Targeting malaria transmission: erythrocyte remodeling by Plasmodium falciparum in gametocyte-host interplay

Contains fulltext : 127238.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, 10 juni 2014Promotor : Sauerwein, R.W. Co-promotor : Alano, P

AFM Calculated Parameters of Morphology Investigation of Spin Coated MZO (M = Al, Sn, Cd, Co) Layers

This paper reports on the deposition and surface properties of the pure and doped zinc oxide layers produced by spin coating route. Pure and metallic (Al, Sn, Cd, Co) doped ZnO films are characterized by mean of atomic force microscopy (AFM). Based on atomic force microscope observation, some parameters such as grain size, height, orientation of angle and histogram are determined. The AFM scanned 2D and 3D-views permit us to discover the roughness, the average height and the skewness of clusters or grains

AFM Calculated Parameters of Morphology Investigation of Spin Coated MZO (M = Al, Sn, Cd, Co) Layers

This paper reports on the deposition and surface properties of the pure and doped zinc oxide layers produced by spin coating route. Pure and metallic (Al, Sn, Cd, Co) doped ZnO films are characterized by mean of atomic force microscopy (AFM). Based on atomic force microscope observation, some parameters such as grain size, height, orientation of angle and histogram are determined. The AFM scanned 2D and 3D-views permit us to discover the roughness, the average height and the skewness of clusters or grains

Impact of menstrual cycle on smoking cessation: a review

Background. Information on the way menstrual cycle phases can influence the achievement of tobacco abstinence is contradictory. Objective. A scope review was conducted to determine the effect of the menstrual cycle on tobacco abstinence, considering the phases of the cycle, hormone levels, and premenstrual syndrome. Method. A literature search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases. Ten articles comparing the phases of the menstrual cycle or analyzing the association between premenstrual syndrome and a withdrawal condition (length of abstinence or withdrawal symptoms) were included. Results. Two main results were identified: 1) there is no difference in withdrawal symptoms and craving between menstrual cycle phases and 2) abstinence rates in the studies were higher during the luteal phase. Discussion and conclusion. The advisability of suggesting that women wishing to quit smoking should begin to do so at the start of the luteal phrase is discussed. However, smoking cessation interventions must consider all the symptoms experienced during the luteal phaseAntecedentes. La información sobre cómo las diferentes fases del ciclo menstrual pueden influir en el logro de la abstinencia de tabaco es contradictoria. Objetivo. Se realizó una revisión de alcance con el fin identificar la evidencia relacionada al efecto del ciclo menstrual en la abstinencia de tabaco, considerando las variables fases del ciclo, niveles hormonales y síndrome premenstrual. Método. Se llevó a cabo una búsqueda de la literatura en las bases de datos Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE y PsycINFO. Se incluyeron diez artículos que realizaban comparaciones entre las fases del ciclo menstrual o bien análisis entre el síndrome premenstrual y una condición de abstinencia (tiempo de abstinencia o síntomas de abstinencia). Resultados. Se identificaron dos resultados principales 1) no hay diferencia en los síntomas de abstinencia y el deseo por fumar entre las fases del ciclo menstrual y 2) las tasas de abstinencia de los estudios fueron mayores durante la fase lútea. Discusión y conclusión. Se discute si en la fase lútea se puede sugerir el inicio de la abstinencia en mujeres que buscan dejar de fumar, sin embargo, las intervenciones para dejar de fumar deben tomar en cuenta todos los síntomas que se experimentan en la fase lúteaThis research was conducted thanks to the doctoral scholarship awarded to the first author by CONACYT, with CVU number 926129.S

Accelerated Test Development for Coil-coated Steel Building Panels

This paper discusses the experimental design and the preliminary findings of an ongoing project designed to establish an accelerated laboratory test that would rank coating system performance the same as their performance in atmospheric exposure. A total of ten materials are included in the program: four substrates each with two coating systems and one substrate with two additional coating systems. Samples were installed at four atmospheric exposure sites: Middletown, OH, Daytona Beach, FL, Monroeville, PA, and Halifax, NS, Canada. Three different orientations were utilized at each of the exposure sites and a variety of building panel features were included on the test panels (roll formed bends, laps, cut drip edges, standing seam closures, and scribes). The work discussed in this paper includes the program design and implementation and preliminary correlation\u27s of the three-year atmospheric exposure results to several standard accelerated test methods including: ASTM B117, ASTM G85, ASTM G87, and GM 9540

