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Objectives: Schizophrenia is a group of severe psychiatric disorders with high heritability but only low odds ratios of risk genes. Despite progress in the identification of pathophysiological processes, valid biomarkers of the disease are still lacking. Methods: This comprehensive review summarises recent efforts to identify genetic underpinnings, clinical and cognitive endophenotypes and symptom dimensions of schizophrenia and presents findings from neuroimaging studies with structural, functional and spectroscopy magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. The potential of findings to be biomarkers of schizophrenia is discussed. Results: Recent findings have not resulted in clear biomarkers for schizophrenia. However, we identified several biomarkers that are potential candidates for future research. Among them, copy number variations and links between genetic polymorphisms derived from genome-wide analysis studies, clinical or cognitive phenotypes, multimodal neuroimaging findings including positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and the application of multivariate pattern analyses are promising. Conclusions: Future studies should address the effects of treatment and stage of the disease more precisely and apply combinations of biomarker candidates. Although biomarkers for schizophrenia await validation, knowledge on candidate genomic and neuroimaging biomarkers is growing rapidly and research on this topic has the potential to identify psychiatric endophenotypes and in the future increase insight on individual treatment response in schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants commonly suffer from phosphorus (P) deficiency in calcareous soils. Plant responses to P application on such soils mostly show poor correlation with their soil test P values. Experiments were conducted on 24 different soil samples under laboratory and greenhouse conditions to illustrate the relationship of various inorganic P fractions in different calcareous soils with P uptake by plants, P extraction by iron‐impregnated filter paper, and P soil test values estimated by 0.5M NaHCO 3 and ammonium bicarbonate diethylene triamine penta‐acetic acid. Total P in the 24 soils ranged from 652 to 1245 mgkg -1 with a mean of 922 mgkg -1 . A major proportion (98%) of inorganic P was in HCl‐P (Ca‐bound) form. The HCl‐P (Ca‐bound) ranged from 296 to 729 with a mean of 480 mgkg -1 . The iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al)‐P (NaOH‐P) ranged from 0.92 to 12 mgkg -1 with a mean of 1.57 mgkg -1 . The Fe‐P (citrate‐dithionite bicarbonate) ranged from 0.22 to 4.40 mgkg -1 with a mean of 5.99 mgkg -1 . Data regarding P release from the soil matrix obtained by desorption with iron‐impregnated filter paper was best described by the Elovich equation. Range of slope and intercept values were found to be 5.48 to 17.3 and 17.23 to 56.27 mgkg -1 , respectively. Intercept values calculated for the Elovich equation may be related to labile P initially available for plant uptake in soils. Intercept values calculated for the Elovich equation correlated (r=0.77) significantly (p [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the abstracts from the 244th – 248th American Chemical Society national meetings, 2012–2014 for the Divisions of Biological Chemistry and Organic Chemistry. The main objective of the study was to identify the percentage of abstracts that were published as related papers and the time it took to do so. It also investigated likely factors that determined whether the abstracts will be published as papers. These factors included the number of author(s) per abstract, the number of institutions involved in the research, and the country of origin of the research. The paper also highlights the percentage of papers that were published before and after the conferences and the quality of the journals in which they were published. The citation characteristics of the articles published before and after the conference are also covered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes 10 years of scientific publications among senior Italian academics in occupational medicine by means of citation analysis. Articles published during the decade 2001–2010 were analyzed by means of Elsevier's Scopus. Scientific performance was assessed by means of 9 different indices (including total number of papers, total citations, h-index). Most papers were submitted to journals of allergy and respiratory medicine, biochemistry, and toxicology. Only 11.9% of the 1,689 papers were published in journals of occupational medicine. The authors’ h-index was 10.1 (mean) and 9.5 (median) for the overall production. Productivity was associated with number of contributing authors. Most papers cover topics in the mainstream of other disciplines, evidencing that journals of occupational medicine do not play a primary role in the scientific panorama of medical sciences. This could imply consequences for the discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the chemistry manuscript collection in an institution that does not readily come to mind when searching for unpublished matter on the history of chemistry, the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland. This collection includes personal papers of some twentieth-century American chemists and biochemists, lecture notes of British and American chemistry courses of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries from a variety of institutional settings, and extended oral histories of some major figures in the history of modern chemistry and biochemistry. Among those represented in this collection are Joseph Black, Louis Pasteur, George B. Wood, Donald D. Van Slyke, and Albert Szent-Györgyi. In addition to illustrating the type of resources available, this paper also suggests some specific ways in which the collection can contribute to research in the history of chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on the 26th annual German Association for Stable Isotope Research (GASIR) meeting on October 6-8, 2003 in Cologne, Germany. Topics discussed in the meeting; Impact of isotope research in biomedicine and biochemistry; Information on the scientific programs of GASIR in the field of ecology, geology and hydrology.

The article announces the commencement of the 2006 Best Papers Awards, the annual recognition of high-impact research in the published in the journal "Platelets." These papers cover subject areas such as platelet behavior, biochemistry and pharmacology, and the contribution of platelets and platelet-derived products to health and disease.

