Demonstration of the Formation of the Caffeine-Dichloromethane-water Emulsion using Quantum Chemistry

Researchers have been concerned with the subsequent study of caffeine extraction. The objective of this article was to demonstrate how the caffeine-dichloromethane-water emulsion is formed. We use the theory of the electron transfer coefficient (ETC) as the cornerstone of our research. All the simulations of the interactions of the substances involved were calculated with the hyperchem simulator. The emulsion is formed because the ETC = 36,196 of the caffeine-CH2Cl2 interaction is the lowest of the cross-band interactions of the mixture. It will expect massive amounts of caffeine emulsified with CH2Cl2 and water. In conclusion, the gravitational well and the quantum well of caffeine coincide in being the lowest of all the wells calculated. It means that both CH2Cl2 and H2O will not destroy caffeine. That is, caffeine will be kept as a pure substance even after extraction with these two solvents. Although CH2Cl2 extracts more caffeine, due to its low ETC, the product for human consumption can be contaminated

Phosphorus Cycling in the Red Tide Incubator Region of Monterey Bay in Response to Upwelling

This study explores the cycling of phosphorus (P) in the euphotic zone following upwelling in northeastern Monterey Bay (the Red Tide Incubator region) of coastal California, with particular emphasis on how bacteria and phytoplankton that form harmful algal blooms mediate and respond to changes in P availability. In situ measurements of nutrient concentrations, phytoplankton community composition, and cell-specific alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity (determined via enzyme-labeled fluorescence assay) were measured during three cruises. Upwelling led to a 10-fold increase in dissolved inorganic (DIP) in surface waters, reaching ∼0.5 μmol L−1. This DIP was drawn down rapidly as upwelling relaxed over a period of 1 week. Ratios of nitrate to DIP drawdown (∼5:1, calculated as the change in nitrate divided by the change in DIP) were lower than the Redfield ratio of 16:1, suggesting that luxury P uptake was occurring as phytoplankton bloomed. Dissolved organic (DOP) remained relatively constant (∼0.3 μmol L−1) before and immediately following upwelling, but doubled as upwelling relaxed, likely due to phytoplankton excretion and release during grazing. This transition from a relatively high DIP:DOP ratio to lower DIP:DOP ratio was accompanied by a decline in the abundance of diatoms, which had low AP activity, toward localized, spatially heterogeneous blooms of dinoflagellates in the genera Prorocentrum, Ceratium, Dinophysis, Alexandrium, and Scrippsiella that showed high AP activity regardless of ambient DIP levels. A nutrient addition incubation experiment showed that phytoplankton growth was primarily limited by nitrate, followed by DIP and DOP, suggesting that P regulates phytoplankton physiology and competition, but is not a limiting nutrient in this region. AP activity was observed in bacteria associated with lysed cell debris and aggregates of particulate organic material, where it may serve to facilitate P regeneration, as well as affixed to the surfaces of intact phytoplankton cells, possibly indicative of close, beneficial phytoplankton–bacteria interactions

The effect of iron- and light-limitation on phytoplankton communities of deep chlorophyll maxima of the western Pacific Ocean

The deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) is a widespread feature in most stratified, oligotrophic waters. In addition to their well-established importance for many surface phytoplankton communities, more recent evidence suggests that iron, light or co-limitation may also be important drivers for some DCM communities. To test this hypothesis, we describe the results from six grow-out experiments, four from the Equatorial Pacific Ocean (between 150°E and 140°W), one in Western Pacific Warm Pool (9°S, 170°E) and one in the middle of the Tasman Sea (36°S). Photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) and biomass response, including Chl a and phytoplankton community structure (pennate diatoms, photosynthetic eukaryotes, Synechococcus, Prochlorococcus, and major Prochlorococcus ecotypes), were assessed over five days in control, +Fe, +Light or +Fe +Light treatments. Photosynthetic efficiency did not change dramatically in any of the treatments at any of the locations, except at 0°N 140°W where the control and +Fe bottles had elevated efficiency relative to both +Light treatments. Except for some ecotypes of Prochlorococcus (eMIT9313 and eNATL2A), phytoplankton populations were most strongly limited by light in the DCM. Pennate diatoms and other photosynthetic eukaryotes showed the most enhancement with the addition of iron and light at some stations and may be co-limited, but no phytoplankton populations were enhanced by adding iron alone. Although the duration and magnitude of the responses varied depending on initial macronutrient concentrations, they were generally consistent across the locations sampled. These results suggest that light is the primary limiting resource of the DCM for this vast region, but that iron can play an important additive role in limiting phytoplankton populations in locations where flux to the DCM is reduced

Gene polymorphism in five target genes of immunosuppressive therapy and risk of development of preeclampsia

