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Although the current Amazon large-scale deforestation boom is not identified in other Brazilian biomes, local areas of the Cerrado are showing increasing deforestation. We have assessed the histori...

Archaeosomes are liposomes formulated using total polar lipids (TPLs) or semi-synthetic glycolipids derived from archaea. Conventional archaeosomes with entrapped antigen exhibit robust adjuvant activity as demonstrated by increased antigen-specific humoral and cell-mediated responses and enhanced protective immunity in various murine infection and cancer models. However, antigen entrapment efficiency can vary greatly resulting in antigen loss during formulation and variable antigen:lipid ratios. In order to circumvent this, we recently developed an admixed archaeosome formulation composed of a single semi-synthetic archaeal lipid (SLA, sulfated lactosylarchaeol) which can induce similarly robust adjuvant activity as an encapsulated formulation. Herein, we evaluate and compare the mechanisms involved in the induction of early innate and antigen-specific responses by both admixed (Adm) and encapsulated (Enc) SLA archaeosomes. We demonstrate that both archaeosome formulations result in increased immune cell infiltration, enhanced antigen retention at injection site and increased antigen uptake by antigen-presenting cells and other immune cell types, including neutrophils and monocytes following intramuscular injection to mice using ovalbumin as a model antigen. In vitro studies demonstrate SLA in either formulation is preferentially taken up by macrophages. Although the encapsulated formulation was better able to induce antigen-specific CD8+ T cell activation by dendritic cells in vitro, both encapsulated and admixed formulations gave equivalently enhanced protection from tumor challenge when tested in vivo using a B16-OVA melanoma model. Despite some differences in the immunostimulatory profile relative to the SLA (Enc) formulation, SLA (Adm) induces strong in vivo immunogenicity and efficacy, while offering an ease of formulation.

Archaeosomes, composed of sulphated lactosyl archaeol (SLA) glycolipids, have been proven to be an effective vaccine adjuvant in multiple preclinical models of infectious disease or cancer. In addition to efficacy, the stability of vaccine components including the adjuvant is an important parameter to consider when developing novel vaccine formulations. To properly evaluate the potential of SLA glycolipids to be used as vaccine adjuvants in a clinical setting, a comprehensive evaluation of their stability is required. Herein, we evaluated the long term stability of preformed empty SLA archaeosomes prior to admixing with antigen at 4 °C or 37 °C for up to 6 months. In addition, the stability of adjuvant and antigen was evaluated for up to 1 month following admixing. Multiple analytical parameters evaluating the molecular integrity of SLA and the liposomal profile were assessed. Following incubation at 4 °C or 37 °C, the SLA glycolipid did not show any pattern of degradation as determined by mass spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and thin layer chromatography (TLC). In addition, SLA archaeosome vesicle characteristics, such as size, zeta potential, membrane fluidity and vesicular morphology, were largely consistent throughout the course of the study. Importantly, following storage for 6 months at both 4 °C and 37 °C, the adjuvant properties of empty SLA archaeosomes were unchanged, and following admixing with antigen, the immunogenicity of the vaccine formulations was also unchanged when stored at both 4 °C and 37 °C for up to 1 month. Overall this indicates that SLA archaeosomes are highly stable adjuvants that retain their activity over an extended period of time even when stored at high temperatures.

Ethanol production from whey powder was investigated by using free as well as alginate immobilized E. coli and E. coli expressing Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) in both shake flask and fermenter cultures. Media with varying levels of whey (lactose contents of 3%, 5%, 8% or 15%) and yeast extract (0.3% or 0.5%) were evaluated with fermentation times of 48–96 h. Immobilization and VHb expression resulted in higher ethanol production with all media; the increases ranged from 2% to 89% for immobilization and from 2% to 182% for VHb expression. It was determined that growth medium containing 8% lactose with 0.5% yeast extract yielded the highest ethanol production for free or immobilized strains, with or without VHb expression, in both shake flask and fermenter cultures. Immobilization with alginate was found to be a promising process for ethanol production by VHb-expressing ethanologenic E. coli.