Extracellular spermine triggers a rapid intracellular phosphatidic acid response in arabidopsis, involving PLDδ activation and stimulating ion flux

Polyamines, such as putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm), are low-molecular-weight polycationic molecules found in all living organisms. Despite the fact that they have been implicated in various important developmental and adaptative processes, their mode of action is still largely unclear. Here, we report that Put, Spd, and Spm trigger a rapid increase in the signaling lipid, phosphatidic acid (PA) in Arabidopsis seedlings but also mature leaves. Using time-course and dose-response experiments, Spm was found to be the most effective; promoting PA responses at physiological (low μM) concentrations. In seedlings, the increase of PA occurred mainly in the root and partly involved the plasma membrane polyamine-uptake transporter (PUT), RMV1. Using a differential 32Pi-labeling strategy combined with transphosphatidylation assays and T-DNA insertion mutants, we found that phospholipase D (PLD), and in particular PLDδ was the main contributor of the increase in PA. Measuring non-invasive ion fluxes (MIFE) across the root plasma membrane of wild type and pldδ-mutant seedlings, revealed that the formation of PA is linked to a gradual- and transient efflux of K+. Potential mechanisms of how PLDδ and the increase of PA are involved in polyamine function is discussed

New relevant chorological data on sedges (Cyperaceae) of Peru

We present relevant records of nine species of sedges (Cyperaceae) for Peru. For the genus Carex, we present two new national records (C. haematopus, C. lepida), plus relevant data for another six hitherto poorly known species. We also present the first record of Trichophorum rigidum subsp. ecuadoriense for PeruThis work has been carried out with the fnancial sponsorship of projects to P. Jiménez-Mejías and S. Martín-Bravo: Project ‘DANZ’ (ref. PID2020-113897GBI00, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation) and Project “Macondo” (ref. SI1/PJI/2019-00333, Regional Government of Madrid), and a Youth Guarantee contract to P. García-Moro (ref. PEJ-2020-AI/AMB-18719, Regional Government of Madrid). The curators and staf of UPOS and USM herbaria are thanked for help processing herbarium materials

HIV Care Providers’ Role Legitimacy as Supporters of Their Patients’ Alcohol Reduction

Although HIV care providers are strategically situated to support their patients’ alcohol reduction efforts, many do not do so, sometimes failing to view this support as consistent with their roles. Using data collected from 112 HIV providers in 7 hospital-based HIV Care Centers in the NYC metropolitan area, this paper examines the correlates of providers’ role legitimacy as patients’ alcohol reduction supporters. Results indicate that providers (1) responsible for a very large number of patients and (2) with limited confidence in their own ability to give this assistance, but high confidence intheir program’s ability to do so, were less likely to have a high level of role legitimacy as patients’ alcohol reduction supporters. Findings suggest the types of providers to target for alcohol reduction support training

Aminopropyltransferases Involved in Polyamine Biosynthesis Localize Preferentially in the Nucleus of Plant Cells

Plant aminopropyltransferases consist of a group of enzymes that transfer aminopropyl groups derived from decarboxylated S-adenosyl-methionine (dcAdoMet or dcSAM) to propylamine acceptors to produce polyamines, ubiquitous metabolites with positive charge at physiological pH. Spermidine synthase (SPDS) uses putrescine as amino acceptor to form spermidine, whereas spermine synthase (SPMS) and thermospermine synthase (TSPMS) use spermidine as acceptor to synthesize the isomers spermine and thermospermine respectively. In previous work it was shown that both SPDS1 and SPDS2 can physically interact with SPMS although no data concerning the subcellular localization was reported. Here we study the subcellular localization of these enzymes and their protein dimer complexes with gateway-based Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC) binary vectors. In addition, we have characterized the molecular weight of the enzyme complexes by gel filtration chromatography with in vitro assembled recombinant enzymes and with endogenous plant protein extracts. Our data suggest that aminopropyltransferases display a dual subcellular localization both in the cytosol and nuclear enriched fractions, and they assemble preferably as dimers. The BiFC transient expression data suggest that aminopropyltransferase heterodimer complexes take place preferentially inside the nucleus