Purification of an alpha amylase from Aspergillus flavus NSH9 and molecular characterization of its nucleotide gene sequence

In this study, an alpha-amylase enzyme from a locally isolated Aspergillus flavus NSH9 was purified and characterized. The extracellular α-amylase was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and anion-exchange chromatography at a final yield of 2.55-fold and recovery of 11.73%. The molecular mass of the purified α-amylase was estimated to be 54 kDa using SDS-PAGE and the enzyme exhibited optimal catalytic activity at pH 5.0 and temperature of 50 °C. The enzyme was also thermally stable at 50 °C, with 87% residual activity after 60 min. As a metalloenzymes containing calcium, the purified α-amylase showed significantly increased enzyme activity in the presence of Ca2+ ions. Further gene isolation and characterization shows that the α-amylase gene of A. flavus NSH9 contained eight introns and an open reading frame that encodes for 499 amino acids with the first 21 amino acids presumed to be a signal peptide. Analysis of the deduced peptide sequence showed the presence of three conserved catalytic residues of α-amylase, two Ca2+-binding sites, seven conserved peptide sequences, and several other properties that indicates the protein belongs to glycosyl hydrolase family 13 capable of acting on α-1,4-bonds only. Based on sequence similarity, the deduced peptide sequence of A. flavus NSH9 α-amylase was also found to carry two potential surface/secondary-binding site (SBS) residues (Trp 237 and Tyr 409) that might be playing crucial roles in both the enzyme activity and also the binding of starch granules. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature

Beam-induced and cosmic-ray backgrounds observed in the ATLAS detector during the LHC 2012 proton-proton running period

This paper discusses various observations on beam-induced and cosmic-ray backgrounds in the ATLAS detector during the LHC 2012 proton-proton run. Building on published results based on 2011 data, the correlations between background and residual pressure of the beam vacuum are revisited. Ghost charge evolution over 2012 and its role for backgrounds are evaluated. New methods to monitor ghost charge with beam-gas rates are presented and observations of LHC abort gap population by ghost charge are discussed in detail. Fake jets from colliding bunches and from ghost charge are analysed with improved methods, showing that ghost charge in individual radio-frequency buckets of the LHC can be resolved. Some results of two short periods of dedicated cosmic-ray background data-taking are shown; in particular cosmic-ray muon induced fake jet rates are compared to Monte Carlo simulations and to the fake jet rates from beam background. A thorough analysis of a particular LHC fill, where abnormally high background was observed, is presented. Correlations between backgrounds and beam intensity losses in special fills with very high β* are studied

Beam-induced and cosmic-ray backgrounds observed in the ATLAS detector during the LHC 2012 proton-proton running period

This paper discusses various observations on beam-induced and cosmic-ray backgrounds in the ATLAS detector during the LHC 2012 proton-proton run. Building on published results based on 2011 data, the correlations between background and residual pressure of the beam vacuum are revisited. Ghost charge evolution over 2012 and its role for backgrounds are evaluated. New methods to monitor ghost charge with beam-gas rates are presented and observations of LHC abort gap population by ghost charge are discussed in detail. Fake jets from colliding bunches and from ghost charge are analysed with improved methods, showing that ghost charge in individual radio-frequency buckets of the LHC can be resolved. Some results of two short periods of dedicated cosmic-ray background data-taking are shown; in particular cosmic-ray muon induced fake jet rates are compared to Monte Carlo simulations and to the fake jet rates from beam background. A thorough analysis of a particular LHC fill, where abnormally high background was observed, is presented. Correlations between backgrounds and beam intensity losses in special fills with very high β∗ are studied

CLINICAL PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED STAGE OF PROSTATE CANCER

