Thiamine and Fatty Acid Content of Lake Michigan Chinook Salmon

Nutritional status of Lake Michigan Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) is inadequately documented. An investigation was conducted to determine muscle and liver thiamine content and whole body fatty acid composition in small, medium and large Chinook salmon. Muscle and liver thiamine concentrations were highest in small salmon, and tended to decrease with increasing fish size. Muscle thiamine was higher in fall than spring in large salmon. The high percentage of Chinook salmon (24–32% in fall and 58–71% in spring) with muscle thiamine concentration below 500 pmol/g, which has been associated with loss of equilibrium and death in other Great Lake salmonines, suggest that Chinook appear to rely less on thiamine than other Great Lakes species for which such low concentrations would be associated with thiamine deficiency (Brown et al. 2005b). A positive correlation was observed between liver total thiamine and percent liver lipids (r = 0.53, P < 0.0001, n = 119). In medium and large salmon, liver lipids were observed to be low in fish with less than 4,000 pmol/g liver total thiamine. In individuals with greater than 4,000 pmol/g liver thiamine, liver lipid increased with thiamine concentration. Individual fatty acids declined between fall and spring. Essential omega-3 fatty acids appear to be conserved as lipid content declined. Arachidonic acid (C20:4n6), an essential omega-6 fatty acid was not different between fall and spring, although the sum of omega-6 (Sw6) fatty acids declined over winter. Elevated concentrations of saturated fatty acids (sum) were observed in whole body tissue lipid. In summary, thiamine, a dietary essential vitamin, and individual fatty acids were found to vary in Lake Michigan Chinook salmon by fish size and season of the year.     

Hepatic and Extrahepatic Sources and Manifestations in Endoplasmic Reticulum Storage Diseases

Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) and fibrinogen are secretory acute phase reactant proteins. Circulating AAT and fibrinogen are synthesized exclusively in the liver. Mutations in the encoding genes result in conformational abnormalities of the two molecules that aggregate within the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) instead of being regularly exported. That results in AAT-deficiency (AATD) and in hereditary hypofibrinogenemia with hepatic storage (HHHS). The association of plasma deficiency and liver storage identifies a new group of pathologies: endoplasmic reticulum storage disease (ERSD).     

Cognitive deficits in docosahexaenoic acid-deficient rats.

This study investigated the influence of brain docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) deficiency on simple and complex olfactory-based learning and memory in 2nd generation (F2) adult male rats. Rats raised and maintained on either an n-3-adequate or an n-3-deficient diet were tested for acquisition of an olfactory learning set and an olfactory memory task, and for motivation to obtain a water reward. Despite a 76% decrease in brain DHA, n-3-deficient rats were able to acquire most simple 2-odor discrimination tasks but were deficient in the acquisition of a 20-problem olfactory learning set. This deficit could not be attributed to changes in sensory capacity but, instead, appeared to represent a deficit in higher order learning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Electron microscopic observations of Bi and Tl bearing cuprate high temperature superconductors

The second generation of high temperature superconductors typified by Bi₂Sr₂Ca _n−1Cu _n O_2n+4 and Tl₂Ba₂Ca _n−1Cu _n O_2n+4 exhibits curious structural properties which have direct relevance to the superconducting behaviour particularly transition temperature (T _c ). The present paper reports on investigations of structural properties at microlevel in Bi-bearing HTCS. We have found curious structural characteristics which manifests itself in the form of transformation froma _p ×a _p ×c to (2)^1/2 a _p ×(2)^1/2 a _p ×c through the loss of calcium atoms and the formation of five-fold modulated phase alongb through the loss of Ca and Sr atoms. We have also found the evidence of high periodicities (n=4) Bi₂Sr₂Ca₃Cu₄O₁₂. The microstructural characteristics of HTCS showing the higherT _c (R=0) ∼ 120 K exhibits unusual characteristics.     

索杆张力结构力密度找形分析方法

根据索杆张力结构体系特征,建立了一种修正的力密度平衡形态分析方法;基于单纯索网体系力密度法,推导出了索杆自平衡体系力密度平衡方程;根据索杆张力结构的自应力模态、机构位移模态、无约束自平衡条件和力密度矩阵数值特征,推导出了力密度矩阵的秩亏条件,并引入力密度和节点向量线性条件约束索杆结构的几何模型;通过高斯变换降秩法得到满足秩亏的降秩力密度矩阵,并由M-P广义逆矩阵更新了力密度,迭代计算后得到可行力密度;根据一组独立无关坐标和拓扑关系计算了平衡形态位形,最后采用VC++编程实现了算法。结果表明:该方法适用于索杆张力结构的找形分析,具有一定的正确性和有效性。     