Self-delivered speech therapy provides an opportunity for individualised dosage as a complement to the speech-therapy regime in the long-term rehabilitation pathway. Few apps for speech therapy have been subject to clinical trials, especially on a self-delivered platform. In a crossover design study, the Comprehensive Aphasia Test (CAT) and Cookie Theft Picture Description (CTPD) were used to measure untrained improvement in a group of chronic expressive aphasic patients after using a speech therapy app. A pilot study (n = 3) and crossover design (n = 7) comparing the therapy app with a non-language mind-game were conducted. Patients self-selected their training on the app, with a recommended use of 20 minutes per day. There was significant post-therapy improvement on the CAT and CTPD but no significant improvement after the mind-game intervention, suggesting there were language-specific effects following use of the therapy app. Improvements on the CTPD, a functional measurement of speech, suggest that a therapy app can produce practical, important changes in speech. The improvements post-therapy were not due to type of language category trained or amount of training on the app, but an inverse relationship with severity at baseline and post-therapy improvement was shown. This study suggests that self-delivered therapy via an app is beneficial for chronic expressive aphasia.

Engineering of ethanologenic E. coli to express the haemoglobin (VHb) from the bacterium Vitreoscilla has been shown to enhance ethanol production by fermentation of pure sugars, sugars from hydrolysis of lignocellulose, components of whey, and sugars from wastewater produced during potato processing. Here, these studies were extended to see whether the same effect could be seen when a mixture of waste materials from processing of potatoes and corn into potato and corn chips were used as sugar sources. Consistent increases in ethanol production coincident with VHb expression were seen in shake flasks at both low aeration and high aeration conditions. The ethanol increases were due almost entirely to increases in the amount of ethanol produced per unit of cell mass. The VHb strategy for increasing fermentation to ethanol (and perhaps other valuable fermentation products) may be of general use, particularly regarding conversion of otherwise discarded materials into valuable commodities.

Salinity and low temperature effects on adsorption of contaminant metals from water using an iminodiacetic acid (IDA) ion‐exchange resin, were investigated under dynamic flow conditions. The order of selectivity of the resin (20°C and 0% seawater) was: Cu2+> Pb2+> Cr3+> Ni2+>Cd2+>Zn2+. Low temperature (4°C) had no significant effect on the selectivity of the contaminant metals and salinity only affected selectivity for Cr3+ and Cu2+. Copper had highest selectivity in all column experiments, except where extensive deprotonation occured. Buffering affected retention of Cr3+; possibly due to precipitation or complexation as a result of increase in pH.

This paper presents a critical review of the literature on the application of genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMs) in bioremediation. The important aspects of using GEMs in bioremediation, such as development of novel strains with desirable properties through pathway construction and the modification of enzyme specificity and affinity, are discussed in detail. Particular attention is given to the genetic engineering of bacteria using bacterial hemoglobin (VHb) for the treatment of aromatic organic compounds under hypoxic conditions. The application of VHb technology may advance treatment of contaminated sites, where oxygen availability limits the growth of aerobic bioremediating bacteria, as well as the functioning of oxygenases required for mineralization of many organic pollutants. Despite the many advantages of GEMs, there are still concerns that their introduction into polluted sites to enhance bioremediation may have adverse environmental effects, such as gene transfer. The extent of horizontal gene transfer from GEMs in the environment, compared to that of native organisms including benefits regarding bacterial bioremediation that may occur as a result of such transfer, is discussed. Recent advances in tracking methods and containment strategies for GEMs, including several biological systems that have been developed to detect the fate of GEMs in the environment, are also summarized in this review. Critical research questions pertaining to the development and implementation of GEMs for enhanced bioremediation have been identified and posed for possible future research.

