Characterization of the transcript for a depressant insect selective neurotoxin gene with an isolated cDNA clone from the scorpion Buthotus judaicus

AbstractThe poly(A)+ mRNA isolated from the venomous terminal segments of the scorpion Buthotus judaicus was reversed transcribed into cDNA. PCR amplification of the cDNA in presence of oligonucleotide primers prepared on basis of the known amino acid sequence of the depressant insect toxin II yielded a 125 bp long product. This fragment was cloned and its sequence determined. The deduced amino acid sequence has revealed a complete homology with the amino acid sequence of the toxin. This clone was used to probe a Northern blot resolving the poly(A)+ and poly(A)− fractions derived from the scorpion. An organ specific 360 nucleotide transcript which might be the processed product of a 4̃.0 kb precursor was elucidated. This cDNA clone may pave the way for a molecular genetic approach to study the structure-function relationship of scorpion selective insect toxins

Projektiranje i analiza digitalnog sata

Sat je jedan od najstarijih ljudskih otkrića. U principu, potrebno je znati osnovne fizičke procese koji se ponavljaju s određenom učestalošću, i način da se izmjeri koliko taj proces traje. Kao što se godišnja doba i faze mjeseca mogu iskoristiti za mjerenje protoka određenih dužih perioda vremena, tako se i kraći periodi mogu koristiti za mjerenje sati i minuta. Sunčani sat koji mjeri vrijeme dana pomoću smjera sjenke koju baca određeni predmet osvjetljen suncem, bio je dobro poznat u drevnim vremenima. Pješčani satovi mjerili su vrijeme prolaskom sitnog pijeska kroz uzani otvor na staklenoj posudi. Razvoj elektronike u 20. stoljeću doveo je do satova bez ikakvog mehanizma. Vrijeme na ovakvim satovima mjerilo se na razne načine, na primjer pomoću kvarcnih kristala ili raspadanjem radioaktivnih elemenata. Čak su i mehanički satovi napajani baterijama, čime je navijanje sata postalo suvišno. Cilj ovog rada je projektirati i analizirati jedan digitalni zidni sat s integriranim krugom Maxim IC type DS3231 koji je kvalificiran od strane proizvođača kao „iznimno točan I2C sat u stvarnom vremenu (RTC), s integriranim temperaturno kompenziranim kristalnim oscilatorom (TCXO) i kristalom.“[1] Smatra se da integracija kristalnog rezonatora povećava dugotrajnu točnost uređaja, garantirajući maksimalnu pogrešku manju od 64 sekunde u godini, i temperaturni opseg od 0 do 40 °C (32 do 104 °F). Uređaj uključuje baterijski ulaz koji održava rad uređaja u odsutnosti vanjskog izvora.Clock is one of the oldest human inventions. In principle, it is necessary to know basic physical processes which are repeated with a certain frequency and method to measure how much this process lasts. Such as the season and phase of the month can be used to measure flow of certain lengthy periods of time, so are shorter periods used to measure hours and minutes. A sunidial shows the time by displaying the position of shadow on flat surface. Hourglasses measured time by passing of the fine sand through narrow opening on a glass container. The objective of this article is to project and analyze digital wall clock with Maxim IC type DS3231, qualified by its manufacturer as an „extremely accurate I2C real time clock (RTC) with integrated temperature compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) and crystal.“ It is considered that integration of the crystal resonator enhances the long-term accuracy of derive, guaranteeing a maximum error of less than 64 seconds over a year, and over a temperature range 0 to 40 °C (32 to 104 °F). The device incorporates a battery input which maintains running of the device in the absence of external power

Non-classical Indications for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Based on randomized controlled studies, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is currently indicated in patients with systolic heart failure of New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III and IV, left ventricular ejection fraction < 35% and wide QRS (>120 ms). Most of the enrolled patients were in sinus rhythm, were not previously paced and had mainly LBBB. Thus, there are uncertainties regarding several other populations, not included or underrepresented in the main studies. These populations include patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), previous pacemakers considered for upgrade to CRT, RBBB, narrow QRS < 120 ms, NYHA functional class <III, or right heart failure. These non-classical indications are herein reviewed.             Although CRT seems to benefit patients with AF and patients with preexisting pacemakers, in patients with NYHA functional class II-III, or with narrow QRS, or with RBBB, or in those with predominant right heart failure, the role of CRT is not established yet and further relevant clinical trials are needed