Spinel lithium manganese oxide synthesized under a pressurized oxygen atmosphere

Spinel lithium manganese oxide was synthesized via co-precipitation. The prepared lithium manganese oxide powder was further heated at 700 °C for 15 h under pressurized (3 bar) oxygen atmosphere. The resultant exhibited a highly crystalline cubic spinel phase with space group Fd3m, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The spinel compound exhibited a slightly smaller lattice constant than a conventional spinel compound, even though the cationic ratio of Li/Mn is the same for both compounds. Chemical titration of the Mn component showed that heat treatment under a 3 bar oxygen atmosphere resulted in slightly higher average Mn oxidation state, indicating that the amount of Mn⁴⁺ increased after the treatment. The Li_1.05Mn_1.95O_3.99 electrode exhibited improved cycling performance, namely, 96.3% of capacity retention during 100 cycles at elevated temperature (60 °C). The details of the structure and electrochemistry of the electrode are discussed.     

Probes and nano-delivery systems targeting NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1: a mini-review

The two-electron cytoplasmic reductase NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 is expressed in many tissues. NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 is well-known for being highly expressed in most cancers. Therefore, it could be a target for cancer therapy. Because it is a quinone reductase, many bioimaging probes based on quinone structures target NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 to diagnose tumours. Its expression is higher in tumours than in normal tissues, and using target drugs such as β-lapachone to reduce side effects in normal tissues can help. However, the physicochemical properties of β-lapachone limit its application. The problem can be solved by using nanosystems to deliver β-lapachone. This mini-review summarizes quinone-based fluorescent, near-infrared and two-photon fluorescent probes, as well as nanosystems for delivering the NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1-activating drug β-lapachone. This review provides valuable information for the future development of probes and nano-delivery systems that target NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1.     

Cloning and heterologous expression of the NADPH cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase genes from an industrial dicarboxylic acid-producing Candida tropicalis

NADPH cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (CPR) catalyses the transfer of electrons during P450-mediated oxidation, which plays an important role in the omega-oxidation pathway of Candida tropicalis. Two putative allelic genes, CPR-a and CPR-b, were cloned from the long chain dicarboxylic acid-producing Candida tropicalis 1230, using cassette PCR methods. Both the identified open reading frames predict the gene products of 679 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequences of CPR-a and CPR-b are highly homologous to CPR genes from C. tropicalis ATCC 750 and Candida maltosa. Both genes were individually expressed in a cpr mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with high CPR activities, in which only a small distinction was observed between recombinant CPR-a and CPR-b. Both CPR-a and CPR-b contain one CTG codon, which codes for serine (amino acid 50) in C. tropicalis rather than universal leucine. A mutated cDNA of CPR-a with a TCG codon instead of CTG codon was constructed and expressed, resulting in little increase in CPR activity. This indicates that the alteration of Ser-50 has little effect on functional expression of CPR. Furthermore, high ketoconazole sensitivity for the cpr mutant was complemented by heterologous expression of the cloned CPR-a or CPR-b.     

Insights into the role of bacteria in vitamin A biosynthesis: Future research opportunities

Abstract

Significant efforts have been made to address the hidden hunger challenges due to iron, zinc, iodine, and vitamin A since the beginning of the 21st century. Prioritizing the vitamin A deficiency (VAD) disorders, many countries are looking for viable alternative strategies such as biofortification. One of the leading causes of VAD is the poor bioconversion of β-carotene into retinoids. This review is focused on the opportunities of bacterial biosynthesis of retinoids, in particular, through the gut microbiota. The proposed hypothesis starts with the premise that an animal can able to store and timely convert carotenoids into retinoids in the liver and intestinal tissues. This theory is experimental with many scientific insights. The syntrophic metabolism, potential crosstalk of bile acids, lipocalins and lipopolysaccharides of gut microbiota are reported to contribute significantly to the retinoid biosynthesis. The gut bacteria respond to these kinds of factors by genetic restructuring driven mainly by events like horizontal gene transfer. A phylogenetic analysis of β-carotene 15, 15′-mono (di) oxygenase enzymes among a selected group of prokaryotes and eukaryotes was carried out to validate the hypotheses. Shedding light on the probiotic strategies through non-genetically modified organism such as gut bacteria capable of synthesizing vitamin A would address the VAD disorders.     

马尾藻袋泡茶的生产技术

利用马尾藻为原料，采用掩盖法，生产没有特殊腥味的马尼藻袋泡茶饮料．该茶富含碘质，可防治甲状腺机能减退病，即碘缺乏病．