Adaptability, yield, quality attributes, and cumulative growing degree day (GDD) requirements of ‘Barbera 02’, ‘Cabernet Sauvignon 02’, ‘Cabernet Sauvignon 04’, ‘Chardonnay 29’, ‘Merlot 01’, and ‘Sangiovese 04’ wine grapes cultivar clones (Vitis spp.) under climatic conditions of southwest Idaho (Intermountain West region, USA) were evaluated during 2000 and 2001 seasons. ‘Sangiovese 04’ had significantly higher yield than ‘Cabernet Sauvignon 02’, ‘Cabernet Sauvignon 04’, ‘Chardonnay 29’, and ‘Merlot 01’ in both 2000 and 2001. ‘Barbera 02’ also had relatively higher yield than many other cultivar clones. ‘Cabernet Sauvignon 02’ had the lowest yield, although differences were not always significant. Other than cluster weight in 2000, no significant differences existed for yield, fruit quality attributes, or GDD requirements between the two ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ clones (’Cabernet Sauvig non 02’ and ‘Cabernet Sauvignon 04). ‘Barbera 02’ and ‘Sangiovese 04’ had the largest, while ‘Cabernet Sauvignon 0...

Effects of salinity and low temperature on the removal of dissolved contaminant metals from water by an iminodiacetic acid (IDA) ion‐exchange resin, Amberlite IRC748, were investigated under batch equilibrium conditions. As expected for ions retained by chelation, the efficiency of the resin was reduced with low temperature. The efficiency of the resin increased with salinity: increasing salinity (from 0% seawater) reduces protonation of the resin, lowering solution pH into the optimum pH range for the retention of contaminant metal ions. Selectivities of the divalent matrix cations, Ca2+ and Mg2+, were decreased with increasing salinity: this is attributed to a shift to an ion‐exchange retention mechanism for these ions, which is favoured at lower solution pH. At low salinity, the selectivity for Ca2+ and Mg2+ was decreased at low temperature, however at higher salinities, selectivity was unaffected by low temperature. This is consistent with the proposal of a shift from a chelation to an ion‐ex...

The aging of the US nuclear stockpile presents a number of challenges, including the increasing radioactivity of plutonium residues due to the ingrowth of 241Am from the β-decay of 241Pu. We investigated parameters that affect the sorption of Am onto anion-exchange resins from concentrated effluents derived from nitric acid processing of plutonium residues. These postevaporator wastes are nearly saturated solutions of acidic nitrate salts, and americium removal is complicated by physical factors, such as solution viscosity and particulates, as well as by the presence of large quantities of competing metals and acid. Single- and double-contact batch distribution coefficients for americium and neodymium from simple and complex surrogate solutions are presented. Varied parameters include the nitrate salt concentration and composition and the nitric acid concentration. We find that under these extremely concentrated conditions, Am(III) removal efficiencies can surpass 50% per contact. Distribution coefficient...

A laser based spectrofluorometer with f/# matched optics has been developed for the investigation of metal ion binding sites on nonviable biomaterials. Solid biomaterial samples have been encapsulated in a KBr glass matrix for these investigations. This sample preparation technique has allowed for the investigation of metal ion binding sites by both luminescence and infrared spectroscopy. The utility of the system and the method of sample preparation has been demonstrated with Eu(III) bound to cultured cell fragments from Datura innoxia.

Several biomaterials derived from blue-green algae and cells and tissues from some higher plants were tested for their potential to remove metal ions from solutions at different pH. Most biomaterials displayed pH-dependent binding profiles for Cu(II), Al(III), and Au(III). However, fragments of cultured Datura innoxia cells showed pH-lndependent binding of Au(III) binding of over 97%. Other biomaterials also showed high affinity for Cu(II) and Au(III) at pH 5.0. These included freeze dried roots and stems of cattail plants [Typha latifolia], the leaves of tumble weeds [Salsola spp), alfalfa sprouts [Medicago sativa’, and sphagnum peat. Al(III) binding by most biomaterials was low. An exception to this observation was Al(III) binding to alfalfa sprouts. The highest binding capacities for copper were exhibited by sphagnum peat moss and alfalfa sprouts with 30 and 18 mg Cu/g biomaterial

