Solid-state fermentation of oil palm frond petiole for lignin peroxidase and xylanase-rich cocktail production

In current practice, oil palm frond leaflets and stems are re-used for soil nutrient recycling, while the petioles are typically burned. Frond petioles have high commercialization value, attributed to high lignocellulose fiber content and abundant of juice containing free reducing sugars. Pressed petiole fiber is the subject of interest in this study for the production of lignocellulolytic enzyme. The initial characterization showed the combination of 0.125 mm frond particle size and 60% moisture content provided a surface area of 42.3 m2/g, porosity of 12.8%, and density of 1.2 g/cm3, which facilitated fungal solid-state fermentation. Among the several species of Aspergillus and Trichoderma tested, Aspergillus awamori MMS4 yielded the highest xylanase (109 IU/g) and cellulase (12 IU/g), while Trichoderma virens UKM1 yielded the highest lignin peroxidase (222 IU/g). Crude enzyme cocktail also contained various sugar residues, mainly glucose and xylose (0.1–0.4 g/L), from the hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose. FT-IR analysis of the fermented petioles observed reduction in cellulose crystallinity (I900/1098), cellulose–lignin (I900/1511), and lignin–hemicellulose (I1511/1738) linkages. The study demonstrated successful bioconversion of chemically untreated frond petioles into lignin peroxidase and xylanase-rich enzyme cocktail under SSF condition

Failure to Confirm XMRV/MLVs in the Blood of Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Multi-Laboratory Study

Murine leukemia viruses (MLV), including xenotropic-MLV-related virus (XMRV), have been controversially linked to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). To explore this issue in greater depth, we compiled coded replicate samples of blood from 15 subjects previously reported to be XMRV/ MLV-positive (14 with CFS) and from 15 healthy donors previously determined to be negative for the viruses. These samples were distributed in a blinded fashion to nine laboratories which performed assays designed to detect XMRV/MLV nucleic acid, virus replication, and antibody. Only two laboratories reported evidence of XMRV/MLVs; however, replicate sample results showed disagreement and reactivity was similar among CFS subjects and negative controls. These results indicate that current assays do not reproducibly detect XMRV/MLV in blood samples and that blood donor screening is not warranted

Treatment of Bladder Cancer with Bi-213-anti-EGFR Immunoconjugates in a Nude Mouse Model

Therapy of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (carcinoma in situ) comprises transurethral resection of the tumor and subsequent instillation of the chemotherapeutic drug mitomycin C in order to eradicate remaining tumor cells. Yet 15 – 40% of treated patients relapse within 5 years. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies to combat tumor recurrence are needed. Alpha-particle emitting radionuclides efficiently kill single tumor cells or small tumor cell clusters. Because the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed on bladder cancer cells conjugates composed of the alpha-emitter Bi-213 and the anti-EGFR antibody matuzumab should provide a powerful drug to eliminate disseminated bladder cancer cells. Therefore, the aims of our study were (i) to analyse the cytotoxic effects of Bi-213-anti-EGFR radioimmunoconjugates at the cellular level, (ii) to evaluate therapeutic efficacy of intravesically applied Bi-213-anti-EGFR-Mab in a nude mouse model with intravesical human bladder cancer xenografts, (iii) to compare Bi-213-anti-EGFR-Mab efficacy with chemotherapy using mitomycin C and (iv) to demonstrate that radioimmunotherapy does not damage the bladder wall.JRC.E.5-Nuclear chemistr

Soziale Ungleichheiten in der Kompetenzentwicklung in der Grundschule und der Sekundarstufe I

Im Zentrum des vorliegenden Beitrags steht die Frage, wie sich die Kompetenzen von Schülerinnen und Schülern unterschiedlicher sozialer Herkunft während der Grundschule und der Sekundarstufe I entwickeln. Dabei ist vor allem von Interesse, inwieweit bereits zu Beginn der Schullaufbahn bestehende Leistungsunterschiede zwischen Schülerinnen und Schülern mit unterschiedlichem sozialem Hintergrund im Laufe der Schulzeit weiter zunehmen, stabil bleiben oder eventuell sogar konvergierende Entwicklungsverläufe zu beobachten sind. Vor diesem Hintergrund werden vorhandene nationale und internationale Längsschnittstudien herangezogen, um ein Bild über empirisch vorzufindende Entwicklungsverläufe zeichnen zu können. Eine Reihe der vorliegenden Befunde deutet auf eine Öffnung der Leistungsschere zwischen Schülerinnen und Schülern unterschiedlicher sozialer Herkunft während der Schulzeit hin, wobei die diesbezügliche Befundlage für die Grundschule konsistenter ausfällt als für die weiterführenden Schulen. Darüber hinaus finden sich auch Hinweise dafür, dass die Schule und die institutionelle Ausgestaltung des Bildungssystems mit zur Öffnung der Leistungsschere beitragen.The article focuses on the question how competencies of students with different social backgrounds develop during elementary and secondary school. In particular, it addresses if achievement disparities which exist before school entrance increase, remain stable, or even diminish during schooling. The article draws on both national and international studies with longitudinal designs examining the achievement development of students of different social backgrounds during primary or secondary school. Although the results are mixed to some extent, a large part indicates that differences in achievement increase during the time of schooling. The evidence seems more consistent for achievement development during elementary school. Additionally, there is some indication that schools and features of the educational system contribute to increasing achievement disparities between students of different social backgrounds