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We analyzed, for the first time, the major components and biological properties of the venom of Vespa bicolor, a wasp from South China. Using HPLC and SDS-PAGE, combined with LC–MS/MS, MALDI-TOF-MS, and NMR data to analyze V. bicolor venom (VBV), we found that VBV contains three proteins (hyaluronidase A, phospholipase A1 (two isoforms), and antigen 5 protein) with allergenic activity, two unreported proteins (proteins 5 and 6), and two active substances with large quantities (mastoparan-like peptide 12a (Vb-MLP 12a), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)). In addition, the antimicrobial activity of VBV was determined, and results showed that it had a significant effect against anaerobic bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration for Propionibacterium acnes were 12.5 µg/mL. Unsurprisingly, VBV had strong antioxidant activity because of the abundance of 5-HT. Contrary to other Vespa venom, VBV showed significant anti-inflammatory activity, even at low concentrations (1 µg/mL), and we found that Vb-MLP 12a showed pro-inflammatory activity by promoting the proliferation of RAW 264.7 cells. Cytotoxicity studies showed that VBV had similar antiproliferative effects against all tested tumor cell lines (HepG2, Hela, MCF-7, A549, and SASJ-1), with HepG2 being the most susceptible. Overall, this study on VBV has high clinical importance and promotes the development of Vespa bicolor resources.

Based on the recent development of two dimensional ℓ1 major component detection and analysis (ℓ1 MCDA), we develop a scalable ℓ1 MCDA in the n-dimensional space to identify the major directions of star-shaped heavy-tailed statistical distributions with irregularly positioned “spokes” and “clutters”. In order to achieve robustness and efficiency, the proposed ℓ1 MCDA in n-dimensional space adopts a two-level median fit process in a local neighbor of a given direction in each iteration. Computational results indicate that in terms of accuracy ℓ1 MCDA is competitive with two well-known PCAs when there is only one major direction in the data, and ℓ1 MCDA can further determine multiple major directions of the n-dimensional data from superimposed Gaussians or heavy-tailed distributions without and with patterned artificial outliers. With the ability to recover complex spoke structures with heavy-tailed noise and clutter in the data, ℓ1 MCDA has potential to generate better semantics than other methods.

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is widely used for identifying the major components of statistically distributed point clouds. Robust versions of PCA, often based in part on the ℓ1 norm (rather than the ℓ2 norm), are increasingly used, especially for point clouds with many outliers. Neither standard PCA nor robust PCAs can provide, without additional assumptions, reliable information for outlier-rich point clouds and for distributions with several main directions (spokes). We carry out a fundamental and complete reformulation of the PCA approach in a framework based exclusively on the ℓ1 norm and heavy-tailed distributions. The ℓ1 Major Component Detection and Analysis (ℓ1 MCDA) that we propose can determine the main directions and the radial extent of 2D data from single or multiple superimposed Gaussian or heavy-tailed distributions without and with patterned artificial outliers (clutter). In nearly all cases in the computational results, 2D ℓ1 MCDA has accuracy superior to that of standard PCA and of two robust PCAs, namely, the projection-pursuit method of Croux and Ruiz-Gazen and the ℓ1 factorization method of Ke and Kanade. (Standard PCA is, of course, superior to ℓ1 MCDA for Gaussian-distributed point clouds.) The computing time of ℓ1 MCDA is competitive with the computing times of the two robust PCAs.

