Use of Zebrafish Embryo Assay to Evaluate Toxicity and Safety of Bioreactor-Grown Exopolysaccharides and Endopolysaccharides from European Ganoderma applanatum Mycelium for Future Aquaculture Applications

Natural mycelial exopolysaccharide (EPS) and endopolysaccharide (ENS) extracted from bioreactor-cultivated European Ganoderma applanatum mushrooms are of potential high commercial value for both food and adjacent biopharmaceutical industries. In order to evaluate their potential toxicity for aquaculture application, both EPS (0.01–10 mg/mL) and ENS (0.01–10 mg/mL) extracts were tested for Zebrafish Embryo Toxicity (ZFET); early development effects on Zebrafish Embryos (ZE) were also analyzed between 24 and 120 h post-fertilization (HPF). Both EPS and ENS are considered non-toxic with LC₅₀ of 1.41 mg/mL and 0.87 mg/mL respectively. Both EPS and ENS did not delay hatching and teratogenic defect towards ZE with <1.0 mg/mL, respectively. No significant changes in the ZE heart rate were detected following treatment with the two compounds tested (EPS: 0.01–10 mg/mL: 176.44 ± 0.77 beats/min and ENS: 0.01–10 mg/mL: 148.44 ± 17.75 beats/min) compared to normal ZE (120–180 beats/min). These initial findings support future pre-clinical trials in adult fish models with view to safely using EPS and ENS as potential feed supplements for supplements for development of the aquaculture industry.     

Indirect field-oriented control of an induction motor in thefield-weakening region

A self-organized field-oriented induction machine controller that addresses problems encountered in the field-weakening region is presented. The field-oriented controller (FOC) is based on model reference adaptive principles but relies on samples of the state of the machine to determine control inputs. The proposed controller is compared with other approaches to field-weakening operation, and the advantages and limitations of each are discussed. Experimental results are presented for the classical and the self-organized approaches to field-weakening operation     

Nonlinear circuit analysis using the method of harmonic balance—A review of the art. Part I. Introductory concepts

The harmonic balance method is a technique for the numerical solution of nonlinear analog circuits operating in a periodic, or quasi-periodic, steady-state regime. The method can be used to efficiently derive the continuous-wave response of numerous nonlinear microwave components including amplifiers, mixers, and oscillators. Its efficiency derives from imposing a predetermined steady-state form for the circuit response onto the nonlinear equations representing the network, and solving for the set of unknown coefficients in the response equation. Its attractiveness for nonlinear microwave applications results from its speed and ability to simply represent the dispersive, distributed elements that are common at high frequencies. The last decade has seen the development and application of harmonic balance techniques to model analog circuits, particularly microwave circuits. The first part of this paper reviews the fundamental achievements made during this time. The second part covers the extension of the method to quasi-periodic regimes, optimization analysis, and practical application. A critical assessment of the various types of harmonic balance techniques is given. The different sampling and Fourier transform methods are compared, and numerical speed and precision results are given enabling a quantitative analysis of the merits of the major variants of the harmonic balance technique. Examples of designs which have been modeled using the harmonic balance technique and built both in hybrid and MMIC form are presented.     

Evaluating reactivity to ecological momentary assessment during smoking cessation.

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) consists of assessing phenomena in real time in the natural environment. EMA allows for more fine-grained analyses of addictive behavior and minimizes threats to internal validity, such as recall biases and errors. However, because of the intensive monitoring involved in EMA, measurement reactivity is a concern. To test whether EMA with palmtop personal computers induces reactivity, the authors compared smoking-related outcomes between smokers using EMA and those not using EMA during a quit attempt. The use of no-EMA control groups has been rare in reactivity investigations to date. The EMA protocol included event-contingent assessments (smoking episodes, urge episodes) and random assessments. Outcomes included biologically confirmed abstinence and self-report measures of withdrawal, self-efficacy, motivation, affect, and temptations. Participants were smokers motivated to quit (N = 96). They were randomized to 1 of 3 groups: EMA for the week preceding a planned quit date, EMA for the week following the quit date, and no EMA. Abstinence rates did not differ between the groups at Day 7 or at Day 28 postcessation. For the 20 subscales assessed at each of 3 assessment times, there were significant differences between participants with and without EMA experience for 3 subscales at the 1st of 3 assessment times, and significant differences for 3 different subscales at the 3rd assessment time. These differences suggest some reactivity to EMA, although the inconsistent pattern across time indicates that further research is needed to definitively conclude that EMA induces reactivity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of oncostatin M in animal and human connective tissue collagen turnover and its localization within the rheumatoid joint

