A non-conserved sequence in the 5'region of the CYH2 intron from Saccharomyces cerevisiae controls splicing efficiency of the pre-mRNA

The CYH2 gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae containing one 510 bp intron is spliced inefficiently. We have shown previously that a non-conserved sequence within the intron is responsible for this low splicing efficiency. Using synthetic oligonucleotides comprising the identified region we show in this report that a very short region contains the specificity to act negatively on the splicing efficiency of the CYH2 gene. Furthermore, this sequence influences the splicing efficiency only when it is placed close to the 5' splice site of the gene. Investigations with chimeric CYH2/beta-actin genes show that this sequence acts independent from its natural surroundings. We propose that this sequence might interact with splicing factor(s).     

Characterization of activated sludge flocs by confocal laser scanning microscopy and image analysis

In this study we present a new approach to determine volumes, heterogeneity factors, and compositions of the bacterial population of activated sludge flocs by 3D confocal imaging. After staining the fresh flocs with fluorescein-isothiocyanate, 75 stacks of images (containing approx. 3000 flocs) were acquired with a confocal laser scanning microscope. The self-developed macro 3D volume and surface determination for the KS 400 software package combined the images of one stack to a 3D image and calculated the real floc volume and surface. We determined heterogeneity factors like the ratio of real floc surface to the surface of a sphere with the respective volume and the fractal dimension (D(f)). According to their significant influence on floc integrity and quality, we also investigated the chemical composition of flocs and quantified their bacterial population structure by using group-specific rRNA-targeted probes for fluorescence in situ hybridization. By a settling experiment we enriched flocs with poor settling properties and determined the above-mentioned parameters. This approach revealed shifts in floc volume, heterogeneity, and bacterial and chemical composition according to the settling quality of the flocs.     

Über die Katalyse der Cooxidation von cis-Oct-4-en und n-Butyraldehyd

The Catalysis of the Co-Oxidation of cis-Oct-4-ene and n-Butyric Aldehyde The co-oxidation of cis-oct-4-ene and n-butyric aldehyde in the absence of catalysts, or in the presence of molybdenum and Co(acac)₃, resp., was studied in dependence on the aldehyde/olefin ratio, on the temperature and other reaction conditions. Under the same conditions, the noncatalyzed co-oxidation converted 50%, the MoO₂(acac)₂-catalyzed one 68%, and the Co(acac)₃-catalyzed one 40% of the reacted olefin into the epoxide. The cis/trans-epoxide ratio in the molybdenum-catalyzed co-oxidation was nearly 2 independent of the aldehyde/olefin ratio. In the non-catalyzed co-oxidation the cis/trans-epoxide ratio depends linearly on the aldehyde/olefin ratio (cis/trans E. = 0,58 + 0,90 n/n). From these dependences we can conclude that the homolytic mechanism of epoxide formation decreases and the polar mechanism (Priležaev-reaction) increases with increasing aldehyde/olefin ratio. Optimization of the epoxide yields according to a Box-Hunter experimental plan gave the following reaction conditions to yield 95% epoxide based on reacted olefin: 70°C, Δn_S/n = 0,49, n/n = 3,5 · 10⁻³, n/n = 0,53. The co-oxidation in the presence of other molybdenum catalysts of the chloro-nitrosyl-complex type and of the carbonyl-complex type as well as the co-oxidation with other aldehydes were studied, too.     

Influence of personality on travel-related consumer-generated media creation

While a growing number of travelers engages in consumer-generated media (CGM) use and creation, the gap between the number of users and the number of actual content creators remains large. It is important to find out what drives this minority of creators and what makes them different from those who only use CGM. Personality has been found to be a particularly influential trait that predicts behavior. The influence of personality on travel CGM creation was investigated and the results indicate that travelers’ personality traits significantly influence perceived barriers to content creation, motivations to engage in CGM creation, and specific creation behaviors. Contributions and implications are discussed from both a theoretical and a practical perspective.     

Effect of Sediment Copper on the Distribution of Benthic Macroinvertebrates in the Keweenaw Waterway

Benthic macroinvertebrates, sediment copper, and sediment particle size were examined in two areas of the Keweenaw Waterway. The north area is downdrift from deposits of copper tailings. South area sediment averaged 27% silt and clay and north area sediment 66%. South area sediment had an average copper content of 33 mg/kg and north area sediment 589 mg/kg. The number of invertebrates was 4.3 times greater in the south than the north. The average number of taxa at south stations was 20 and at north stations 8. Mollusks, mayflies, and crustaceans were common in the south but rare or absent in the north. Hexagenia was the most abundant animal in the south. A single individual was found in the north, at the only north station with low sediment copper. Three north stations with sediment particle size similar to south stations had the same restricted fauna of chironomids and oligochaetes as that found at other north stations. Equitability and Shannon-Wiener diversity values for most north stations did not indicate pollution because of the extremely low, and thus, even numbers of individuals collected in all taxa. Twenty-six taxa were common to both areas. Four taxa, found only in the north, were represented by five individuals. Twenty-five taxa, found only in the south, were represented by 1,007 individuals. The likely cause of the reduced invertebrate fauna in the north area is high levels of sediment copper.     

Alanine : glyoxylate aminotransferase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae-encoding gene AGX1 and metabolic significance

Alanine : glyoxylate aminotransferase is one of three different enzymes used for glycine synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The open reading frame YFL030w (named AGX1 in the following), encoding this enzyme, was identified by comparing enzyme specific activities in knockout strains. While 100% activity was detectable in the parental strain, 2% was found in a YFL030w::kanMX4 strain. The ORF found at that locus was suspected to encode alanine : glyoxylate aminotransferase because its predicted amino acid sequence showed 23% identity to the human homologue. Since the YFL030w::kanMX4 strain showed no glycine auxtrophic phenotype, AGX1 was replaced by KanMX4 in a Delta GLY1 Delta SHM1 Delta SHM2 background. These background mutations, which cause inactivation of threonine aldolase, mitochondrial and cytosolic serine hydroxymethyltransferase, respectively, lead to a conditional glycine auxotrophy. This means that growth is not possible on glucose but on ethanol as the sole carbon source. Additional disruption of AGX1 revealed a complete glycine auxotrophy. Complementation was observed by transformation with a plasmid-encoded AGX1.     

Internet (WWW) based system of ultrasonic image processing tools for remote image analysis

Ultrasonic Doppler color imaging can provide anatomic information and simultaneously render flow information within blood vessels for diagnostic purpose. Many researchers are currently developing ultrasound image processing algorithms in order to provide physicians with accurate clinical parameters from the images. Because researchers use a variety of computer languages and work on different computer platforms to implement their algorithms, it is difficult for other researchers and physicians to access those programs. A system has been developed using World Wide Web (WWW) technologies and HTTP communication protocols to publish our ultrasonic Angle Independent Doppler Color Image (AIDCI) processing algorithm and several general measurement tools on the Internet, where authorized researchers and physicians can easily access the program using web browsers to carry out remote analysis of their local ultrasonic images or images provided from the database. In order to overcome potential incompatibility between programs and users' computer platforms, ActiveX technology was used in this project. The technique developed may also be used for other research fields.