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Desert truffles are mycorrhizal, hypogeous fungi considered a delicacy. On the basis of morphological characters, we identified three desert truffle species that grow in the same habitat in the Negev desert. These include Picoa lefebvrei (Pat.), Tirmania nivea (Desf.) Trappe, and Terfezia boudieri (Chatain), all associated with Helianthemum sessiliflorum. Their taxonomy was confirmed by PCR-RFLP. The main volatiles of fruit bodies of T. boudieri and T. nivea were 1-octen-3-ol and hexanal; however, volatiles of the latter species further included branched-chain amino acid derivatives such as 2-methylbutanal and 3-methylbutanal, phenylalanine derivatives such as benzaldehyde and benzenacetaldehyde, and methionine derivatives such as methional and dimethyl disulfide. The least aromatic truffle, P. lefebvrei, contained low levels of 1-octen-3-ol as the main volatile. Axenic mycelia cultures of T. boudieri displayed a simpler volatile profile compared to its fruit bodies. This work highlights differences in the volatile profiles of desert truffles and could hence be of interest for selecting and cultivating genotypes with the most likable aroma.

The functional properties and technological utility of polycrystalline materials are largely determined by the structure, geometry, and spatial distribution of their multitude of crystals. However, crystallization is seeded through stochastic and incoherent nucleation events, limiting the ability to control or pattern the microstructure, texture, and functional properties of polycrystalline materials. We present a universal approach that can program the microstructure of materials through the coherent seeding of otherwise stochastic homogeneous nucleation events. The method relies on creating topographic variations to seed nucleation and growth at designated locations while delaying nucleation elsewhere. Each seed can thus produce a coherent growth front of crystallization with a geometry designated by the shape and arrangement of seeds. Periodic and aperiodic crystalline arrays of functional materials, such as semiconductors, can thus be created on demand and with unprecedented sophistication and ease by patterning the location and shape of the seeds. This approach is used to demonstrate printed arrays of organic thin-film transistors with remarkable performance and reproducibility owing to their demonstrated spatial control over the microstructure of organic and inorganic polycrystalline semiconductors.

Integrated microfluidics is a sophisticated three-dimensional (multi layer) solution for high complexity serial or parallel processes. Fabrication of integrated microfluidic devices requires soft lithography and the stacking of thin-patterned PDMS layers. Precise layer alignment and bonding is crucial. There are no previously reported standards for alignment of the layers, which is mostly performed using uncontrolled processes with very low alignment success. As a result, integrated microfluidics is mostly used in academia rather than in the many potential industrial applications. We have designed and manufactured a semiautomatic Microfluidic Device Assembly System (μDAS) for full device production. μDAS comprises an electrooptic mechanical system consisting of four main parts: optical system, smart media holder (for PDMS), a micropositioning xyzθ system and a macropositioning XY mechanism. The use of the μDAS yielded valuable information regarding PDMS as the material for device fabrication, revealed previously unidentified errors, and enabled optimization of a robust fabrication process. In addition, we have demonstrated the utilization of the μDAS technology for fabrication of a complex 3 layered device with over 12 000 micromechanical valves and an array of 64 × 64 DNA spots on a glass substrate with high yield and high accuracy. We increased fabrication yield from 25% to about 85% with an average layer alignment error of just ∼4 μm. It also increased our protein expression yields from 80% to over 90%, allowing us to investigate more proteins per experiment. The μDAS has great potential to become a valuable tool for both advancing integrated microfluidics in academia and producing and applying microfluidic devices in the industry.

