Technologies for Beneficial Microorganisms Inocula Used as Biofertilizers

The increasing need for environmentaly friendly agricultural practices is driving the use of fertilizers based on beneficial microorganisms. The latter belong to a wide array of genera, classes, and phyla, ranging from bacteria to yeasts and fungi, which can support plant nutrition with different mechanisms. Moreover, studies on the interactions between plant, soil, and the different microorganisms are shedding light on their interrelationships thus providing new possible ways to exploit them for agricultural purposes. However, even though the inoculation of plants with these microorganisms is a well-known practice, the formulation of inocula with a reliable and consistent effect under field conditions is still a bottleneck for their wider use. The choice of the technology for inocula production and of the carrier for the formulation is key to their successful application. This paper focuses on how inoculation issues can be approached to improve the performance of beneficial microorganisms used as a tool for enhancing plant growth and yield

The detection of Helicobacter pylori in paraffin sections using the PCR technique and various primers as compared to histological techniques

Helicobacter pylori is thought to represent a significant etiopathogenic factor in diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract. It seems, therefore, important to elaborate effective techniques for its detection. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Helicobacter pylori detection using the PCR technique on paraffin sections with various pairs of primers and to compare the results with those of a histological appraisal. Material for the studies involved 50 paraffin blocks with gastric mucosa biopsies fixed in 4% buffered formalin. In this material 4 tests were performed with the aim of diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection: 1) H+E staining, 2) staining by the Giemsa technique, 3) an immunocytochemical technique with antibodies against H. pylori and 4) the PCR technique with various primers. In the present study the most reliable results for H. pylori detection as well as the most pronounced correlation were obtained by using the PCR technique with primers for the ureC gene, immunohistochemistry and staining according to Giemsa. Less compatible results were obtained employing the two PCR techniques which utilise various primers. The experiments confirmed the usefulness of the PCR technique in the detection of Helicobacter pylori in paraffin sections by using a suitable pair of primers, and also indicated that Giemsa staining and immunohistochemistry should be taken into account

Ecomuseums as cross-sector partnerships: governance, strategy and leadership

Ecomuseums are attracting increasing attention as means of preserving heritage and also impacting positively on social and economic issues. This paper contrasts ecomuseums with previous forms of cross-sector partnerships. The authors focus on the governance, strategy and leadership of the Flodden 1513 Ecomuseum. The findings have lessons for ecomuseums and other cross-sector partnerships both in and outside the UK

Metal complexes of flavonoids: their synthesis, characterization, and enhanced anti-oxidant and anti-cancer activities

Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds of natural origin. They are extensively studied within drug discovery programmes due to their wide ranging biological activities such as anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, neuroprotective and cardioprotective properties. The ability of flavonoids to coordinate with metal atoms has provided new leads for drug discovery programmes, with better pharmacological activities and clinical profiles than the parent flavonoids. In this review, the enhanced anti-oxidant and anti-cancer activities of flavonoid metal complexes versus the parent flavonoids are discussed. Possible mechanisms of action for the metal complexes, such as DNA binding and apoptosis induction, are also presented alongside an overview of the synthesis of the metal complexes, and the different techniques used for their characterization

Lower levels of Caveolin-1 and higher levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase are observed in abdominal aortic aneurysm patients treated with simvastatin

This study was undertaken to verify whether simvastatin modulates Cav-1/eNOS expression, and if this modulation is associated with changes in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) level in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). It is a 1:2 case-control study of non-statin (n=12) and simvastatin-treated patients (n=24) who underwent open AAA repair. Simvastatin treatment decreased Cav-1 (p0.05) and increased IL-10 concentration (p=0.055); however, TLR4 expression was unaffected, suggesting that simvastatin influences Cav-1 and eNOS in the AAA wall by other mechanisms. Simvastatin may modulate Cav-1 and eNOS expression in the aneurysmal wall, indicating a potentially beneficial role for statins in AAA patients

Application of Ni(II)-Assisted Peptide Bond Hydrolysis to Non-Enzymatic Affinity Tag Removal

In this study, we demonstrate a non-enzymatic method for hydrolytic peptide bond cleavage, applied to the removal of an affinity tag from a recombinant fusion protein, SPI2-SRHWAP-His6. This method is based on a highly specific Ni(II) reaction with (S/T)XHZ peptide sequences. It can be applied for the protein attached to an affinity column or to the unbound protein in solution. We studied the effect of pH, temperature and Ni(II) concentration on the efficacy of cleavage and developed an analytical protocol, which provides active protein with a 90% yield and ∼100% purity. The method works well in the presence of non-ionic detergents, DTT and GuHCl, therefore providing a viable alternative for currently used techniques

The “Tango Argentino”: a metaphor for understanding effectuation processes

The authors use the analogy of the Argentine Tango to illuminate entrepreneurial effectuation as a process of becoming. Drawing on the metaphor of dance, the authors highlight seven areas for theory development that could further a performative theory of effectuation. These include the study of the micro-level movement and flow in the dance as “intimate steps,” and understanding the interplay between entrepreneur and ecosystem as “contextual rhythms.” They further propose that the study of changing leadership in the dance could illuminate how causal processes “become” effectual and suggest a concept of “attunement” to consider how inexperienced entrepreneurs learn contextual rhythms and, therefore, benefit for effectuation processes. Finally, they posit that the intimate steps leading to creativity in the dance relative to different levels of proximity and distance between the dancers should be understood alongside the movements and flows through which dancers maintain their individuality during such intimate movements and flows

Design concepts for the Cherenkov Telescope Array CTA: an advanced facility for ground-based high-energy gamma-ray astronomy

Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has had a major breakthrough with the impressive results obtained using systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has a huge potential in astrophysics, particle physics and cosmology. CTA is an international initiative to build the next generation instrument, with a factor of 5-10 improvement in sensitivity in the 100 GeV-10 TeV range and the extension to energies well below 100 GeV and above 100 TeV. CTA will consist of two arrays (one in the north, one in the south) for full sky coverage and will be operated as open observatory. The design of CTA is based on currently available technology. This document reports on the status and presents the major design concepts of CTA