From the very beginning of his adventures in the DC universe, the Joker has been associated with science, particularly (bio)chemistry and microbiology. Exploring some recently published narrative examples of Joker science together with the insight provided by virology and chemistry, this paper examines the scientific and cultural ideas of science conveyed by the violent clown and his scientific extravaganzas. Psychopathic, mannerist Joker science, this paper shows, is intrinsically linked to the realms of hypnotism, hysteria, ecstasy and the 'hysterical realities' of different historical, physical, medial and cultural settings. Joker science is not only about how chemistry and virology might affect the human body but it also explores notions of possession and control – contemporary notions of what was once investigated as 'criminal suggestion' or 'hypnotic crimes' on science stages and in early film. Joker science 'jokerises': it leads to loss of motor control, muscular contortions, cramps, fatal convulsions and frenetic, deadly laughter, reminiscent of the 'strange spectacle' of hysterics and the 'science performances' and 'hystericulture' developed by the showman and researcher Charcot and his many fictional revenants, all characterised by a peculiar position between science, entertainment and the occult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author issues a call for papers for a special edition of this publication that will deal with the role of nutrition and biochemistry in sports sciences. He describes the publication's overall editorial mission, reminding readers that the biomechanical aspects of sports science are one of its prime areas of interest. An announcement is made that the publication will introduce a letters to the editor section.

This document is an obituary for Peter Houghton, a respected professor of Pharmacognosy at Kings College London. Houghton was a passionate pharmacist and a long-term associate editor of the journal Pharmaceutical Biology. He made significant contributions to the field of pharmacognosy and published over 250 research papers and reviews on various topics related to plant chemistry and biological activity. Houghton was also known for his dedication to teaching and mentoring students. He will be remembered as a kind and supportive colleague who had a profound impact on the academic community. [Extracted from the article]

Providing hands-on practical education without access to laboratories during the Covid-19 pandemic has required creativity and innovation. In this paper, co-authored by academic staff and students, we describe an at-home mobile phone-based 'spectrophotometer' experiment used in an introductory undergraduate biology course. Using colour picker apps, a smartphone can be used to quantify concentration, which was used to compare the strengths of different brands of tea. The protocol is designed to be low-cost and safe to perform outside of a laboratory. Students used the methods to learn important biochemical methods such as preparing dilutions, constructing calibration curves, normalising data and testing a hypothesis. We reflect on the experience of developing and using the protocol from a staff and student perspective, which highlights the advantages of this approach in terms of student independence and inclusivity. We also suggest alternative experiments that could be performed using the protocol. We encourage biology educators to think creatively about the possibilities for using mobile phones or at-home experiments in their teaching. Our experience suggests that at-home experiments like this protocol will have value even after the pandemic is over, particularly in terms of inclusivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large number of medical experiments have confirmed that the features of drugs have a close correlation with their molecular structure. Drug properties can be obtained by studying the molecular structure of corresponding drugs. The calculation of the topological index of a drug structure enables scientists to have a better understanding of the physical chemistry and biological characteristics of drugs. In this paper, we obtain the exact formulas by virtue of the edge-partition method for m S O α (G) and K A (α , β) 1 (G). By the appropriate choice of parameters α and β , several new/old inequalities that reveal relationships between various topological indices are obtained. Our results remedy the lack of medicine experiments, thus providing a theoretical basis for pharmaceutical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers distributed systems arising when multiple agents cooperatively solve a quadratic optimisation problem. To maintain privacy of their states over time, agents implement a noise-adding mechanism according to the classic differential privacy framework. We characterise how the noise due to the privacy mechanism degrades the performance of the multi-agent system. Interestingly, we showthat depending on the desired level of privacy (and thus noise), the systemperformance is optimised by reducing the level of cooperation among the agents. The notion of cooperation level, which is formally introduced and defined in the paper, models the trust of an agent towards the information received from neighbouring agents. For the prototypical examples of consensus and centroidal Voronoi tessellations, we are able to characterise the optimum cooperation level that maximises the system performance while ensuring a desired privacy level. Our results suggest that for the class of problems we study, and in fact for a broad class of multi-agent systems, it is always beneficial for the agents to reduce their cooperation level when the privacy level increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we begin to explore how knowledges being generated in bioscience might be brought into productive articulation with the Sociology of Education, considering the potential for emerging transdisciplinary, 'biosocial' approaches to enable new ways of researching and understanding pressing educational issues. In this paper, as in our current research, we take learning as our focus. Our work brings together collaborators from across fields: sociology of education; molecular biology and biochemistry; cognitive neuroscience; fMRI imaging; and EEG. Through the paper we explore the generative potential of an encounter between life sciences and sociology of education. Through consideration of the conceptual and methodological elements of our 'Synchrony in Learning' research and engagement with our pilot experimental approach, our research is suggesting that our central concept, learning, is undergoing metamorphosis, challenging us to understand learning as a phenomenon produced through the intra-action of a multiplicity of forces and processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade a remarkable rebirth of serum/plasma lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) as an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) occurred. Updated evidence for a causal continuous association in different ethnic groups between Lp(a) concentrations and cardiovascular