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is widely used for identifying the major components of statistically distributed point clouds. Robust versions of PCA, often based in part on the ℓ1 norm (rather than the ℓ2 norm), are increasingly used, especially for point clouds with many outliers. Neither standard PCA nor robust PCAs can provide, without additional assumptions, reliable information for outlier-rich point clouds and for distributions with several main directions (spokes). We carry out a fundamental and complete reformulation of the PCA approach in a framework based exclusively on the ℓ1 norm and heavy-tailed distributions. The ℓ1 Major Component Detection and Analysis (ℓ1 MCDA) that we propose can determine the main directions and the radial extent of 2D data from single or multiple superimposed Gaussian or heavy-tailed distributions without and with patterned artificial outliers (clutter). In nearly all cases in the computational results, 2D ℓ1 MCDA has accuracy superior to that of standard PCA and of two robust PCAs, namely, the projection-pursuit method of Croux and Ruiz-Gazen and the ℓ1 factorization method of Ke and Kanade. (Standard PCA is, of course, superior to ℓ1 MCDA for Gaussian-distributed point clouds.) The computing time of ℓ1 MCDA is competitive with the computing times of the two robust PCAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high number of illicit heroin cases in Malaysia has led to the local forensic laboratory profiling of the physical and chemical characteristics of 311 street samples submitted as heroin cases in 2010. Visual examination and physical characteristics of the heroin substance and plastic packages are described. The preferred ranges of the weight of substances per package and the dimensions of the plastic package/receptacle are defined. Analysis of eight major components (three adulterants and five opium alkaloids) is also detailed. It was found that most samples contained less than 10% heroin base and more than 80% caffeine. Physical and chemical data together provide a quick overview of the samples seized within the country. Principal component analysis of the five major opium alkaloids present in the seized samples suggested that there were at least two sources responsible for the samples analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper a formula for the coefficient of λ n- gh+ g-1 in the chromatic polynomial of a linear h-uniform hypergraph H of order n and girth g is proposed provided ( g, h) ≠ (3, 3). This formula involves 13 types of spanning subhypergraphs of H for 3 ≤ h ≤ 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed, for the first time, the major components and biological properties of the venom of Vespa bicolor, a wasp from South China. Using HPLC and SDS-PAGE, combined with LC–MS/MS, MALDI-TOF-MS, and NMR data to analyze V. bicolor venom (VBV), we found that VBV contains three proteins (hyaluronidase A, phospholipase A1 (two isoforms), and antigen 5 protein) with allergenic activity, two unreported proteins (proteins 5 and 6), and two active substances with large quantities (mastoparan-like peptide 12a (Vb-MLP 12a), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)). In addition, the antimicrobial activity of VBV was determined, and results showed that it had a significant effect against anaerobic bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration for Propionibacterium acnes were 12.5 µg/mL. Unsurprisingly, VBV had strong antioxidant activity because of the abundance of 5-HT. Contrary to other Vespa venom, VBV showed significant anti-inflammatory activity, even at low concentrations (1 µg/mL), and we found that Vb-MLP 12a showed pro-inflammatory activity by promoting the proliferation of RAW 264.7 cells. Cytotoxicity studies showed that VBV had similar antiproliferative effects against all tested tumor cell lines (HepG2, Hela, MCF-7, A549, and SASJ-1), with HepG2 being the most susceptible. Overall, this study on VBV has high clinical importance and promotes the development of Vespa bicolor resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The main objective of the project “Screening methods for Water data InFormaTion in support of the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive” (SWIFT-WFD) was to support the successful implementation of the WFD, which strongly depends on the quality and the comparability of monitoring data from river basin to river basin. In order to evaluate the performance of the laboratories using both classical and screening/emerging methods involved in the analysis of priority substances listed in the WFD, project activities included organization of three Proficiency Testing (PT) schemes at the European level for the determination of trace elements, major components, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and pesticides in water matrices, using the quality-control materials prepared within the project activities. The results of the three PT schemes were evaluated to provide a basis of information about the performance and thus the capacities of European analytical laboratories to comply with the requirements set out in the