Convergent evolution of sodium ion selectivity in metazoan neuronal signaling

© The Author(s), 2012. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Cell Reports 2 (2012): 242–248, doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2012.06.016.Ion selectivity of metazoan voltage-gated Na+ channels is critical for neuronal signaling and has long been attributed to a ring of four conserved amino acids that constitute the ion selectivity filter (SF) at the channel pore. Yet, in addition to channels with a preference for Ca2+ ions, the expression and characterization of Na+ channel homologs from the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, a member of the early-branching metazoan phylum Cnidaria, revealed a sodium-selective channel bearing a noncanonical SF. Mutagenesis and physiological assays suggest that pore elements additional to the SF determine the preference for Na+ in this channel. Phylogenetic analysis assigns the Nematostella Na+-selective channel to a channel group unique to Cnidaria, which diverged >540 million years ago from Ca2+-conducting Na+ channel homologs. The identification of Cnidarian Na+-selective ion channels distinct from the channels of bilaterian animals indicates that selectivity for Na+ in neuronal signaling emerged independently in these two animal lineages.This study was supported by a research grant from the Austrian National Science Foundation (FWF P 21108-B17) to U.T., and by a United States-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Grant (IS-4313-10) and an Israeli Science Foundation grant (107/08) to M.G

Qual a Contribuiçao do Tilt Training (treinamento postural) na Prevençao da Síncope Vasovagal?

Histórico: A síncope vasovagal é um dos quadros clínicos mais comuns em adultos jovens. Estudos anteriores demonstram a eficiência do tilt training (treinamento postural) no tratamento desse transtorno clínico. Realizou-se um estudo prospectivo e randomizado com o objetivo de avaliar a contribuiçao do tilt training no tratamento de adultos jovens acometidos pela síncope vasovagal. Métodos: Quarenta e seis soldados, 25 dos quais do sexo masculino, média de idade de 19,4 ± 0,8 anos e diagnóstico clínico de síncope vasovagal pelo tilt test, foram divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos: um grupo controle e outro submetido a tilt training diariamente, por três meses. Nos dois grupos, os participantes foram instruídos a aumentar a ingestao de líquidos e sal e evitar situaçoes indutoras da síncope, tais como permanecer em pé por períodos longos. Resultados: A adesao ao programa de treinamento, caracterizada pela realizaçao de 50% ou mais das sessoes diárias de tilt training, foi de 91% durante o primeiro mês, caindo para 58% nos três meses. Os que realizaram o treinamento apresentaram uma média (distância interquartílica) de 5,0 episódios de síncope (0,5 a 16,0) durante um ano de acompanhamento, enquanto o grupo controle apresentou média de 2,0 episódios (0 a 6,0; P = 0,737). Após a randomizaçao, nao houve diferença significativa no tempo de ocorrência do primeiro episódio de síncope entre os dois grupos: média de 1,0 por mês (0,5 a 2,0) no grupo em tratamento e 0,8 (0,5 a 2,0) no grupo controle (P = 0,336). Conclusoes: A realizaçao diária do tilt training, aliada às modificaçoes de estilo de vida, nao produziu melhora no resultado do tratamento de adultos jovens com síncope vasovagal. Verificou-se ainda a dificuldade de obter boa adesao ao programa de treinamento postural

Qual a Contribuiçao do Tilt Training (treinamento postural) na Prevençao da Síncope Vasovagal?