outcomes has been published in the latest European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) Lp(a) consensus statement. Interest in measuring Lp(a) at least once in a person's lifetime moreover originates from the development of promising new Lp(a) lowering drugs. Accurate and clinically effective Lp(a) tests are of key importance for the timely detection of high-risk individuals and for future evaluation of the therapeutic effects of Lp(a) lowering medication. To this end, it is necessary to improve the performance and standardization of existing Lp(a) tests, as is also noted in the Lp(a) consensus statement. Consequently, a state-of-the-art internationally endorsed reference measurement system (RMS) must be in place that allows for performance evaluation of Lp(a) field tests in order to certify their validity and accuracy. An ELISA-based RMS from Northwest Lipid Research Laboratory (University of Washington, Seattle, USA) has been available since the 1990s. A next-generation apo(a)/Lp(a) RMS is now being developed by a working group from the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC). The envisioned apo(a) RMS is based on the direct measurement of selected proteotypic fragments generated after proteolytic digestion using quantitative protein mass spectrometry (MS). The choice for an MS-based RMS enables selective measurement of the proteotypic peptides and is by design apo(a) isoform insensitive. Clearly, the equimolar conversion of apo(a) into the surrogate peptide measurands is required to obtain accurate Lp(a) results. The completeness of proteolysis under reaction conditions from the candidate reference measurement procedure (RMP) has been demonstrated for the quantifying apo(a) peptides. Currently, the candidate apo(a) RMP is endorsed by the IFCC and recommendations for suitable secondary reference materials have been made in a recent commutability study paper. Ongoing efforts toward a complete apo(a) RMS that is listed by the Joint Committee on Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (JCTLM) are focused on the peptide-based calibration and the establishment of a network of calibration laboratories running the apo(a) RMS in a harmonized way. Once completed, it will be the holy grail for evaluation and certification of Lp(a) field methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were among the top priority Constituents of Potential Concern (CoPC) in the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA's) effort to set ecological soil-screening (Eco-SSL) values. Search strategies, acceptance criteria, and evaluation procedures were developed to address effects on plants, invertebrates, and wildlife. Systematic literature searches were conducted to obtain all relevant information on toxic response of terrestrial plants, invertebrates, and wildlife exposed to PAHs. More than 325 papers on PAHs were reviewed. Only 14 papers (one plant, three invertebrate, and ten wildlife) met the minimum criteria for use. Only eight PAH analytes had data that qualified for use in deriving Plant-, Invertebrate-, or Wildlife-SSLs. Only one SSL, (invertebrate, fluorene) could be derived based on the available data using the USEPA draft criteria. Rapid volatilization of lower molecular weight PAHs, generally low toxicity of persistent PAHs, limited potential for uptake by plants, binding to soil organic matter that lowers bioavailability, and low bioaccumulation by invertebrates may explain the general absence of documented adverse effects among terrestrial receptors exposed to PAHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Open Science (OS) movement promises nothing less than a revolution in the availability of scientific knowledge around the globe. By removing barriers to online data and encouraging publication in Open Access formats and Open Data archives, OS seeks to expand the role, reach and value of research. The promises of OS imply a set of expectations about what different publics hope to gain from research, how accountability and participation can be enhanced, and what makes science public in the first place. This paper presents empirical material from fieldwork undertaken in (bio)chemistry laboratories in Kenya and South Africa to examine the extent to which these ideals can be realized in a sub-Saharan context. To analyse the challenges African researchers face in making use of freely available data, we draw from Amartya Sen’s Capabilities Approach. His theorisations of ‘conversion factors’ helps to understand how seemingly minor economic and social contingencies can hamper the production and (re-)use of online data. In contrast to initiatives that seek to make more data available, we suggest the need to facilitate a more egalitarian engagement with online data resources. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aims:CSF leaks are not uncommon after a base of skull fracture. Currently there is no standardised algorithm for the investigation and management of post-traumatic CSF leaks. In this paper we aim to provide an evidence-based framework for managing post-traumatic CSF leaks. Methods:We searched the English literature over the past 45 years using CINAHL, EMBASE and MEDLINE for the terms (1) post-traumatic CSF leaks or fistulas, and (2) basilar or base of skull fractures, but excluded papers on post-operative and non-traumatic CSF leaks, and papers on paediatric post- traumatic CSF leaks. Results:The diagnosis of a base of skull fracture and any resultant CSF leak can be challenging. Therefore a combination of biochemical and radiological studies are needed to optimise the diagnosis of this condition. Post-traumatic CSF leaks are generally treated conservatively, and a majority of them resolve without further surgical management. However for patients who are refractory to such treatments, surgical closure of the CSF fistula is necessary. Surgical obliteration of CSF leaks can be challenging and requires the involvement of multiple surgical specialties such as neurosurgery, otolaryngology, and maxillofacial surgery. Conclusion:Although we have formulated a simple algorithm to aid the investigation and management of post-traumatic CSF leaks, there are still many important unresolved questions requiring further well powered studies to answer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 1950s, the studies of proteins through their synthesis captured the attention of a number of biochemists. Among teams that set out to chemically synthesize the protein insulin, a large team in the People's Republic of China achieved success in 1966, months before the Cultural Revolution. By focusing on the ideological refashioning, material arrangement, and organizational style of the project, this paper addresses the political and material dimensions of the project, especially how it was reconstructed as an engineering project in-between biology and chemistry for the young republic. This case was different from the design rationales demonstrated in both American and German cases, in which insulin synthesis was viewed as either a challenging problem for biochemistry or primary research toward making synthetic