Pregnancy can be considered as an allogeneic transplant and preeclampsia can be seen as a failure of the acceptance mechanisms of this transplant as occurs in acute organ transplant rejection. Some genetic polymorphisms may be involved in its pathogenesis. Since the kidney is one of the organs mainly involved in preeclampsia, our study attempted to determine the frequencies of single nucleotide polymorphisms of DNA (SNP) in 3 genes (adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette sub-family B member 1 (ABCB1)/multi drug reactivity 1 (MDR1) gene, interleukin 10 gene and tumor necrosis factor \u3b1 gene) which are targets of immunosuppressive therapies and related to acute renal rejection. The study was an observational, monocentric, case-control study. We enrolled 20 women with severe preeclampsia and 10 women age-matched with regular pregnancy. Continuous variables were compared by the Student\u2019s t-test for independent variables or using the Mann-Whitney test depending on their distribution. We used Fisher test to compare categorical variables between cases and controls, while we used logistic regression model to evaluate which risk factor was associated with preeclampsia. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups, we found different percentages of two of the polymorphisms considered (rs1045642 and rs2032582 in the gene ABCB1). Despite these results, our work may be helpful for future research to better understand the pathogenesis of preeclampsia

Identification of harmful cyanobacteria in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Clear Lake, California by DNA barcoding.

Accurate identification of cyanobacteria using traditional morphological taxonomy is challenging due to the magnitude of phenotypic plasticity among natural algal assemblages. In this study, molecular approach was utilized to facilitate the accurate identification of cyanobacteria in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and in Clear Lake in Northern California where recurring blooms have been observed over the past decades. Algal samples were collected from both water bodies in 2011 and the samples containing diverse cyanobacteria as identified by morphological taxonomy were chosen for the molecular analysis. The 16S ribosomal RNA genes (16S rDNA) and the adjacent internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were amplified by PCR from the mixed algal samples using cyanobacteria generic primers. The obtained sequences were analyzed by similarity search (BLASTN) and phylogenetic analysis (16S rDNA) to differentiate species sharing significantly similar sequences. A total of 185 plasmid clones were obtained of which 77 were successfully identified to the species level: Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Dolichospermum lemmermannii (taxonomic synonym: Anabaena lemmermannii), Limnoraphis robusta (taxonomic synonym: Lyngbya hieronymusii f. robusta) and Microcystis aeruginosa. To date, Dolichospermum and Limnoraphis found in Clear Lake have only been identified to the genus lavel by microscopy. During the course of this study, morphological identification and DNA barcoding confirmed A. flos-aquae as the predominant cyanobacterium in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta indicating a shift from M. aeruginosa that have dominated the blooms in the past decade. Lastly, the species-specific identification of Limnoraphis robusta in Clear Lake is another significant finding as this cyanobacterium has, thus far, only been reported in Lake Atitlan blooms in Guatemala

CHALLENGE TESTS WITH LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES IN SALAMI: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Challenge tests are the preferable methodology to study the behaviour of Listeria monocytogenes on ready to eat foods, according to Regulation (EC) 2073/2005. Challenge testing using L. monocytogenes in seasoned salami from different food business operators showed, after seasoning of the product, a count reduction of the inoculated organisms without any further growth of the pathogen; however differences of L. monocytogenes behaviour could be observed according to different production protocols

Impact of Phytoplankton on the Biogeochemical Cycling of Iron in Subantarctic Waters Southeast of New Zealand During FeCycle

During austral summer 2003, we tracked a patch of surface water infused with the tracer sulfur hexafluoride, but without addition of Fe, through subantarctic waters over 10 days in order to characterize and quantify algal Fe pools and fluxes to construct a detailed biogeochemical budget. Nutrient profiles characterized this patch as a high-nitrate, low-silicic acid, low-chlorophyll (HNLSiLC) water mass deficient in dissolved Fe. The low Fe condition was confirmed by several approaches: shipboard iron enrichment experiments and physiological indices of Fe deficiency (F(v)/F(m) \u3c 0.25, Ferredoxin Index \u3c 0.2). During FeCycle, picophytoplankton (0.2-2 mu m) and nanophytoplankton (2-20 mu m) each contributed \u3e40% of total chlorophyll. Whereas the picophytoplankton accounted for similar to 50% of total primary production, they were responsible for the majority of community iron uptake in the mixed layer. Thus ratios of 55 Fe: 14 C uptake were highest for picophytoplankton (median: 17 mu mol:mol) and declined to similar to 5 mu mol: mol for the larger algal size fractions. A pelagic Fe budget revealed that picophytoplankton were the largest pool of algal Fe (\u3e90%), which was consistent with the high (similar to 80%) phytoplankton Fe demand attributed to them. However, Fe regenerated by herbivory satisfied only similar to 20% of total algal Fe demand. This iron regeneration term increased to 40% of algal Fe demand when we include Fe recycled by bacterivory. As recycled, rather than new, iron dominated the pelagic iron budget (Boyd et al., 2005), it is highly unlikely that the supply of new Fe would redress the imbalance between algal Fe demand and supply. Reasons for this imbalance may include the overestimation of algal iron uptake from radiotracer techniques, or a lack of consideration of other iron regeneration processes. In conclusion, it seems that algal Fe uptake cannot be supported solely by the recycling of algal iron, and may require an Fe subsidy from that regenerated by heterotrophic pathways

P450c17 Deficiency: Clinical and Molecular Characterization of Six Patients

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