Designing water treatment systems with contaminant removal based on zero-valent iron (ZVI) requires an understanding of the formation of a series of iron oxyhydroxides produced during corrosion of the thermodynamically unstable ZVI core. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and geochemical modelling were used to investigate the mechanisms of copper and zinc removal and the formation of iron oxyhydroxides in batch experiments at 4 and 25°C, over a period of 349 days. Copper removal was predominantly associated with a mineral product, which was unstable in an aerobic environment. Zinc and some copper were sequestered into the iron oxyhydroxide structure and did not redissolve when the pH was reduced. X-ray diffractometry and geochemical modelling suggest that ZVI reacted to form magnetite and lepidocrocite, with lepidocrocite being the most stable mineral observed under the experimental conditions. However, XRD analysis did not allow the identification of poorly crystalline intermediate or substituted products which were most likely also present.Capsule During zero-valent iron treatment heavy metal contaminants are sequestered into iron oxyhydroxide structures formed during corrosion.

Ribosomal (r) proteins encoded by polyadenylated RNA were specifically precipitated in vitro from polysomes by using antibodies raised against characterized Drosophila melanogaster r proteins. The immuno-purified mRNA in the polysome complex was used to prepare cDNA with which to probe a D. melanogaster genomic library. Selected recombinant phages were used to hybrid select mRNAs, which were analyzed by in vitro translation. Three clones containing the genes for r proteins 7/8, S18, and L12 were positively identified by electrophoresis of the translation products in one-dimensional and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels. Sequences encoding r proteins S18 and L12 were found to be present in the genome in single copies. In contrast, the polynucleotide containing the region encoding 7/8 may be repeated or may contain or be flanked by short repeated sequences. The sizes of mRNAs that hybridized to the recombinant clone containing 7/8 were significantly larger than would be expected from the molecular weight of protein 7/8, implying that there were unusually long 5' and 3' noncoding sequences. The mRNAs for r proteins S18 and L12 were however, only about 10% larger. In situ hybridizations to salivary gland polytene chromosomes, using the recombinant phage, revealed that the recombinant clone containing the gene for r protein 7/8 hybridized to 5D on the X chromosome; the recombinant clone containing the gene for S18 hybridized to 15B on the same chromosome, and the recombinant phage containing the gene for L12 hybridized to 62E on chromosome 3L. It is of interest that the genomic locations of all three r protein clones were within the chromosomal intervals known to contain the Minute mutations [M(1)0, M(1)30, and M(3)LS2]. Although each clone contained sequences specifying two to four proteins, none had more than one identifiable r protein gene, suggesting that different D. melanogaster r protein genes may not be closely linked.

A three dimensional volume packing analysis of the crystal structures of quasi-one-dimensional ion-radical solids of the type (D)2 ∔ X− is presented. It is found that the (TMTSF)2 ∔ X−(X ≠ NO3) solids are loosely packed when compared with solids where D is an aromatic hydrocarbon. It is suggested that (TMTSF)2 ∔ X−(X ≠ NO3) are formed under conditions of kinetic control. A direct, broadly applicable approach to the synthesis of aromatic molecular (e.g. tetratellurotetracene (TTeT) and bis-(2-naphthyl)ditelluride) and supramolecular (e.g. poly-p-phenylene selenide (PPSe) and -telluride) materials is outlined. Our initial studies (powder data) of the structural and room temperature electrical properties of solids derived from TTeT and PPSe by electron transfer are summarized. The crystal and molecular structures of two forms of bis-(2-naphthyl) ditelluride have been determined using single crystal methods, and conformational polymorphism was observed.

