Bacteroides fragilis enterotoxin cleaves the zonula adherens protein, E-cadherin

Strains of Bacteroides fragilis associated with diarrheal disease (enterotoxigenic B. fragilis) produce a 20-kDa zinc-dependent metalloprotease toxin (B. fragilis enterotoxin; BFT) that reversibly stimulates chloride secretion and alters tight junctional function in polarized intestinal epithelial cells. BFT alters cellular morphology and physiology most potently and rapidly when placed on the basolateral membrane of epithelial cells, suggesting that the cellular substrate for BFT may be present on this membrane. Herein, we demonstrate that BFT specifically cleaves within 1 min the extracellular domain of the zonula adherens protein, E-cadherin. Cleavage of E-cadherin by BFT is ATP-independent and essential to the morphologic and physiologic activity of BFT. However, the morphologic changes occurring in response to BFT are dependent on target-cell ATP. E-cadherin is shown here to be a cellular substrate for a bacterial toxin and represents the identification of a mechanism of action, cell-surface proteolytic activity, for a bacterial toxin.     

Protein fluctuations are sensed by stimulated infrared echoes of the vibrations of carbon monoxide and azide probes

The correlation functions of the fluctuations of vibrational frequencies of azide ions and carbon monoxide in proteins are determined directly from stimulated photon echoes generated with femtosecond infrared pulses. The asymmetric stretching vibration of azide bound to carbonic anhydrase II exhibits a pronounced evolution of its vibrational frequency distribution on the time scale of a few picoseconds, which is attributed to modifications of the ligand structure through interactions with the nearby Thr-199. When azide is bound in hemoglobin, a more complex evolution of the protein structure is required to interchange the different ligand configurations, as evidenced by the much slower relaxation of the frequency distribution in this case. The time evolution of the distribution of frequencies of carbon monoxide bound in hemoglobin occurs on the approximately 10-ps time scale and is very nonexponential. The correlation functions of the frequency fluctuations determine the evolution of the protein structure local to the probe and the extent to which the probe can navigate those parts of the energy landscape where the structural configurations are able to modify the local potential energy function of the probe.     

Sulfur-containing compounds from Scorodocarpus borneensis and their antimicrobial activity

This paper reports two cases of neotropical echinococcosis caused by Echinococcus oligarthrus and E. vogeli, neither of which has been reported from Suriname. Case 1, a six-year-old boy, presented a 15 x 25 mm retro-ocular cystic tumor (observed by ultrasound, computed tomography scan, and magnetic resonance imaging) causing exophthalmia, chemosis, palpebral ptosis, and blindness of the left eye. Of two tentative diagnoses, Echinococcus cyst or dermoid tumor, the former was shown to be correct at surgery when a clear liquid and detached protoscoleces were aspirated. Rostellar hooks of the protoscolex were characteristic of E. oligarthrus. Case 2, a 41-year-old man, had polycystic masses excised from the liver and abdomen. A presurgery diagnosis of E. vogeli infection was made due to calcifications seen in the lesions, positive serology, residence of the patient in the tropical forest, and later by the size and shape of rostellar hooks. The presence of these two parasites in one of the former Guianas is not surprising; both species are endemic in tropical forest in Central and South America wherever people have not exterminated wild canids, especially the bush dog, (Speothos venaticus), and felids (wild cats of several species), along with pacas, agoutis, and other rodents that serve as intermediate host of these two cestodes. Eighty-six cases of polycystic echinococcosis are known in people from 11 countries from Nicaragua to Argentina: 32 due to E. vogeli, three to E. oligarthrus, and 51 for which determination of the species was not possible because the hooks of the protoscolex were not found or described. Research to elucidate aspects of transmission of E. vogeli and E. oligarthrus is of practical importance for defining measures for preventing the severe and frequently fatal illnesses caused by these two cestodes.     

Determination of 5-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase activity in erythrocytes and porphobilinogen in urine by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

A micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatographic (MECC) method has been developed and optimised for the separation of 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) and porphobilinogen (PBG). The running buffer consisted of a mixture of 20 mM sodium phosphate and 20 mM sodium borate containing 50 mM sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) adjusted to pH 9.5 with 1 M NaOH. The running voltage and temperature were 20-25 kV and 30 degrees C, respectively. The MECC method for the analysis of PBG is fast and simple and is useful for the screening of PBG in the urine of patients suspected to have acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), and for the confirmation of lead exposure by measuring red-cell ALA-dehydratase (ALA-D) activity with ALA as the enzyme substrate.     

地方时与区时在电离层研究中的差异

本文指出混淆地时与区时两个时间概念在电离层研究中带来的差异的严重性，建议使用地方与区时这两个名词，而抛弃“本地时”和“当地时”等容易引起混淆的名词。     

台儿庄城区饮用水水源地水质放射性水平分析

为了解和掌握台儿庄城区饮用水水源地放射性水平和动态变化,本文以枣庄市生态环境局台儿庄分局提供的饮用水水源地水质放射性数据为基础,探讨了台儿庄城区饮用水水源地水质中α、β放射性质量浓度的动态变化。结果显示:水源地总α、β放射性质量浓度均低于标准限值,总α放射性质量浓度小于总β放射性质量浓度,总α、β放射性水平在水源地和季节变化中差异均不显著(P>0.05)。水源地水质总放射性水平符合我国规定的饮用水指导值。     

基于云自适应遗传算法的NoC路径分配研究

路径分配是NoC设计流程中的两个关键步骤之一;路径分配的结果对NoC系统的性能尤其是通讯延时有着很重要的影响;多约束条件下的NoC路径分配问题是NP完全问题,要求出其最优解比较困难,目前常用的方法是利用启发式算法求得其较优解;文中提出一种基于云自适应遗传算法的NoC路径分配解决方案,该算法利用云模型对传统遗传算法加以改进,采取新的方法自动调整遗传算法过程中的交叉概率pc和变异概率pm,将适应度与云模型的3个参数Ex、En、He相互结合,从而达到优化遗传算法的目的;将此算法应用于2D-Mesh拓扑结构的NoC中,以平衡链路负载和联合优化为实验目标,以优化静态通讯分配结果;实验证明,文章所采取的算法在平衡链路负载和联合优化方面均取得了良好的效果。     

A power-free deposited microbead plug-based microfluidic chip for whole-blood immunoassay

We present a deposited microbead plug (DMBP)-based microfluidic chip capable of performing plasma extraction and on-chip immunoassay. The DMBP used as a porous blood filter provides pure blood plasma without the contamination of blood cells or beads. Capillary-driven flow eliminates the requirement of external pumps. The human IgG and goat anti-human IgG sample-to-answer assay was performed in this chip within 600 s using only a 10 μl whole-blood sample. This easy-to-use, rapid, inexpensive, and disposable DMBP-based chip holds a great promise for point-of-care application.