Histórico: A síncope vasovagal é um dos quadros clínicos mais comuns em adultos jovens. Estudos anteriores demonstram a eficiência do tilt training (treinamento postural) no tratamento desse transtorno clínico. Realizou-se um estudo prospectivo e randomizado com o objetivo de avaliar a contribuiçao do tilt training no tratamento de adultos jovens acometidos pela síncope vasovagal. Métodos: Quarenta e seis soldados, 25 dos quais do sexo masculino, média de idade de 19,4 ± 0,8 anos e diagnóstico clínico de síncope vasovagal pelo tilt test, foram divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos: um grupo controle e outro submetido a tilt training diariamente, por três meses. Nos dois grupos, os participantes foram instruídos a aumentar a ingestao de líquidos e sal e evitar situaçoes indutoras da síncope, tais como permanecer em pé por períodos longos. Resultados: A adesao ao programa de treinamento, caracterizada pela realizaçao de 50% ou mais das sessoes diárias de tilt training, foi de 91% durante o primeiro mês, caindo para 58% nos três meses. Os que realizaram o treinamento apresentaram uma média (distância interquartílica) de 5,0 episódios de síncope (0,5 a 16,0) durante um ano de acompanhamento, enquanto o grupo controle apresentou média de 2,0 episódios (0 a 6,0; P = 0,737). Após a randomizaçao, nao houve diferença significativa no tempo de ocorrência do primeiro episódio de síncope entre os dois grupos: média de 1,0 por mês (0,5 a 2,0) no grupo em tratamento e 0,8 (0,5 a 2,0) no grupo controle (P = 0,336). Conclusoes: A realizaçao diária do tilt training, aliada às modificaçoes de estilo de vida, nao produziu melhora no resultado do tratamento de adultos jovens com síncope vasovagal. Verificou-se ainda a dificuldade de obter boa adesao ao programa de treinamento postural

Rubisco mutagenesis provides new insight into limitations on photosynthesis and growth in Synechocystis PCC6803

Orthophosphate (Pi) stimulates the activation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) while paradoxically inhibiting its catalysis. Of three Pi-binding sites, the roles of the 5P- and latch sites have been documented, whereas that of the 1P-site remained unclear. Conserved residues at the 1P-site of Rubisco from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC6803 were substituted and the kinetic properties of the enzyme derivatives and effects on cell photosynthesis and growth were examined. While Pi-stimulated Rubisco activation diminished for enzyme mutants T65A/S and G404A, inhibition of catalysis by Pi remained unchanged. Together with previous studies, the results suggest that all three Pi-binding sites are involved in stimulation of Rubisco activation, whereas only the 5P-site is involved in inhibition of catalysis. While all the mutations reduced the catalytic turnover of Rubisco (Kcat) between 6- and 20-fold, the photosynthesis and growth rates under saturating irradiance and inorganic carbon (Ci) concentrations were only reduced 40–50% (in the T65A/S mutants) or not at all (G404A mutant). Analysis of the mutant cells revealed a 3-fold increase in Rubisco content that partially compensated for the reduced Kcat so that the carboxylation rate per chlorophyll was one-third of that in the wild type. Correlation between the kinetic properties of Rubisco and the photosynthetic rate (Pmax) under saturating irradiance and Ci concentrations indicate that a >60% reduction in Kcat can be tolerated before Pmax in Synechocystsis PCC6803 is affected. These results indicate that the limitation of Rubisco activity on the rate of photosynthesis in Synechocystis is low. Determination of Calvin cycle metabolites revealed that unlike in higher plants, cyanobacterial photosynthesis is constrained by phosphoglycerate reduction probably due to limitation of ATP or NADPH

Factors Affecting Infestation by Triatoma infestans in a Rural Area of the Humid Chaco in Argentina: A Multi-Model Inference Approach

Vector-borne transmission of Chagas disease remains a major public health problem in parts of Latin America. Triatoma infestans is the main vector in the countries located in the South American Cone, particularly in the Gran Chaco ecoregion where residual insecticide control has achieved only a moderate, irregular impact. To contribute to improved control strategies, we analyzed the factors associated with the presence and abundance of T. infestans in 327 inhabited houses in a well-defined rural area with no recent vector control interventions in the humid Argentine Chaco. Bugs were found mainly in domiciles, kitchens, storerooms, and chicken coops and nests, particularly where adequate refuge and animal hosts (humans, dogs, cats or poultry) were available. Domiciles constructed from mud were the most often infested, but brick-and-cement domiciles, even in good conditions, were also found infested. Availability of refuge and hosts for T. infestans are key targets for vector control. Ten-fold variations in domestic infestation observed across neighboring villages, and differences in the relevant factors for T. infestans presence with respect to other areas of the Gran Chaco region suggest that host management, building techniques and insecticide use need to be tailored to the local environment, socio-economic characteristics, and climatic conditions