Many factors have played a role in the evolution of pharmaceutical marketing. This paper examines the influence of political economics, regulation, therapeutics, and scientific development on the evolution of pharmaceutical marketing. The history and development of drug marketing is traced from the inception of “patent” medicines in the 17th Century to the present day.

Fertilizer N recommendations for small grains are frequently based on soil test N but data is limited for irrigated spring wheat. The relative grain yield response of irrigated spring wheat to N as affected by inorganic soil N (NO3‐N and NH4‐N), yield potential and market class was evaluated in thirteen Southern Idaho field experiments involving N rates. Experiments were conducted on silt loam soils from 1978 to 1986. Preplant soil NO3‐N and NH4‐N to a depth of 60 cm and ranging from 27 to 142 kg/ha accounted for approximately 73% of the relative yield variability. NO3‐N and NH4‐N were significantly correlated (r=.72). NH4‐N with NO3‐N did not account for more of the relative yield variability than using NO3‐N alone. Inorganic N in the first 30 cm and the second 30 cm were significantly correlated (r=.69) but N in the first depth increment accounted for more of the relative yield variability. The linear regression coefficient relating inorganic N in the first 30 cm to relative yield of unfertiliz...

The crystal structure of TTeT has been determined; salient features include a linear chain structure and very short intermolecular Te-Te contacts. A previously unreported polymorph of TSeT was found to be isomorphous to TTeT. These data, taken with the reported data for TTT, indicate a series of three crystals each with a lattice constant which is approximately twice the van der Waals radius of the chalcogen.

The physical and structural concepts concerning organochalcogen-based anisotropic organic metals are summarized, and the rationales which motivate synthetic activity in new selenium and tellurium materials are presented. An overview of our approach to new aromatic molecular and polymeric materials involving direct thermal reaction of new alkali chalcogenide reagents with unactivated aromatic halides is given, and recent applications to the synthesis of tetraselenonaphth-alene (TSeN) and new transition metal diselenolenes based on o-benzenediselenolate (bds) are noted. The crystal and molecular structures of TSeN and (nC4Hg)4N+ Ni(bds)2′ have been determined, as well as their electronic absorption and electron spin resonance spectra and cyclic voltammetric behavior. The reaction of cis-dichloroethylene and sodium diselenide leads to a polymer to which the repeat sequence ←Se-CH=CH-CH-CR-Se→ is assigned, based on elemental analysis and infrared spectrum.

The production of marketable malting barley requires careful N management to meet the quality standards set by the malting industry. Nine field trials were conducted over an eight‐year period at four locations to develop N fertilization guidelines for irrigated malting barley. Residual soil NO3‐N (0 to 60 cm) ranged from 15 to 103 kg N/ha. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied preplant as either urea or NH4NO3 at rates ranging from 0 to 269 kg N/ha. Maximum yields were obtained when the sum of residual plus applied N (available N) was above 110 kg N/ha. However, the percentage of plump kernels generally fell below acceptable levels (85%) when available N exceeded 135 kg N/ha. Grain protein exceeded acceptable levels (12%) when available N was above 210 kg N/ha. Stem NO3‐N sufficiency levels were determined from high‐yielding barley with acceptable quality parameters. At the three‐leaf stage, the barley stem NO3‐N sufficiency level was approximately 6,000 μg/g and decreased to about 1,000 μg/g at the ei...

The o-benzenediselenolate dianion(bds) reacts with transition metal dichlorides(Co, Ni, Cu) to give new transition metal diselenolenes isolated as tetra-n-butylammonium salts. These materials have been characterized by elemental analysis, cyclic voltammetry, electronic spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, ESR and static magnetic susceptibility. The crystal structure of (n-C4H9)4 N+Ni(bds)2 reveals a mixed chain structure. This report primarily presents the results of studies of the magnetic properties of Co, Ni and Cu diselenolenes as revealed by ESR and static magnetic susceptibility techniques.

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