A New Pseudopolymorph of Hexakis-(4-cynaophenyl)benzene

The title compound (systematic name: benzene-4,4′,4′′,4′′′,-4′′′′,4′′′′′-hexaylhexabenzonitrile dichloromethane disolvate), C48H24N6•2CH2Cl2, crystallizes as an inclusion compound during the slow diffusion of methanol into a solution of hexakis(4-cyanophenyl)benzene in CH2Cl2. The hexakis(4- cyanophenyl)benzene molecule lies on an axis of twofold rotation in the space group Pbcn. Weak C—H•••N interactions between hexakis(4-cyanophenyl)benzene molecules define an open network with space for including guests. The resulting structure is a new pseudopolymorph of hexakis-(4-cyanophenyl)benzene. The eight known pseudopolymorphs have few shared architectural features, in part because none of the intermolecular interactions that are present plays a dominant role or forces neighboring molecules to assume particular relative orientations

EC88-2305 Six Steps to Mushroom Farming

Extension circular 88-2305 is six steps to mushroom farming

A Pilot Study on the Effects of Curcumin on Parasites, Inflammation, and Opportunistic Bacteria in Riding Horses

Twelve riding horses were utilized to examine the effects of curcumin on intestinal parasites, inflammation, and the fecal shedding of Streptococcus bovis/equinus complex (SBEC), Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens. Known for having anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiparasitic properties it was hypothesized that curcumin would decrease parasite shedding, inflammation, and opportunistic bacteria found in the GIT of riding horses. Horses were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments (n = 6/treatment): 1) no curcumin, control (CON); or 2) 15 g of 95% pure curcumin, (CUR). Curcumin was dosed per day for 30 d. Fecal samples were evaluated for shedding of ova and concentrations of selected bacteria. Blood samples taken pre and post riding intervals and evaluated for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) for inflammation. All data were analyzed for repeated measures. Treatment had no effect (P ≥ 0.58) on total fecal egg count, strongyles, or ascarids. Treatment had no effect on ESR (P ≤ 0.42); however, ESR decreased (P = 0.0006) on d 14 in CUR horses. Treatment had no effect (P ≥ 0.34) on concentrations of SBEC, C. difficile, or C. perfringens. Curcumin was not an effective compound against intestinal parasites or fecal microbial strains examined when administered for 30 days; but could potentially decrease inflammation. Curcumin has been observed to have many beneficial effects in other species, however, more research is needed to evaluate those benefits in horses

Identify. Quantify. Predict. Why immunologists should widely use molecular imaging for Coronavirus Disease 2019

Molecular imaging using PET/CT or PET/MRI has evolved from an experimental imaging modality at its inception in 1972 to an integral component of diagnostic procedures in oncology, and, to lesser extent, in cardiology and neurology, by successfully offerin

Good practices for 68Ga radiopharmaceutical production

Background: The radiometal gallium-68 (Ga-68) is increasingly used in diagnostic positron emission tomography (PET), with Ga-68-labeled radiopharmaceuticals developed as potential higher-resolution imaging alternatives to traditional Tc-99m agents. In precision medicine, PET applications of Ga-68 are widespread, with Ga-68 radiolabeled to a variety of radiotracers that evaluate perfusion and organ function, and target specific biomarkers found on tumor lesions such as prostate-specific membrane antigen, somatostatin, fibroblast activation protein, bombesin, and melanocortin. Main body: These Ga-68 radiopharmaceuticals include agents such as [Ga-68]Ga-macroaggregated albumin for myocardial perfusion evaluation, [Ga-68]Ga-PLED for assessing renal function, [Ga-68]Ga-t-butyl-HBED for assessing liver function, and [Ga-68]Ga-PSMA for tumor imaging. The short half-life, favourable nuclear decay properties, ease of radiolabeling, and convenient availability through germanium-68 (Ge-68) generators and cyclotron production routes strongly positions Ga-68 for continued growth in clinical deployment. This progress motivates the development of a set of common guidelines and standards for the Ga-68 radiopharmaceutical community, and recommendations for centers interested in establishing Ga-68 radiopharmaceutical production. Conclusion: This review outlines important aspects of Ga-68 radiopharmacy, including Ga-68 production routes using a Ge-68/Ga-68 generator or medical cyclotron, standardized Ga-68 radiolabeling methods, quality control procedures for clinical Ga-68 radiopharmaceuticals, and suggested best practices for centers with established or upcoming Ga-68 radiopharmaceutical production. Finally, an outlook on Ga-68 radiopharmaceuticals is presented to highlight potential challenges and opportunities facing the community

trans-Dichloridobis[(pyridin-4-yl)boronic acid-κN]palladium(II) dimethyl sulfoxide disolvate

