Entamoeba histolyticaelectrondense granules secretion in vitro and in vivo: ultrastructural study

Electron dense granules (EDGs) were identified by transmission electron microscopy in Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites recovered from hamster liver lesions. Abundant granules were present in trophozoites recovered after 15 min of liver inoculation. Variation in the size and morphology of these EDGs was also observed. Numerous granules were present in the plasma membrane when these parasites were incubated for 5 min with MDCK monolayers. Release of these EDGs was suggested by the presence of granules in contact with the surface of the target cell plasma membrane. Parasite phagocytic invaginations were observed after 10 min of parasite-monolayer interaction. In these structures, scarce granules were seen. Granules secretion was corroborated by obtaining of a pellet of these small structures from the incubation of trophozoites with collagen supernatant. Collagenase and gellatinase activity of this pellet was identified in SDS-PAGE gels. EDGs were also present in amebic hamster liver lesions. Our observations corroborate that these granules are secreted and suggest that may participate in the cytopathic effect of E. histolytica both in vitro and in vivo.     

Shear properties and water connectivity of wet granules at high solid content concentration

The inner liquid distribution in wet granules strongly influences their mechanical properties. In this study, we examined the shear properties (internal friction angle, cohesion, storage modulus and loss modulus) of wet granules composed of graphite particles and water, and determined their inner water connectivity using X-ray refraction contrast imaging computed tomography (CT) to elucidate their correlation. At high solid content concentration (C_SC) region (C_SC = 85 wt.%), internal friction angle of wet granules was slightly lower than that of wet granules with lower C_SC, and their cohesion becomes almost zero. Furthermore, storage modulus of wet granules at C_SC = 85 wt.% was the highest among all wet granules. The X-ray CT and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed that the water connectivity in the wet granules was in the pendular state and graphite particles fractured under shear test at C_SC = 85 wt.%. From these results, it can be concluded that lower shear cohesion at C_SC = 85 wt.% is caused by an increase in the number of isolated liquid bridges, and particle fracture results in a decrease in the internal friction angle owing to decreasing roughness of shear plane. Furthermore, the particle fracture also resulted in the higher storage modulus at C_SC = 85 wt.% in rheological measurements.     

Granular Computing for Data Analytics: A Manifesto of Human-Centric Computing

In the plethora of conceptual and algorithmic developments supporting data analytics and system modeling, humancentric pursuits assume a particular position owing to ways they emphasize and realize interaction between users and the data. We advocate that the level of abstraction, which can be flexibly adjusted, is conveniently realized through Granular Computing. Granular Computing is concerned with the development and processing information granules-formal entities which facilitate a way of organizing knowledge about the available data and relationships existing there. This study identifies the principles of Granular Computing, shows how information granules are constructed and subsequently used in describing relationships present among the data.      

Effectiveness of fall- versus spring-applied urea on barley

Field experiments were conducted in north-central and central Alberta to determine the effect of pellet size and depth of placement on yield and N uptake of barley from fall- and spring-applied urea. The application rate was 56 kg N ha^–1. Fall incorporated commercial urea (0.01 g) gave 792 kg ha^–1 lower yield and 15 kg ha^–1 less N uptake than similarly applied commercial urea in spring on the average for the five experiments. The effectiveness of fall-applied N tended to be greater with large urea pellets (2.5 g), especially when they were placed 15 cm deep. Specifically, the relative yield efficiency of fallversus spring-applied N was 77% when the larger pellets were placed 4 cm deep and 95% when placed 15 cm deep. However, large pellets were less effective than commercial urea when both were applied in spring at sowing or two weeks before.     

Ultrastructure of Paneth cells in the intestine of various mammals

Paneth cells in the following species were observed under an electron microscope: human, rhesus monkey, hare, guinea pig, rat, nude rat, mouse, golden hamster, and insect feeder bat. Secretory granules containing homogeneous electron-dense materials were observed in the Paneth cells of humans, monkeys, hares, guinea pigs, and bats; mouse Paneth-cell granules were bipartite (central core and peripheral halo), and the Paneth cells in rats and golden hamsters had secretory granules showing various electron densities. In humans, monkeys, and bats, immature granules near the Golgi apparatus sometimes showed bipartite substructure. The number and size of secretory granules were also diverse among various animal species. Some lysosome-like bodies were commonly observed in peri- or supranuclear regions, though the size and shape of the bodies differed from cell to cell. In apical cytoplasm, small clear vesicles (100–200 nm diameter) were more-or-less observed in all species examined, and it was especially note that rat Paneth cells contained many clear vesicles. Small dense-cored vesicles (150–200 nm diameter) were rare. It is unlikely that the various ultrastructural features of Paneth cells correlate with the phylogenetical classification.     

煤净化燃烧及伴生物产品化

煤净化燃烧及伴生物产品化新工艺,是在电厂燃煤中加特制的掺烧剂共同粉磨产生亲合颗粒,喷入锅炉内进行亲合煅烧。保证供热发电的同时实现降低残炭、提高粉煤灰活性、固结脱硫、降低Nox、CO2,并将全部固态伴生物在具有速烧速冷的燃煤锅炉内直接生成优质水泥熟料;实现基本消除燃烧的全部污染（气体和固体污染）,且不产生二次污染,从而达到清洁生产的目的。     

Oil Binding Ability of Chlorinated and Heated Wheat Starch Granules and Their Use in Breadmaking and Pancake Baking

Chlorination and heat treatment of wheat flour changes the surface character of starch granules from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, and high oil binding ability of the starch granules can be observed. It was suggested that the hydrophobicity, in case of chlorination, was due to chemical modification of the starch granule surface proteins, and, in case of heat treatment, due to conformational changes of the proteins. This hydrophobicity could be also obtained by aging (233 days at room temperature). The hydrophobicity of starch granules in batter is highly related to the springiness of pancake. Heat treated wheat starch granules can encapsulate flavor through their oil binding ability.     

Complete Mitochondrial Genome Sequence and Identification of a Candidate Gene Responsible for Cytoplasmic Male Sterility in Celery (Apium graveolens L.)

Celery (Apium graveolens L.) is an important leafy vegetable worldwide. The development of F₁ hybrids in celery is highly dependent on cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) because emasculation is difficult. In this study, we first report a celery CMS, which was found in a high-generation inbred line population of the Chinese celery “tanzhixiangqin”. Comparative analysis, following sequencing and assembly of the complete mitochondrial genome sequences for this celery CMS line and its maintainer line, revealed that there are 21 unique regions in the celery CMS line and these unique regions contain 15 ORFs. Among these ORFs, only orf768a is a chimeric gene, consisting of 1497 bp sequences of the cox1 gene and 810 bp unidentified sequences located in the unique region, and the predicted protein product of orf768a possesses 11 transmembrane domains. In summary, the results of this study indicate that orf768a is likely to be a strong candidate gene for CMS induction in celery. In addition, orf768a can be a co-segregate marker, which can be used to screen CMS in celery.