The ectendomycorrhizal fungus Terfezia boudieri is known to secrete auxin. While some of the effects of fungal auxin on the plant root system have been described, a comprehensive understanding is still lacking. A dual culture system to study pre mycorrhizal signal exchange revealed previously unrecognized root-fungus interaction mediated by the fungal auxin. The secreted fungal auxin induced negative taproot gravitropism, attenuated taproot growth rate, and inhibited initial host development. Auxin also induced expression of Arabidopsis carriers AUX1 and PIN1, both of which are involved in the gravitropic response. Exogenous application of auxin led to a root phenotype, which fully mimicked that induced by ectomycorrhizal fungi. Co-cultivation of Arabidopsis auxin receptor mutants tir1-1, tir1-1 afb2-3, tir1-1 afb1-3 afb2-3, and tir1-1 afb2-3 afb3-4 with Terfezia confirmed that auxin induces the observed root phenotype. The finding that auxin both induces taproot deviation from the gravity axis and coordinates growth rate is new. We propose a model in which the fungal auxin induces horizontal root development, as well as the coordination of growth rates between partners, along with the known auxin effect on lateral root induction that increases the availability of accessible sites for colonization at the soil plane of fungal spore abundance. Thus, the newly observed responses described here of the root to Terfezia contribute to a successful encounter between symbionts.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) lead implantation for CRT can be challenging. We describe the technique of wire externalisation to enable posterolateral (PL) LV lead placement and give case examples to illustrate its use., Methods: The technique includes: The externalised guidewire provides excellent support for antegrade or retrograde advancement of the LV lead., Results: Wire externalisation has been used to overcome PL branch tortuosity, persistent left SVC or acute angulation of the CS ostium. Antegrade delivery or retrograde delivery is possible but there may be an additional need for balloon angioplasty to facilitate lead advancement. There have been no complications at implant or 30-day follow-up., Conclusions: The wire externalisation technique can facilitate optimal LV lead placement in difficult CRT cases., (Copyright © 2015 Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Object: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of 2-level total disc replacement (TDR) using a Mobi-C cervical artificial disc at 48 months' follow-up., Methods: A prospective randomized, US FDA investigational device exemption pivotal trial of the Mobi-C cervical artificial disc was conducted at 24 centers in the U.S. Three hundred thirty patients with degenerative disc disease were randomized and treated with cervical total disc replacement (225 patients) or the control treatment, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) (105 patients). Patients were followed up at regular intervals for 4 years after surgery., Results: At 48 months, both groups demonstrated improvement in clinical outcome measures and a comparable safety profile. Data were available for 202 TDR patients and 89 ACDF patients in calculation of the primary endpoint. TDR patients had statistically significantly greater improvement than ACDF patients for the following outcome measures compared with baseline: Neck Disability Index scores, 12-Item Short Form Health Survey Physical Component Summary scores, patient satisfaction, and overall success. ACDF patients experienced higher subsequent surgery rates and displayed a higher rate of adjacent-segment degeneration as seen on radiographs. Overall, TDR patients maintained segmental range of motion through 48 months with no device failure., Conclusions: Four-year results from this study continue to support TDR as a safe, effective, and statistically superior alternative to ACDF for the treatment of degenerative disc disease at 2 contiguous cervical levels. Clinical trial registration no.: NCT00389597 ( clinicaltrials.gov ).

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a key diagnostic marker of pregnancy and an important biomarker for cancers in the prostate, ovaries and bladder and therefore of great importance in diagnosis. For this purpose, a new immunosensor of screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) is presented here. The device was fabricated by introducing a polyaniline (PANI) conductive layer, via in situ electropolymerization of aniline, onto a screen-printed graphene support. The PANI-coated graphene acts as the working electrode of a three terminal electrochemical sensor. The working electrode is functionalised with anti-hCG, by means of a simple process that enabled oriented antibody binding to the PANI layer. The antibody was attached to PANI following activation of the -COOH group at the Fc terminal. Functionalisation of the electrode was analysed and optimized using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). Chemical modification of the surface was characterised using Fourier transform infrared, and Raman spectroscopy with confocal microscopy. The graphene-SPE-PANI devices displayed linear responses to hCG in EIS assays from 0.001 to 50 ng mL -1 in real urine, with a detection limit of 0.286 pg mL -1 . High selectivity was observed with respect to the presence of the constituent components of urine (urea, creatinine, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, ammonium chloride, potassium sulphate and sodium chloride) at their normal levels, with a negligible sensor response to these chemicals. Successful detection of hCG was also achieved in spiked samples of real urine from a pregnant woman. The immunosensor developed is a promising tool for point-of-care detection of hCG, due to its excellent detection capability, simplicity of fabrication, low-cost, high sensitivity and selectivity.