WFD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A sunflower hypergraph is an h-hypergraph of order and size k ( and ), where each edge (or a “petal”) consists of p distinct vertices and a common subset to all edges with vertices. In this paper, it is shown that this hypergraph is h-chromatically unique (i.e., chromatically unique in the set of all h-hypergraphs) for every , but this is not true for and . Also is not chromatically unique for every . [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Time-series sediment traps were deployed at ca. 500 m below the sea surface (upper) and ca. 500 m above the sea bottom (lower) at station SHIBT (29°30′N, 135°15′E, ca. 4600 m water depth) near the center of oligotrophic subtropical gyre of the Shikoku Basin in the western North Pacific from February to December 1999 and from June to September 2000 to collect settling particle samples with high time resolution (2.5 days in spring 1999). Major components of settling particles, i.e., CaCO3, Fe–Mn oxyhydroxide (ERFe-Mn), organic matter (OM), opal and lithogenic aluminosilicate (clay), were measured by stepwise leaching. Strontium isotope ratio and grain size of clay fraction were also determined. Average total mass fluxes were 18.9 and 57.4 mg m−2 day−1 in the upper and lower traps from February to early December 1999, respectively, and 3.8 and 58.0 mg m−2 day−1 in the upper and lower traps from June to September 2000, respectively. Total biogenic flux (CaCO3+OM+opal) in the upper trap accounted for 93% of total mass flux in 1999. CaCO3 was the dominant component in the upper and lower traps. Seasonal variations in settling fluxes of major components were observed for almost 1 year. High biogenic fluxes with four peaks were observed in spring, i.e., four times of spring blooms occurred in the euphotic zone from February to May 1999. Estimated export flux of particulate organic carbon from the euphotic zone was 6.2 mg C m−2 day−1 on average in 1999, and 9.0 mg C m−2 day−1 on average during the high biological production period in spring. 87Sr/86Sr ratio of clay fraction fell within the range of 0.7163–0.7188 in spring, which was consistent with that of Asian loess and dust. This indicates that the clay fraction was mainly composed of Asian dust via eolian transport in spring 1999. The high biogenic flux accompanying Asian dust coincided with Asian dust supply with time lag in early spring 1999. The coincidence of high biogenic flux with Asian dust supply suggests the possibility that high biological production in the oligotrophic subtropical Shikoku Basin might be affected by the Asian dust supply in spring. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Chemical composition and biological activity of three Astragalus species were studied. • Hesperidin and hyperoside were found as the major compounds. • A. gymnolobus and A. onobrychis showed remarkable antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities. • A. leporinus var. hirsutus showed the highest α-amylase inhibitory activity. • A significant correlation was determined between chemical composition and activity. Astragalus is a genus with many important medicinal plant species. The historical background of Astragalus species dates back to 2000–3000 years. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, tyrosinase and α-amylase inhibitory activities of the MeOH (methanol) extracts obtained from three different Astragalus species (A. gymnolobus Fisch., A. leporinus Boiss. var. hirsutus (Post) D.F. Chamb., and A. onobrychis L.). It was understood that A. gymnolobus and A. onobrychis extracts are richer than A. leporinus var. hirsutus in terms of phenolics and flavonoids. According to the results of Liquid Chromatography Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS/MS) analysis, it was determined that hesperidin and hyperoside were found in high amounts in the extracts. A strong correlation was found between the phytochemical compositions of the plants and their antioxidant activities. The order of the antioxidant activity of A. gymnolobus from strongest to the weakest was as follows: Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) (1.13 mg/mL), ferrous ion chelating (1.53 mg/mL), Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (CUPRAC) (1.58 mg/mL), 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) (2.52 mg/mL), phosphomolybdenum (2.91 mg/mL), and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (3.86 mg/mL). In the case of A. onobrychis , the order of the antioxidant activity was found to be: FRAP (1.25 mg/mL), ferrous ion chelating assays (1.69 mg/mL), CUPRAC (1.93 mg/mL), ABTS (2.21 mg/mL), phosphomolybdenum (2.77 mg/mL), and DPPH (4.50 mg/mL). A. gymnolobus (1.27 mg/mL, 281.92 mg KAEs/g extract) and A. onobrychis (1.25 mg/mL, 287.89 mg KAEs/g extract) have also been found to be effective tyrosinase inhibitors. In α-amylase inhibitory activity test, A. leporinus var. hirsutus was found to show the highest activity (4.06 mg/mL, 298.54 mg ACEs/g extract). According to Pearson correlation test results, it was concluded that hesperidin significantly contributed to the biological activities of the extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]