fibers. The process reveals a fluid topography of the material, social, and political space that a group of biochemists could work with in socialist China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite an extensive published literature, skepticism over the claim of original biochemicals including proteins preserved in the fossil record persists and the issue remains controversial. Workers using many different techniques including mass spectrometry, X-ray, electron microscopy and optical spectroscopic techniques, have attempted to verify proteinaceous or other biochemicals that appear endogenous to fossils found throughout the geologic column. Areas covered: This paper presents a review of the relevant literature published over the last 50 years. A comparative survey of the reported techniques used is also given. Expert opinion: Morphological and molecular investigations show that original biochemistry is geologically extensive, geographically global, and taxonomically wide-ranging. The survival of endogenous organics in fossils remains the subject of widespread and increasing research investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a bioelectrical conception of connective tissue regulation in bone, cartilage, and tendon as well as other mechanically stressed connective tissues, based on the biological hypothesis of a biosensor and nerve-like signal conducting function of the native collagen fibril in the extracellular matrix. The proposed bioelectrical collagen function and its interdisciplinary test offer a new approach to various clinically important questions. This first paper (Part I) presents the topic in the form of classical biophysics and physicochemistry. Part II attempts to make good use of the concept in discussing the "living state" of the extracellular matrix and the biochemical aspects of acid and neutral protease activity, as well as nanoelectronic, relativistic, and coherent aspects of connective tissue regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In plants, macroautophagy/autophagy is a key mechanism that contributes to their ability to cope with a wide range of environmental constraints such as drought, nutrient starvation or pathogen resistance. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms of plant autophagy, and notably that of autophagosome formation, remain poorly understood. As the starting point of our recent paper, we considered the potential functional contribution of lipids in the numerous membrane-remodeling steps involved in this process. By combining biochemistry, genetics, cell biology and high-resolution 3D imaging, we unraveled the function of the lipid phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PtdIns4P) in autophagy in Arabidopsis thaliana, thus providing novel insights into the assembly of autophagosomes in plant cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper proposes new computational methods of computing confidence bounds for the least-squares estimates (LSEs) of rate constants in mass action biochemical reaction network and stochastic epidemic models. Such LSEs are obtained by fitting the set of deterministic ordinary differential equations (ODEs), corresponding to the large-volume limit of a reaction network, to network's partially observed trajectory treated as a continuous-time, pure jump Markov process. In the large-volume limit the LSEs are asymptotically Gaussian, but their limiting covariance structure is complicated since it is described by a set of nonlinear ODEs which are often ill-conditioned and numerically unstable. The current paper considers two bootstrap Monte-Carlo procedures, based on the diffusion and linear noise approximations for pure jump processes, which allow one to avoid solving the limiting covariance ODEs. The results are illustrated with both in-silico and real data examples from the LINE 1 gene retrotranscription model and compared with those obtained using other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Games can help learners of all ages retain knowledge and build skills such as critical thinking. As such, they could be a useful tool in supporting practical training at the university level. This paper describes the development, use, and evaluation of a card game based on protein purification techniques, for a large cohort of undergraduates studying Molecular Biology and related subjects. Game materials are available and can be adapted for a different audience. Players collect cards representing chromatography columns, buffers, and elution methods by drawing cards from a common deck, and discard them in order to separate a single protein from a mixture of molecules with different properties (represented by a separate set of cards). Surveys showed that the game met its three goals: to assess, increase, and apply subject knowledge; to develop skills in communication and experimental planning; and to provide a fun experience. It was more successful for those students who enjoy games and puzzles in their spare time than for those who do not, correlating with the 'gamer' group finding it easier to understand and remember the rules of the game. Thus, games can form a useful part of biochemistry teaching practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Otoliths are bioinorganic minerals within the inner ear of all bony fishes. They grow incrementally, laying down alternating protein-rich and mineral-rich bands daily. Consequently, otoliths are considered natural chronometers, archiving the growth and physico-chemical histories of individual fish, and thus are a powerful resource for fish biologists and fisheries managers. To date, otolith research has focused primarily on the measurement of otolith increments for age and growth studies and to a lesser extent on the analysis of trace-element:calcium ratios for reconstructing past environments. In contrast, little attention has been paid to the proteinaceous constituents of the otolith, their mechanisms of incorporation or their implications for otolith formation, growth and chemical composition. To provide a picture of the current state-of-knowledge, 228 papers relating to otolith biochemistry were reviewed, producing a comprehensive summary of the biochemistry of the endolymph, saccular epithelial tissues, and the otolith. Furthermore, this review presents a discussion of the structure and function of the 28 proteins and 5 proteoglycans identified thus far, provides comments on the appropriateness and utility of trace elements as environmental proxies, and suggests fruitful lines of future research in otolith science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A six-component handrim dynamometer (HRD) is a dynamometer that rotates around the wheel axle during measurements. For this kind of dynamometer, static zero level calibration is insufficient because the proportion of the forces (i.e. handrim weight and centrifugal force) measured by each sensor varies according to the angular position and velocity of the dynamometer. The dynamic calibration presented in this paper is based on the direct correction of the sensor signals using Fourier's polynomials that take into account