In this article we present ultra-sensitive, silicon nanowire (SiNW)-based biosensor devices for the detection of disease biomarkers. An electrochemically induced functionalisation method has been employed to graft antibodies targeted against the prostate cancer risk biomarker 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) to SiNW surfaces. The antibody-functionalised SiNW sensor has been used to detect binding of the 8-OHdG biomarker to the SiNW surface within seconds of exposure. Detection of 8-OHdG concentrations as low as 1 ng/ml (3.5 nM) has been demonstrated. The active device has been bonded to a disposable printed circuit which can be inserted into an electronic readout system as part of an integrated Point of Care (POC) diagnostic. The speed, sensitivity and ease of detection of biomarkers using SiNW sensors render them ideal for eventual POC diagnostics., (Crown Copyright © 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The presence of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-PI) in pure human pancreatic juice was demonstrated. Its concentration was measured using the radial immunodiffusion technique and compared to transferrin and albumin concentrations. In normal pancreatic juice the mean alpha 1-PI level (expressed in percent of total protein) was 0.21 +/- 0.02, whereas the mean levels of the two other serum proteins were 0.14 +/- 0.01 for transferrin and 0.90 +/- 0.07 for albumin. These levels increased significantly in the juice of patients with chronic calcifying pancreatitis. The serum origin of alpha 1-PI present in pancreatic juice was demonstrated by the good correlation existing between alpha 1-PI and albumin as well as between transferrin and albumin. In addition, in each case the alpha 1-PI level was found to be higher in secretin-stimulated juice than in cholecystokinin-stimulated juice. A similar pattern was also found for albumin.

The two human anionic trypsinogens 1 and 2 were purified from human pancreatic juice by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 and by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. After activation of their respective zymogens by porcine enterokinase, human trypsins 1 and 2 were studied for their reaction with a wide variety of proteinase inhibitors. Kunitz pancreatic trypsin inhibitor and human pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor completely inhibited both human trypsins at a stoichiometric inhibitor-to-enzyme ratio of one to one. In contrast, bovine pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (Kazal's inhibitor) failed to inhibit either human trypsin. The inhibition of both human trypsins by porcine pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor was demonstrated. The reactions of the trypsins with chicken ovomucoid, Ascaris lumbricoides (type suis), human sperm and blood plasma trypsin inhibitors were studied. The most striking difference between the two human trypsins was the reaction with soybean trypsin inhibitor (Kunitz). Trypsin 2 was completely inhibited in a one-to-one molar ratio while trypsin 1 was poorly inhibited. The presence of a prekallikrein in human pancreatic juice is discussed.

The catalytic properties of the two human trypsins obtained from purified trypsinogens have been studied. The catalytic rate constant kcat and the pK of the ionisable residue implicated in the active site have been determined with Bz-Arg-OEt. The hydrolysis of Tos-Arg-OMe by human trypsins does not follow the simple Michaelis-Menten scheme and indicates a difference in the conformational flexibility of the active site-regions of the two enzymes. Both enzyme are readily autolyzed and calcium ion plays a fundamental role in stabilizing trypsin activity. However trypsin 2 self-digests more rapidly than trypsin 1. These results are a prerequisite to the elucidation of the fate of pancreatic enzymes in human digestive tract.

Human prophospholipase A2 was purified from pancreatic juice. The protein has a molecular weight of 14500 and a free N-terminal residue identified as aspartic acid (or asparagine). The amino acid composition was determined. Partial immunological identity has been obtained between human and porcine prophospholipase A2. As other phospholipases, the human enzyme requires the presence of calcium for its activity. However, the activity of human phospholipase A2 on egg yolk emulsion is partially inhibited at 0.4 mM calcium concentration, which differs from the porcine homologous enzyme. Kinetics of activation of the two zymogens (human and porcine) by 4 different trypsins (bovine, porcine and human) indicate a difference between the two zymogens only when activated by human trypsins, which suggests a marked specificity of both human trypsins for human prophospholipase.

Evidence is presented that human carboxyl ester hydrolase (carboxylic-ester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.1) is able to hydrolyze cholesterol esters and lipid-soluble vitamins A, D-3 and E esters. Those activities require the presence of bile salts and the 3 alpha, 7 alpha-dihydroxylated bile salts have been found the most efficient activators. The results presented in this paper and in the preceding one suggest the existence of two sites of bile salts recognition. One site, specific of the 3 alpha, 7 alpha-hydroxyl group of cholanic acid would induce dimerization and activation of the enzyme. The other site, unspecific towards bile salts hydroxylation would be located at the active center and would be implicated in substrate recognition.

A carboxyl ester hydrolase has been purified 20-fold from human pancreatic juice. It is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 100 000. It contains 9% neutral and amino carbohydrates and the amino acid composition is characterized by a high content of proline residue (12.7%). The enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylacetate and the activity increases in the presence of biliary salts; V is not modified but Km is decreased 10 times by addition of biliary salts. The enzyme migrates on Sephadex G-200 as a protein with a molecular weight of 300 000. This behaviour does not seem to be due to a polymerization but to a peculiar configuration of the enzyme.

