Evidence for widespread Wolbachia infection in isopod crustaceans: molecular identification and host feminization

Wolbachia are maternally inherited, intracellular, alpha proteobacteria that infect a wide range of arthropods. They cause three kinds of reproductive alterations in their hosts: cytoplasmic incompatibility, parthenogenesis and feminization. There have been many studies of the distribution of Wolbachia in arthropods, but very few crustacean species are known to be infected. We investigated the prevalence of Wolbachia in 85 species from five crustacean orders. Twenty-two isopod species were found to carry these bacteria. The bacteria were found mainly in terrestrial species, suggesting that Wolbachia came from a continental environment. The evolutionary relationships between these Wolbachia strains were determined by sequencing bacterial genes and by interspecific transfers. All the bacteria associated with isopods belonged to the Wolbachia B group, based on 16S rDNA sequence data. All the terrestrial isopod symbionts in this group except one formed an independent clade. The results of interspecific transfers show evidence of specialization of Wolbachia symbionts to their isopod hosts. They also suggest that host species plays a more important role than bacterial phylogeny in determining the phenotype induced by Wolbachia infection.     

Left main coronary artery compression during primary pulmonary hypertension

Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is often associated with angina-like chest pain, the mechanism of which is controversial. A 37-year-old woman with severe PPH and angina had transient ischemic ECG changes and reversible anterior perfusion defect on 201thallium scintigraphy. Coronary angiography revealed severe stenosis of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) and otherwise normal vessels. After heart-lung transplantation, examination of the explanted heart showed normal coronary arteries. Compression of the LMCA by the dilated pulmonary artery trunk was responsible for myocardial ischemia. This mechanism should be considered in patients with PPH and angina and might contribute to the high sudden death rate.     

Effect of particle size distribution of specularite concentrates on sinter quality and its influence on the formation of calcium ferrites during sintering

The effect of particle size distribution of specular hematite concentrates on sintering process and on various sinter properties were studied to assess whether the “as produced” or a comparatively coarse or fine concentrate is preferable. The results demonstrated that at basicity levels <2.0, a coarse ground concentrate would be preferable for improving both sinter quality and productivity. At higher basicities of ≥2.0, the effect of particle size distribution appears to be less pronounced, and the benefits obtained are marginal. The influence of particle size distribution and basicity on the formation of calcium ferrites has been discussed.     

Reaction Characteristics of Magnesia–Spinel Refractories with Cement Clinker

The adherence ability of cement clinker on magnesia–spinel refractories is investigated, using a sandwich test, at 1550°C for 30 min under a load of 5.3 kPa. Fractional factorial experiments determine that the silica ratio (SR)—SiO₂/(Al₂O₃+Fe₂O₃) and particle size of raw meal, as well as heating rate, have a significant effect on adherence ability. Microstructural analyses indicate that the adherence ability depends upon reactions between clinker and refractories at high temperature. Only spinel reacts with CaO and 3CaO·SiO₂ from clinker to form n -calcium aluminate (such as 3CaO·Al₂O₃, 12CaO·7Al₂O₃, CaO·Al₂O₃), but there is no reaction between MgO and the clinker. Fine crystalline spinel, evenly distributed in magnesia-based brick, is prone to reacting with lime-containing phases from clinker to form low melting phases and a belite-enriched zone at the clinker/brick interface. This reaction positively contributes to the high adherence on a magnesia−spinel brick. The high content of liquid in clinker with low SR accelerates reactions between spinel and clinker, while a limited reaction occurs at the brick/clinker interface with high silica.     

含硼添加剂对白云石炭耐火材料抗氧化与抗侵蚀性的影响

石墨和结合碳的氧化是白云石炭耐火材料在使用中损坏的重要原因之一。本工作研究了４种含硼材料（ＣａＢ６,ＺｒＢ２,Ｂｃ和Ｃｏｌｅｍａｎｉｔｅ）在白云石炭耐火材料中的行为以及作为抗氧化剂的作用,并与ＡｌＭｇ合金的抗氧化效果进行了对比。在白云石炭耐火材料中,含硼添加剂的防氧化效果优于ＡｌＭｇ合金。在高温下形成的硼酸盐熔体（Ｃａ３Ｂ２Ｏ６,Ｍｇ３Ｂ２Ｏ６）延缓或阻止了碳的氧化,从而提高了含炭材料的抗氧化性。同时,也初步研究了这些含硼添加剂与ＡｌＭｇ合金对白云石炭耐火材料抗侵蚀性的影响。结果表明：两种类型添加剂同时使用可显著提高材料的抗渣性。     