the influences of both the handrim weight distribution on the sensors with respect to the wheel's angular position and the effect of the wheel's angular velocity. When these corrections were applied to the signals produced by the sensors while the HRD was rotating and no effort was being exerted on the handrim, the calculated forces and torques remained close to zero, as expected. Based on these results, the wheel dynamometer can be confidently used for studying manual wheelchair locomotion under various real conditions. The method could also be applied in other situations in which a dynamometer rotates during measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanadium (V) has a variety of applications that make it suitable for use in ceramic production and decoration, production of pigments for a variety of products, an accelerator for drying paint, production of aniline black dye, and as a mordant in coloring textiles. Taking advantage of its hardness, resilience, ability to form alloys, and its resistance to corrosion, V is also used in the production of tools, steel, machinery, and surgical implants. V is employed in producing photographic developers, batteries, and semi-conductors, and in catalyst-based recycling processes. As technologies have evolved, the use of V has increased in jet aircraft and space technology, as well as in manufacture of ultraviolet filter glass to prevent radiation injury. Due to these myriad uses, the potential for occupational exposure to V is ever-evident. Similarly, there is an increased risk for environmental contamination by V agents themselves or as components of by-products released into the environment. For example, the use of V in sulfuric acid production results in the release of soot and/or fly ash rich in vanadium pentoxide. Petroleum refinery, smelting, welding, and cutting of V-rich steel alloy, the cleaning and repair of oil-fired boilers, and catalysis of chemical productions are other sources of increased airborne V-bearing particles in local/distant environments. Exposure of non-workers to V is an increasing health concern. Studies have demonstrated associations between exposure to airborne V-bearing particles (as part of air pollution) and increased risks of a variety of pathologies like hypertension, dysrhythmia, systemic inflammation, hyper-coagulation, cancers, and bronchial hyper-reactivity. This paper will provide a review of the history of V usage in occupational settings, documented exposure levels, environmental levels of V associated with pollution, epidemiologic data relating V exposure(s) to adverse health outcomes, and governmental responses to protect both workers and non-workers from exposure to this metal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has documented risk for and evidence of behavioral and substance addiction through neurocircuitry, biochemistry, and genetics. This paper will highlight and complete an overview of this literature with a focus on love addiction. A total of 11 criteria for love addiction and a case study demonstrating the criteria are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent article of Johnson and Goody (Biochemistry, 2011;50:8264-8269) described the almost-100-years-old paper of Michaelis and Menten. Johnson and Goody translated this classic article and presented the historical perspective to one of incipient enzyme-reaction data analysis, including a pioneering global fit of the integrated rate equation in its implicit form to the experimental time-course data. They reanalyzed these data, although only numerical techniques were used to solve the model equations. However, there is also the still little known algebraic rate-integration equation in a closed form that enables direct fitting of the data. Therefore, in this commentary, I briefly present the integral solution of the Michaelis-Menten rate equation, which has been largely overlooked for three decades. This solution is expressed in terms of the Lambert W function, and I demonstrate here its use for global nonlinear regression curve fitting, as carried out with the original time-course dataset of Michaelis and Menten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilirubin is the final product of heme metabolism. Until recently, bilirubin was considered as a mere by-product of heme degradation but, in the last 20 years, many papers have appeared in the literature demonstrating that this bile pigment is endowed with a strong antioxidant activity, being able to counteract the cellular damage elicited by reactive oxygen species in many in vitro and in vivo experimental systems. Interestingly, compelling evidence has shown that BR can serve as an endogenous scavenger of both nitric oxide and reactive nitrogen species, thus widening the protective role of bilirubin to other reactive species originating within the cellular milieu. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the interaction between bilirubin and nitric oxide/reactive nitrogen species; furthermore, the possible pathophysiological and clinical relevance of this interaction will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose : In this paper we develop a mathematical model that can predict the steady-state tear film thickness and the dynamic tear film thickness and the solute concentration after instillation of a solute-laden fluid in the eye. Methods : The mathematical model developed in this paper is based on a balance between the inflow and outflow of tears into the tear film. It incorporates a tear drainage model and a model that relates the tear film thickness to the meniscus radius of curvature. To predict the solute concentrations, the tear balance is coupled with the solute balance. The differential equations for the unsteady balances are solved numerically. Results : The model predicts that the tear film thickness depends on a number of physiological factors, such as rates of tear production and evaporation, geometry and modulus of the canaliculi, and surface tension and viscosity of tears, and varies from about 3 to 15 μ m. The model also predicts that the drainage time for an instilled volume of 15 μ l is 1283 s. Additionally, the time required for the tracer concentration to decay to 1% of the value immediately after instillation of a drug-laden 40 μ l drop is about 2480 s. Similarly, the time for intensity decay for a radioactive tracer after 25 μ l instillation is about 1566 s. Also, the model predicts that the fraction of the instilled drug that reaches the cornea is about 1.3% for topical application of timolol. Conclusions : The predicted results agree reasonably with the reported experimental results, at least qualitatively. The model developed here can serve as a useful tool to develop a more precise understanding of various issues related to tears and also evaluate the effect of various parameters on the tear volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying the Precautionary Principle to public health requires a re-evaluation of the methods of inference currently used to make claims about disease causation from epidemiologic and other forms of scientific evidence. In current thinking, a