The two human trypsinogens have been isolated from human pancreatic juice in a sufficient amount to study molecular and structural properties. The purification procedure included filtration on Sephadex G-100 followed by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The two trypsinogens represent 19% of total proteins of pancreatic juice. Trypsinogen 1, the major form, is present in a quantity twice that of trypsinogen 2, which is the most anionic protein in human pancreatic juice. The two proteins have partial immunological identity, close molecular weights (23 438 and 25 006 for trypsinogens 1 and 2, respectively) and similar amino acid compositions. The N-terminal sequences are the same for the first 9 residues: Ala-Pro-Phe-Asp4-Lys-Ile. The two proteins differ in the activation peptides released during the transformation to trypsins. Trypsinogen 2 liberates one octapeptide Ala-Pro-Phe-Asp4-Lys while trypsinogen 1 liberates two peptides, the same octapeptide and the pentapeptide (Asp)4-Lys.

The contact of long and medium chain fatty acids with the ileal mucosa inhibits basal or stimulated pancreatic protein secretion of Man, Dog, Cat and Rat. This inhibition is due to an inhibitory factor transmitted by cross-circulation. We isolated from partially purified extracts of Pig ileum a peptide which inhibits strongly volume and protein pancreatic output of the conscious Rat. We propose to call this factor ACP, anticholecystokinine peptide.

Human pancreatic external secretion is a mixture of proteins in solution in a strongly alkaline medium. 10% of proteins are constituted with non-digestive enzymes and proteins and mostly represented by serum-type proteins. 90% of proteins are digestive enzymes and zymogens necessary for digestion of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates present in diets. One prekallikrein is also secreted in pancreatic juice. The optimal pH of enzyme activities and the instability of most enzymes at acidic pH suggest that pancreatic secretion might not have a deleterious effect on gastric mucosa after duodenogastric reflux.

The formation of complexes between human trypsinogens and the basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor is demonstrated by using affinity chromatography on Sepharose coupled to basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor. This interaction indicates the pre-existence of the active site in human trypsinogens. This active site induces the proteolytic activity of the two zymogens which activate spontaneously at pH 5.6 and pH 8.0 before and after affinity chromatography. The effect of affinity-chromatography on trypsinogen spontaneous activation is not the same on trypsinogens 1 and 2. A striking difference appears between the activation of the two trypsinogens. In all cases, trypsinogen 1 autoactivates more rapidly than trypsinogen 2, except at pH 5.6 in the presence of 10 mM Ca2+, which inhibits the autoactivation of trypsinogen 1. The effect of inherent proteolytic activity of human trypsinogens is discussed in relation to pathological conditions of enterokinase deficiency and acute pancreatitis.

Transfer reactions catalyzed by human pancreatic carboxylic-ester hydrolase (EC 3.1.1.1) were studied in the presence of methanol and butanol as nucleophiles. The addition of alcohols produced an increase in the total rate of 4-nitrophenyl acetate and n-propylthiol acetate disappearance and a concomitant slow decrease of the hydrolysis rate. These results indicate a competitive partitioning of an acyl-enzyme intermediate between water and nucleophile. Moreover, a strong inhibition of the rates of hydrolysis of methyl butyrate and triacetin by nucleophiles is in agreement with a rate-limiting acylation step. The kinetic data and a trans-ester characterization argue in favor of the formation of an acyl-enzyme intermediate and a two-step reaction mechanism, acylation and deacylation both being rate-limiting. The experiments performed with 4-nitrophenyl acetate show the existence of a nucleophile binding site.

Human pancreatic carboxyl ester hydrolase is shown to catalyse the esterification of cholesterol and lipid-soluble vitamins A, E and D3 with oleic acid. The acitivity requires the presence of bile salts, and the trihydroxylated or the 3 alpha, 7 alpha dihydroxylated bile salts are better activators than the 3 alpha, 12 alpha dihydroxylated bile salts. The hydrolyzing and synthetizing activities of human pancreatic carboxyl ester hydrolase are separated by a large pH range since the synthesis of cholesterol esters is optimal at pH 5.25 and the hydrolysis of cholesterol and vitamin E esters is optimal at pH 8.0. From the comparison of the catalytic constants determined for the hydrolyzing and synthetizing activities and from the pH dependence of the two activities, it appears that human carboxyl ester hydrolase plays an important part in the intestinal lumen. The role of the enzyme in the esterification of cholesterol and lipid-soluble vitamins is questionable.