Objectives: To determine the prognostic factors that could predict patient outcome in patients with advanced stage prostate cancer. Patients and Methods: In this study we retrospectively evaluated the medical record data of 222 patients with advanced stage prostate cancer treated by hormonal therapy (either castration or total androgen blockade (TAB)). All pre- and post- treatment data records were evaluated with respect to patient age, prostate and tumor size, tumor grade, stage, PSA, alkaline and acid phosphatase and the number of bone lesions. The response to the hormonal treatment was evaluated either early (12 months after treatment) or late (over all follow-up visits until the last visit or death). Descriptive statistics, student T test, multivariate and Kaplan Meier's curve were used for data analysis. Results: Within 12 months of treatment 70% of the cases showed an improvement with a significant decrease of their pre-treatment values after hormonal therapy. Patient age, tumor stage, the number of bone lesions, serum alkaline and acid phosphatase levels in the pre-treatment data were significantly independent predictors of the overall survival outcome (p= 0.0015, 0.002, 0.001, 0.0002 and 0.028, respectively), while the pre-treatment PSA serum level, tumor grade and the type of hormonal treatment used (either castration or TAB) were no predictors of patient outcome (p= 0.18, 0.82 and 0.47, respectively). Importantly, the PSA serum level and the number of bone lesions in the first 12 months of patient follow-up were significant predictors of the overall disease survival status (p=0.001 and 0.028, respectively). The mean follow-up period of alive cases was 39.42 months ranging from 6 – 171 months. Of the 222 cases 110 (51.6%) had overall disease progression during a mean of 59.4 months, while mortality was reported in 118 cases (53.2%) in the course of a mean of 59.9 months.Conclusion: The pre-treatment patient age, tumor stage, serum alkaline and acid phosphatase, as well as the post-treatment PSA level and the number of bone lesions were significant independent predictors of the overall patient outcome inpatients with advanced stage prostate cancer. However, a survival analysis in relation to the treatment type did not reveal a statistically significant difference between the outcomes of castration and TAB. Facteurs Pronostiques Cliniques chez les Patients Atteints de Cancer Prostatique Avancé Objectifs: De déterminer les facteurs pronostiques prédictifs de l'évolution du cancer prostatique chez nos patients atteints de cancer avancé de la prostate. Patients et Méthodes: Dans cette étude nous avons rétrospectivement évalué les données médicales de 222 patients atteints de cancer avancé de la prostate traités par thérapie hormonale (castration ou blocage androgènique total (BAT)). Toutes les données pré et post ont été évaluées en ce qui concerne l'âge des patients, la taille de la prostate et de la tumeur, le score histologique de la tumeur, le stade clinique, le PSA, la phosphatase alkaline et acide et le nombre de lésions osseuses. La réponse au traitement hormonal a été évaluée aussi bien tôt (12 mois après traitement) ou tard (à la dernière visite ou mort). Des statistiques descriptives, les tests T de Student, multivariable et de Kaplan Meier ont été employées pour l'analyse des données. Résultats: Pendant les 12 premiers mois du traitement, 70% des cas ont montré une amélioration avec une régression significative de leurs tumeurs. L'âge des patients, le stade de la tumeur, le nombre de lésions osseuses, les niveaux de phosphatase alcalines et acides sériques préopératoires étaient des facteurs prédictifs de survie indépendants et significatifs (p = 0.0015, 0.002, 0.001, 0.0002 et 0.028, respectivement), tandis que le taux sérique de PSA pré thérapeutique, le grade de la tumeur et le type de traitement hormonal utilisé (castration ou BAT) n'étaient pas significativement prédictifs de l'évolution des patients (p = 0.18, 0.82 et 0.47, respectivement). Essentiellement, le niveau de PSA et le nombre de lésions osseuses pendant les 12 premiers mois de suivi étaient des facteurs prédictifs significatifs du statut global de survie de la maladie (p=0.001 et 0.028, respectivement). La période moyenne de suivi des cas vivants était de 39.42 mois s'étendant de 6 - 171 mois. Parmi les 222 cas 110 cas (51.6%) ont eu une progression de la maladie pendant un intervalle de temps moyen de 59.4 mois, alors que la mortalité était de 118 cas (53.2%) pendant un intervalle moyen de temps de 59.9 mois. Conclusion: L'âge du patient, le stade de la tumeur, le taux sérique de phosphatase alcaline et acide, comme le taux de PSA pré thérapeutique et le nombre de lésions osseuses étaient des facteurs prédictifs indépendants et significatifs de l'évolution du cancer chez les patients présentant un cancer avancé de la prostate. Cependant, une analyse de survie par rapport au type de traitement n'a pas indiqué une différence statistiquement significative entre les résultats de la castration et le BAT. (Af J Urology: 2003 9(2):94-101

MICAL-like1 mediates epidermal growth factor receptor endocytosis

MICAL-like1 (MICAL-L1), a Rab13 effector, is associated with late endosomes and regulates epidermal growth factor receptor trafficking. The N-terminal calponin (CH) domain associates with the C-terminal Rab13 binding domain (RBD) of MICAL-L1. The binding of Rab13 to RBD disrupts the CH/RBD interaction and may induce a conformational change in MICAL-L1, promoting its activation