In the title compound, [PdCl2(C5H6BNO2)2]·2C2H6OS, the PdII ion is located on an inversion centre and is four-coordinated in a trans square-planar geometry by two chloride ions and two (pyridin-4-yl)boronic acid ligands. The Pd—N and Pd—Cl distances are 2.023 (2) and 2.2977 (7) Å, respectively, and the average N—Pd—Cl angle is 90°. The dimethyl sulfoxide solvent mol­ecules play a key role in the crystal structure by bridging the complex mol­ecules via O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming tapes running along the b axis. C—H⋯O inter­actions also contribute to the cohesion of the crystal

Increasing plant group productivity through latent genetic variation for cooperation

Historic yield advances in the major crops have, to a large extent, been achieved by selection for improved productivity of groups of plant individuals such as high-density stands. Research suggests that such improved group productivity depends on “cooperative” traits (e.g., erect leaves, short stems) that—while beneficial to the group—decrease individual fitness under competition. This poses a problem for some traditional breeding approaches, especially when selection occurs at the level of individuals, because “selfish” traits will be selected for and reduce yield in high-density monocultures. One approach, therefore, has been to select individuals based on ideotypes with traits expected to promote group productivity. However, this approach is limited to architectural and physiological traits whose effects on growth and competition are relatively easy to anticipate. Here, we developed a general and simple method for the discovery of alleles promoting cooperation in plant stands. Our method is based on the game-theoretical premise that alleles increasing cooperation benefit the monoculture group but are disadvantageous to the individual when facing noncooperative neighbors. Testing the approach using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, we found a major effect locus where the rarer allele was associated with increased cooperation and productivity in high-density stands. The allele likely affects a pleiotropic gene, since we find that it is also associated with reduced root competition but higher resistance against disease. Thus, even though cooperation is considered evolutionarily unstable except under special circumstances, conflicting selective forces acting on a pleiotropic gene might maintain latent genetic variation for cooperation in nature. Such variation, once identified in a crop, could rapidly be leveraged in modern breeding programs and provide efficient routes to increase yields

Genetic subtraction profiling identifies genes essential for Arabidopsis reproduction and reveals interaction between the female gametophyte and the maternal sporophyte

Genetic subtraction and expression profiling of wild-type Arabidopsis and a sporophytic mutant lacking an embryo sac identified 1,260 genes expressed in the embryo sac; a total of 527 genes were identified for their expression in ovules of mutants lacking an embryo sac

Single-gene resolution of diversity-driven overyielding in plant genotype mixtures

In plant communities, diversity often increases productivity and functioning, but the specific underlying drivers are difficult to identify. Most ecological theories attribute positive diversity effects to complementary niches occupied by different species or genotypes. However, the specific nature of niche complementarity often remains unclear, including how it is expressed in terms of trait differences between plants. Here, we use a gene-centred approach to study positive diversity effects in mixtures of natural Arabidopsis thaliana genotypes. Using two orthogonal genetic mapping approaches, we find that between-plant allelic differences at the AtSUC8 locus are strongly associated with mixture overyielding. AtSUC8 encodes a proton-sucrose symporter and is expressed in root tissues. Genetic variation in AtSUC8 affects the biochemical activities of protein variants and natural variation at this locus is associated with different sensitivities of root growth to changes in substrate pH. We thus speculate that - in the particular case studied here - evolutionary divergence along an edaphic gradient resulted in the niche complementarity between genotypes that now drives overyielding in mixtures. Identifying genes important for ecosystem functioning may ultimately allow linking ecological processes to evolutionary drivers, help identify traits underlying positive diversity effects, and facilitate the development of high-performance crop variety mixtures

The Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Transactivator Infected Cell Protein-4 Drives VEGF-A Dependent Neovascularization

Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) causes lifelong infection affecting between 50 and 90% of the global population. In addition to causing dermal lesions, HSV-1 is a leading cause of blindness resulting from recurrent corneal infection. Corneal disease is characterized by loss of corneal immunologic privilege and extensive neovascularization driven by vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A). In the current study, we identify HSV-1 infected cells as the dominant source of VEGF-A during acute infection, and VEGF-A transcription did not require TLR signaling or MAP kinase activation. Rather than being an innate response to the pathogen, VEGF-A transcription was directly activated by the HSV-1 encoded immediate early transcription factor, ICP4. ICP4 bound the proximal human VEGF-A promoter and was sufficient to promote transcription. Transcriptional activation also required cis GC-box elements common to the VEGF-A promoter and HSV-1 early genes. Our results suggest that the neovascularization characteristic of ocular HSV-1 disease is a direct result of HSV-1's major transcriptional regulator, ICP4, and similarities between the VEGF-A promoter and those of HSV-1 early genes