OBJECTIVE: To study the interaction of interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) and oncostatin M (OSM) in promoting cartilage collagen destruction. METHODS: Bovine, porcine, and human cartilage and human chondrocytes were studied in culture. The levels of collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase 1 [MMP-1]) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) were measured by bioassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of OSM in rheumatoid synovial fluid were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: When combined with OSM, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor alpha released proteoglycan and collagen from cartilage. OSM was the only member of the IL-6 family to have this effect. Human tendon also responded to IL-1alpha and OSM. OSM increased the production of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 but when combined with IL-1alpha, synergistically promoted MMP-1 production in human chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts. High levels of OSM were found in human rheumatoid synovial fluids, and confocal microscopy showed that OSM was produced by macrophages in rheumatoid synovial tissue. CONCLUSION: These results highlight an important new mechanism by which there is irreversible loss of collagen from cartilage.     

Isolation of feeding deterrents against argentine stem weevil from ryegrass infected with the endophyteAcremonium loliae

Infection of ryegrass (Lolium perenne) by an endophytic fungus (Acremonium loliae) confers resistance against the Argentine stem weevil (Listronotus bonariensis). Extracts from ryegrass clones, infected and uninfected withA. loliae, were compared in a feeding choice bioassay, and several fractions were identified which affected stem weevil feeding behavior. One stem weevil feeding deterrent, peramine C₁₂H₁₇N₅O, has been isolated from infected ryegrass and partially characterized as a basic indole derivative. Extracts from culturedA. loliae had no effect on stem weevil feeding behavior nor was peramine detected in the fungal cultures examined. Peramine and the other active substances are hydrophilic in contrast to the lipophilic properties reported for the neurotoxic lolitrems also isolated from ryegrass infected withA. loliae and associated with causing ryegrass staggers disorder in livestock. It is suggested that ryegrass staggers and stem weevil feeding deterrency may arise by different biochemical mechanisms.     

Metallo-Supramolecular Polymerization: A Route to Easy-To-Process Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Materials

The self-assembly polymerization of ditopic macromolecules via metal–ligand binding is a facile route for the preparation of metallo-supramolecular polymers (MSPs). We herein review our recent work focused on the synthesis and investigation of metallo-supramolecular polymers based on 2,6-bis(1′-methylbenzimidazolyl)pyridine endcapped poly(p-phenylene ethynylene) and poly(p-xylene) macromonomers. These materials are readily solution-processable and display appreciable mechanical properties as well as other attractive properties such as specific opto/electrical functions or high thermal stability. Our work illustrates that metallosupramolecular polymerization offers an attractive approach to assemble high-molecular-weight macromolecules from well-defined, easy to process precursors. Variation of the ditopic ligands and metal ions allows one to easily tailor the desired properties. This paper is dedicated to Professor Ian Manners and his scientific accomplishments.     

Behavioural responses to risk on remote outcomes

Computer mediation of communication allows interaction with events remote in space or time. However, the uptake and use of videotechnology requires an understanding of its effects upon willingness to take risks. To understand how responses to remote events are influenced by computer mediation, the present study compared responses to collocated outcomes with those conveyed over a videolink or as pre-recordings. Willingness to risk on an outcome was quantified using wagering behaviour during a simulated game of roulette: measuring preferred outcome format, levels of risk sought, and times required to make decisions. Participants tended to be more confident of winning and preferred the collocated version of roulette. Participants took greater risks with pre-recorded video outcomes and tended to spend more time locating bets. For videolinked outcomes, participants were more cautious, hedging their bets, and taking more time deliberating the odds. Although the amounts wagered did not change, a potential predictability in pre-recordings appears to encourage risk taking, while the reduced presence inherent in real-time videolinks engenders caution.