Human pancreatic carboxyl-ester hydrolase is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 100 000 and a high content in carbohydrate, 20%. Sedimentation studies indicate that the molecule resembles an ellipsoid. The results of hydrodynamic and vacuum-ultraviolet circular dichroism investigation allow one to propose a model of the carboxyl-ester hydrolase three-dimensional structure. The enzyme belongs to the "all beta" class of proteins; about 54-60% of its residues are in beta-sheets and in beta-turns, most probably forming the surface of an ellipsoid. A similarity with prealbumin structure is proposed and a comparison with structure of other pancreatic enzymes is presented.

Human pancreatic carboxylic ester hydrolase (EC 3.1.1.1), usually characterized by its activity on water-soluble substrates, is shown to catalyze reactions taking place at a lipid/water interface. The inhibition of tributyrin hydrolysis by 1-alcohols follows the pattern of a Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Experiments performed with siliconized glass beads show that human pancreatic carboxylic ester hydrolase is adsorbed on this artificial (or substitute) interface with a dissociation constant for the enzyme-glass beads complex equal to 1.5 . 10(-8) M. The average molecular area at saturation is 4375 A2. Tripropionin hydrolysis is increased by the presence of glass beads. These results are strong arguments in favor of the interfacial activity of pancreatic carboxylic ester hydrolase. The activation of the enzyme bound to the interface is very weak. Bile salts do not prevent the adsorption of carboxylic ester hydrolase on siliconized glass beads and increase strongly the hydrolysis rate of emulsified tributyrin.

Purified carboxyl ester hydrolase (carboxylic-ester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.1) from human pancreatic juice was found to hydrolyze triacetin, methyl butyrate and glycerides solubilized by bile salts. It has no activity on substrate presented as emulsoin or monomolecular films. The human enzyme was found to deacylate phospholipids and lysophospholipids at different rates. The hydrolysis of short-chain phosphatidylcholines was dependent of substrate solubility and dioctanoyl phosphatidylcholine was deacylated with the highest rate. Long-chain phosphatidylcholines and lysophosphatidylcholines present in microsomal membranes were deacylated with very low rates, only lysophosphatidylcholine deacylation was faster. Evidence is presented that human carboxyl ester hydrolase is the lyophosphatidyl-choline-hydrolyzing enzyme corresponding to bovine lysophospholipase. Bile salts play an important part on the activity of human carboxyl ester hydrolase, in addition to the role of detergent that they have on insoluble substrates.

Chronic calcifying pancreatitis is characterized by the formation of intraductal protein plugs or precipitates and calcified stones in ducts. Similar precipitates may be collected by endoscopic retrograde catheterization of the main pancreatic duct. They are present in the pancreatic juice of alcoholic subjects and patients with chronic calcifying pancreatitis. Protein analysis of these precipitates was performed to try to elucidate the mechanism of stone formation. Two protein fraction were separated by extraction of precipitates. One fraction was easily soluble in saline and contained a small amount of most of the proteins of pancreatic juice. The other fraction was soluble in citrate or ethylenediaminetetraacetate and contained a few proteins with close isoelectric points and identical molecular weight (13,500). These proteins showed immunological identity with the "stone protein" isolated from human pancreatic calculi. Our data demonstrate that the major citrate-soluble protein of precipitates in pancreatic juice is identical with "stone protein". They are strongly support the concept that this protein is the organic matrix of pancreatic stones. Different mechanisms are proposed to explain the phenomenon of protein precipitation that frequently occurs in alcoholic subjects and patients with chronic calcifying pancreatitis.

The two chymotrypsinogens present in human pancreatic juice have been purified and characterized. The zymogens are two immunologically and electrophoretically different proteins. Chymotrypsinogen A, the major chymotryptic component (90% of the total potential N-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethylester activity) is stable in acidic medium. By its molecular weight (approx. 24 000), specific activity (530) and amino acid composition, human chymotrypsinogen A resembles chymotrypsinogens A and B form bovine and porcine pancreas. Chymotrypsinogen B is a minor chymotryptic component (7% of the total potential N-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethylester activity) unstable in acidic medium with a molecular weight slightly higher (approx. 27 000) and a specific activity slightly lower (300) than chymotrypsinogen A. The last 3% of the total potential N-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethylester activity corresponds to a proelastase that we have partially characterized.