well-established, near-certain causal relationship implies highly consistent statistically significant results across many different studies, large relative risk estimates, extensive understanding of biological mechanisms and dose-response relationships, positive prevention trial results, a clear temporal relationship between cause and effect, and other conditions spelled out in terms of the widely-used causal criteria. The Precautionary Principle, however, states that preventive measures are to be taken when cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. What evidentiary conditions, as reflected in the causal criteria, will be certain enough to warrant precautionary preventive action? This paper argues that minimum evidentiary requirements for causation need to be articulated if the Precautionary Principle is to be successfully incorporated into public health practice. Two precautionary changes to criteria-based methods of causal inference are examined: reducing the number of criteria and weakening the rules of inference accompanying the criteria. Such changes point in the direction of identifying minimum evidentiary conditions, but would be premature without better understanding how well current methods of causal inference work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clam Ruditapes decussatus is distributed worldwide and due to its ecological and economical interest has been proposed as a bioindicator in areas where mussels are not available. The accumulation of several anthropogenic compounds in their tissues suggests that they possess mechanisms that allow them to cope with the toxic effects of these contaminants. Besides pollutant uptake, the use of biomarkers is pointed out in this paper since it is a promising approach to monitor the effect of these contaminants in the marine environment. Biomarkers complement the information of the direct chemical characterization of different types of contaminants. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to review the role of several biomarkers: (metallothioneins (MT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidases (GPx) (total and selenium-dependent), lipid peroxidation (measured as MDA, one of the final products of lipid peroxidation), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), measured in different tissues of the clam R. decussatus , in laboratory conditions and under various environmental stresses, in two ecosystems (Ria Formosa lagoon- Portugal) and Bizerta lagoon (Tunisia) in a perspective of a multibiomarker approach to assess environmental changes. Experiment and field studies are in good agreement since MT levels, especially in the gills, the first target tissue of these contaminants, can be used as biomarker of exposure to Cd. GPx and MDA may also be determined in this respect. AChE activity is inhibited by pesticide and, to a less extent, by metal exposure in the gills and whole soft body of clams. However, the induction of GST isoforms experimentally demonstrated is not observed in the field because only global GST activity was determined. The whole set of results opens new research perspectives for the use of this species to assess the effect of mixtures of pollutants in the aquatic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Holographic quantitative structure-activity relationship (HQSAR) is an emerging QSAR technique with the combined application of molecular hologram, which encodes the frequency of occurrence of various molecular fragment types, and the subsequent partial least squares (PLS) regression analysis. Based on molecular hologram, alignment-free QSAR models could be rapidly and easily developed with highly statistical significance and predictive ability. In this paper, the toxicity data for a series of 83 benzene derivatives to the autotrophic Chlorella vulgaris (IGC 50 , negative logarithmic form of 6-h 50% population growth inhibition concentration in mmol/l) were subjected to HQSAR analysis and this resulted in a model with a high predictive ability. The robustness and predictive ability of the model were validated by "leave-one-out" (LOO) cross-validation procedure and an external testing set. The influence of fragment distinction parameters and fragment size on the quality of the HQSAR model have been also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Profiles the histochemical scientist, Robert Feulgen. Career history of Feulgen; Development of the cytochemical reaction named after him; Contributions to the field of histochemistry; Major research works; Theoretical and chemical basis of the nuclear staining reaction discussed by Feulgen in a 1924 paper.

O-Methylmurrayamine A (7) and 7-methoxymurrayacine (8) are natural products isolated fromMurraya koenigiiandMurraya siamensis,respectively. In this paper, we report the synthesis of7and8which are featured in the key step of cyclization to form carbazole intermediate5with mild conditions. The structures were confirmed by1H NMR,13C NMR, and HR-ESI-MS. In addition, compounds7and8were tested for their neuroprotective effects against H2O2-induced PC12 cell damage. The results showed that compounds7and8have neuroprotective effect. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper reports the biomonitoring of metallic pollution in the mine of Sidi Kamber Skikda town, to determine the resistance and/or tolerance to Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu in metalliferous plants. During the period of March–May, 2015, soil and plants samples were collected from three different stations in the study area. The total heavy metal fraction was determined by ICP/MS, whereas biochemical markers were determined by spectrophotometric techniques. The results obtained showed high levels of heavy metals in soil and plants compared to international standards. The translocation factor revealed that the studied plants can transfer and/or accumulate metals in their roots or their aerial parts as a function of characteristics of each metal, soil contents and physiological role in the plant. The contents of chlorophyll, proline, total sugars and total proteins are directly influenced by changes in bioavailable contents of heavy metals. It has been found that the plants studied and biomarkers are better suited for phytoremediation and biomonitoring of heavy metals pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions and is highly heterogeneous in terms of symptom profile, associated cognitive deficits, comorbidities, and outcomes. Heterogeneity may also affect the ability to recognize and diagnose this condition. The diagnosis of ADHD is primarily clinical but there are increasing research efforts aiming at identifying biomarkers that can aid the diagnosis. We first discuss the definition of biomarkers and the necessary research steps from discovery to implementation. We then provide a broad overview of research studies on candidate diagnostic biomarkers in ADHD encompassing genetic/epigenetic, biochemical, neuroimaging, neurophysiological and neuropsychological techniques. Finally, we critically appraise current limitations in the field and suggest possible ways forward. Despite the