A hexameric transmembrane pore revealed by two-dimensional crystallization of the large mechanosensitive ion channel (MscL) of Escherichia coli

We have established a reconstitution method of the detergent-solubilized recombinant large mechanosensitive ion channel of Escherichia coli (MscL) that yielded two-dimensional crystals. For that purpose, we have developed a new protocol using Triton X-100 to solubilize and purify the MscL protein. This protocol not only allowed an increase in the protein yield but also made it possible to obtain a homogeneous delipidated and reproducible preparation of the purified protein. When examined by the patch-clamp method MscL channels were found to be fully functional, exhibiting characteristic conductance and activation by pressure. For electron crystallography the homogeneous Triton X-100-purified recombinant MscL was further reconstituted at low lipid-to-protein ratios using Bio-Beads SM2 to remove the detergent. Two-dimensional crystals, exhibiting a p6 plane group symmetry, have been produced and examined by negative stain electron microscopy. Image processing of selected micrographs yielded a projection map at 15-A resolution that provided the first explicit structural information about the molecular boundary and homohexameric organization of the MscL channels in the membrane bilayer.     

In vivo footprinting of the interaction of proteins with DNA and RNA

The reproductive cycle of female mosquitoes is activated by ingestion of blood from vertebrate hosts. Shortly after feeding, neurohormones are released from the brain neurosecretory system and stimulate the ovaries to secrete ecdysteroids, which are necessary for vitellogenesis by the fat body. Because bombyxins, which are insulin-like peptides, stimulate ecdysteriodgenesis in silkworm larvae, we tested porcine insulin and found that it activates ecdysteroidogenesis and protein synthesis in ovaries isolated from unfed mosquitoes. To further characterize the regulation of ecdysteroidogenesis in female mosquitoes, we cloned the mosquito insulin receptor (MIR) homologue from ovarian mRNA. The sequence of the extracellular domain shows moderate homologies with vertebrate and Drosophila insulin receptor homologues, as well as with the insulin receptor-related receptor, the latter being an "orphan" receptor with an unknown function. In the intracellular domain, high homologies are observed, particularly in those subdomains that are responsible for ATP binding and kinase activity. Northern blot analysis of MIR demonstrated a highly specific expression in ovaries, and cloning experiments indicated its presence in the brain. Recombinant MIR extracts from a baculovirus expression system contained high constitutive kinase activity in the presence of manganese or magnesium. Activation was independent of a ligand. SDS-gel analysis suggested that the recombinant receptor was not post-translationally processed into an alpha- and beta-subunit as was expected from a putative cleavage signal. Enzymatic properties of the proreceptor are presented: the Km for ATP was between 15 and 50 microM in the presence of a synthetic substrate: maximal kinase activity to 100-fold over basic activity was reached in the presence of 1 mM manganese. Stimulation of key oogenic processes by porcine insulin and identification of a MIR indicate that insulin-like neurohormones may have an important regulatory role in mosquito oogenesis.     

含炭耐火材料用硼化物添加剂

综述了近几年国外研究含炭耐火材料防氧化而采用的一些含硼添加剂，介绍了这些添加剂的特性及其防止碳氧化的基本原理。     

Adherence Characteristics of Cement Clinker on Basic Bricks

Based on the sandwich test,adherence mechanisms of cement clinker on various basic bricks were tackled by microstructural observations with help of cathodoluminescence technique.Doloma based bricks offer sufficient lime to react with clinker,forming C3S rich layer and initializing superior adherence.However,clinker with low silica ratio leads to MgO agglomeration at the interface of doloma bricks,which reduces adherence strength.On magnesia spinel bricks,fine crystalline spinel easily reacts with lime containing phases from clinker to form lowmelting phases and belite zone,which shows high adherence performance.Lack of fine spinel in magnesia spinel bricks results in poor adherence.