry of Victoria

A survey of construction companies' secondary disability management practices was undertaken in the state of Victoria, Australia. The results indicate that formal rehabilitation and return‐to‐work programmes and practices are not adopted in many companies. Smaller construction firms were less likely to have adopted formal programmes or practices than medium‐to‐large firms. In particular, construction companies reported difficulties in the provision of suitable alternate or light duties for workers returning to work following an injury. Most companies regarded disability management practices to have increased operating costs while yielding little or no benefit in terms of reducing lost workdays. Strategies to overcome some of these impediments to rehabilitation and return‐to‐work in construction are recommended.     

Orientation of triblock copolymers in planar extension

Three commercial styrenic triblock copolymers were subjected to planar extension in a lubricated channel die, as a model for the orientation that may occur during processing operations. Materials that contain cylinders of polystyrene show a pronounced orientation of the cylinder axis in the flow direction, as revealed by small-angle X-ray scattering in the three orthogonal directions. This anisotropy produces small-strain tensile moduli that differ by a factor of 10 or more in the two in-plane directions. A material that contains lamellae of polystyrene shows pronounced orientation of the lamellae in the plane of the sample; in particular, lamellar normals are strongly forbidden from pointing along the flow direction. For similar strains, planar extension is much more effective in orienting these materials than simple shear.