large number of studies and variety of techniques used, no promising biomarkers have been identified so far. Clinical and biological heterogeneity as well as methodological limitations, including small sample size, lack of standardization, confounding factors, and poor replicability, have hampered progress in the field. Going forward, increased international collaborative efforts are warranted to support larger and more robustly designed studies, develop multimodal datasets to combine biomarkers and improve diagnostic accuracy, and ensure reproducibility and meaningful clinical translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modeling energy utilization pattern at both micro and macro levels has been recognized as vital in effective energy planning vis-à-vis the development of any country, not only in the perspective of efficient use of resources for generation but also toward achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. This paper presents a linear programming (LP) formulation of energy utilization pattern in the domestic sector. The data for the model was collected through random samples identified from among the rural areas in the state of Kerala, one of the southern states of India. The results indicate an optimal mix of resources contributing to the overall domestic energy requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Fish sauce is an amber-colored salty liquid in Southeast Asian cuisine used as an important condiment for improving the taste of foods. It is produced by fermenting the fish with salt in the ratios of 1:1 or 3:1 (fish:salt, wet wt) in underground concrete tanks or earthenware for 6–12 months at ambient conditions. Proteins of the raw materials are hydrolyzed into peptides and amino acids by microbial proteolytic enzymes during fermentation. This paper reviews fish sauce diversity and its bacteriological, biochemical, and biofunctional properties. Additionally, efforts to accelerate fish sauce production by employing halotolerant bacterial cultures and proteinases to reduce the fermentation period and also to improve the acceptability of the product are also reviewed. Further, the review provides an overview of bacterial proteinases that have been employed to enhance the sensory and microbiological quality of fish sauce. The review also outlines the effect of fermented fish sauces on health, especially in reference to several bioactive peptides and bacterial metabolites apart from discussing desalination technique to recover the metabolites from fish sauce. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Berberis lyciumRoyle belonging to family Berberidaceae is a high-value medicinal plant with a known history of uses in folk medicine. It is used traditionally for curing a broad range of human illnesses and diseases in the Indian Himalayan region of Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. Its ethnomedicinal uses include its use for treatment of jaundice, diabetes, eye infections, fractured bones, internal wounds, diarrhea, rheumatism, stomachache, and its use as a general body tonic. Although its every part has some medicinal properties, the most commonly used parts are roots and stem-bark. Its biologically active phytochemicals are alkaloids with berberine as the major one. An analysis of literature shows that its main biological activities are mainly attributed to berberine.Available literature shows that the plant has a wide range of biological activities including antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, anticancer and antitumor, wound and bone healing, antimicrobial, anticoccidial, antioxidant, hypotensive, immunity enhancing, antiurolithic, anthelmintic and hepatoprotective. Its wide use in folk medicine has prompted research in its phytochemical constituents and biological activities over the last four decades. Research in these lines is attesting its ethnomedicinal uses.This review paper is aimed to explore the chemistry and biological activities of this gifted medicinal plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a removal of nitrogen compounds from a landfill leachate during reverse osmosis (RO) was evaluated. The treatment facility consists of a buffer tank and a RO system. The removal rate of N─NH4,andin the buffer tank reached 14%, 91% and 41%, respectively. The relatively low concentration of organic carbon limits N─NH4oxidation in the buffer tank. The removal rate for the total organic nitrogen (TON) was 47%. The removal rate in RO was 99% for, 84.1% forand 41% for. The accumulation ofmay be the result of a low pH, which before the RO process is reduced to a value of 6.0–6.5. Besides it, the cause for a low removal rate of thein the buffer tank and during RO may be free ammonia, which can inhibit theoxidation. The removal rates of total inorganic nitrogen and TON in the RO treatment facility were similar being 99% and 98.5%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co modified fly ash (FA) prepared by the wet impregnation method was investigated for gas-phase elemental mercury capture under air at 80°C in this paper. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, scanning electron micrographs, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to characterize the samples. Experimental results showed that the optimal Co loading was 9 wt%, which gave a Hg0removal efficiency of 76% in a laboratory packed-bed reactor at low temperatures in the presence of O2. The high removal efficiency was mainly attributed to oxidation of Hg0by the enrichment of well-dispersed Co3O4on the surface of FA. However, higher Co loading resulted in the decrease of removal efficiency due to the decline of surface area and Co3O4agglomeration. TG and XPS characterization indicated that Hg0was oxidized by Co3O4and some of the oxidized mercury formed recombination mercury oxide with Co3O4, which could either exist stably at low temperature or be desorbed from the adsorbents at higher temperature. Finally, the possible adsorption mechanisms were proposed according to the observed phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of water-added betaine (BET) and Magic oil, (MAGO) on growth performance and blood biochemistry of broilers exposed to constant heat stress (32 ± 1 °C) during 21–35 d. On day 21, 320 chicks (Ross 308) were straight run to one of four groups based supplements with drinking water (DW): control, BET (1 g/L DW), and/or MAGO (1 ml/L DW), respectively). Each treatment consisted of eight replicates with ten birds each. The performance data were obtained at 21, 28, and 35 d. Serum biochemical data of the birds were estimated at day 35. The results showed that body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake did not differ significantly (p >.05) between the treatments. However, Bet alone or in combination with MAGO has improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the 28–35 d and 21–35 d periods; also, BET lowered (p <.05) creatinine compared to control. The addition of MAGO alone or in combination with BET increased (p <.05) total protein, albumin, globulin, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. In addition, MAGO decreased total lipids, and creatinine, whereas it increased (p <.05) cholesterol, especially good cholesterol, and triglycerides compared with the control. In conclusion, water-BET-supplements alone or in combination with MAGO has improved the FCR under heat stress conditions. Therefore, it is recommended to use Bet alone or both supplements under high-temperature conditions in broiler houses. However, further studies on the use of MAGO and/or BET at different doses are needed to maximise BWG and maintain the productivity of the birds. Water-enriched magic oil and betaine had higher added value than feeding alone by improving the feed conversion ratio during 21–35 d. Compared with the other groups, water-supplemented magic oil produced some benefits, such as lower serum glucose, higher serum high-density lipoprotein 'good cholesterol' and lower creatinine levels. The added value of the combination of magic oil and betaine for growth performance and serum health biomarkers needs further investigation at various levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) catalyze a simple but physiologically relevant reaction in all life kingdoms, carbon dioxide hydration to bicarbonate and protons. CAs are present in many pathogenic species and are involved in the bicarbonate metabolism/biosynthetic reactions involving this ion. Ubiquity of these enzymes suggests a pivotal role in microbial virulence and pathogenicity. Porphyromonas gingivalis is an anaerobic bacterium, which colonizes the oral cavity, being involved in the pathogenesis of periodontitis, an inflammatory disease leading to tooth loss. Recently, we reported an anion inhibitory study on the γ-CA (denominated PgiCA) identified in the genome of this Gram-negative bacterium. In this paper we continue our research on PgiCA, and describe the biochemical characterization of the recombinant protein, its thermal stability, the oligomeric state and the enzyme kinetics . PgiCA is a polypeptide chain formed of 192 amino acids and displays an identity of 30-33% when compared with the prototypical γ-CAs, CAM or CAMH (from Methanosarcina thermophila) or CcmM (from Thermosynechococcus elongatus). A subunit molecular mass of 21 kDa was estimated by SDS-PAGE, while HPLC size exclusion chromatography under native conditions gave an estimated molecular mass of 65 kDa suggesting that the recombinant enzyme self-associate in a homotrimer, as all other γ-CAs studied so far. Enzyme kinetic analysis showed that PgiCA is 62 times more effective as a catalyst compared to CAM, the only other γ-CA characterized in detail kinetically. All these features represent an interesting attractive for the drug design of inhibitors/activators of this new enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the biological effects of vanadium in humans has shown that acute poisoning in workers can manifest itself in a number of symptoms. There are no reports in humans about reproductive and developmental effects induced by vanadium compounds in humans; however, some studies with rats and mice indicate that vanadium can cross the placental barrier and accumulate in fetal membranes rather than the fetus itself. In this case, probably most consequences of administration of vanadium to pregnant females like reabsorptions, fetal death and reduction in size can be the result of maternal toxicity. Concerning genetic and related effects in humans exposed to different vanadium compounds, data are controversial. Data on genotoxic effects in workers exposed to vanadium indicate that they can have an increased risk to develop cancer, and DNA instability can give rise to an onset of genetic syndromes, fetal malformations, and cancer. This paper presents materials presented at the 8th International Symposium on Vanadium Chemistry, Biological Chemistry, and Toxicology in a session titled 'Relationship between occupational and environmental exposure to vanadium compounds and the reprotoxic and genotoxic effects'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) is a sessile organism that has unique ability to attach to a wide array of organic and inorganic marine surfaces using its holdfast structures. Strong adhesion to surfaces is essential for mussel survival, movement, and self-defense. Mussel proteins from byssal thread are structural components connecting soft mussel tissues to marine surfaces via an adhesive plaque in the distal end, while adhesive proteins from byssal plaque are responsible for mussel adhesion. Adhesive proteins are small molecules containing a high proportion of post-translationally modified amino acids such as 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA). High DOPA content, small molecular size, protein flexibility, the presence of metal ions, and a high oxidation state enable strong mussel adhesion to surfaces. Mussel adhesion mechanisms depend on the composition and interactions of mussel proteins, as well as their interactions with the environment. Difficulties in the extraction of mussel adhesion proteins hamper mechanism studies and their practical applications. Development of recombinant mussel proteins and biomimetics will advance our understanding of adhesion mechanisms. In this paper, recent advances in the characterization of mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs), mussel adhesion mechanisms, application of MAPs, and the development of biomimetic biopolymers are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several curcuminoids have been identified from rhizome of the common spiceCurcuma longa(Zingaberaceae) and related plant species. Curcuminoids are known to display several pharmacological properties summed up in numerous papers and reviews. In addition to curcuminoids, more than 250 mono-, sesqui- di-, and triterpenoids have been identified fromcurcumaspecies. These lipophilic compounds have better absorption than curcuminoids and also exhibit a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties. Little attention has been paid to these lipophilic compounds, which may be as physiologically active, if not more, as curcuminoids. This review focuses onCurcumaterpenoids and their physiological properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the review of the methods of lignocellulosic plants degumming is presented. Generally, for the degumming, the following methods are used: biological, chemical, mechanical and physical – retting in warm and cold water retting, dew retting, chemical treatment by acid and base, use of electromagnetic pulses and most promising – osmotic degumming with ultrasound. The paper presents the newest methods of degumming, especially the method of osmotic degumming combined with ultrasound. This new method, developed by Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, is a typical pro-ecological method, because degumming water after cleaning has to be recycled. The retting water has no odour and biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand parameters are not high. For better cost-efficiency, the osmotic degumming method can be applied also for degumming green decorticated fibres. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]