A novel mechanism of action for angiotensin-(1-7) via the angiotensin type 1 receptor

No abstract available

The characterization of the functional properties of three cold alkali extracted meat protein concentrates and the relationship between functional properties determined using model systems and the properties of an emulsion-type sausage in which they were incorporated : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masterate of Technology (Biotechnology) at Massey University

The feasibility of marketing three meat protein concentrates (MassMPC, MyoMPC and SarcoMPC) on the commercial protein market was studied. Solubility, heat gel strength, water binding and emulsification properties of these proteins were investigated under different temperature, protein to water ratio and salt treatments using model systems. Model systems were designed so that they approximated the physical and chemical conditions found in an emulsion- type sausage. The properties of the meat proteins were compared to those exhibited by a soy concentrate (GL750) and three sodium caseinates (SV07, SV02 and CasN) measured under the same conditions. In addition the performance of the meat, soy, and caseinate proteins in an emulsion-type sausage was evaluated. MassMPC and MyoMPC exhibited superior heat gelling properties compared to the commercial protein products while SarcoMPC was more soluble and exhibited foaming properties similar to these products. All three proteins could be used successfully in sausages which had 3% of the total protein replaced with additive protein. At a 30% replacement level the addition of MassMPC and SarcoMPC produced undesirable effects on sausage properties. MyoMPC did not adversely affect the characteristics important in a commercial sausage, at this replacement level. However, in terms of overall functional properties and performance in a food system, MassMPC, MyoMPC and SarcoMPC were inferior to the commercial protein products. Data collected from this study were analyzed using the Pearson's correlation test to identify relationships between: functional properties assessed using model systems; sensory and instrumental measurements of emulsion-type sausage rheological properties; and model system functional properties of proteins and the properties of sausages incorporating these proteins. A negative correlation between emulsion stability moisture loss and water binding capacity was identified but this relationship was dependent on the methods used to measure these properties. Solubility was found to be negatively related to the water binding capacity of proteins. The Warner Bratzler Shear test, multiple compression test and extrusion test were the most useful instrumental measurements for evaluating textural properties considered important in a commercial emulsion-type sausage. However, the relationships between sensory properties and these instrumental measurements were dependent on the level of incorporation of protein additives in the sausages. Important correlations were identified between functional properties of proteins measured in the presence of 2% salt, and properties of sausages which had 30% of the total protein replaced by additive proteins. The usefulness of these relationships are discussed, the reasons why some relationships were not significant are suggested, and a new approach to studying the functional properties of proteins is proposed

The orphan receptor GPR35 contributes to angiotensin II–induced hypertension and cardiac dysfunction in mice

BACKGROUND: The orphan receptor G protein–coupled receptor 35 (GPR35) has been associated with a range of diseases, including cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, hypertension, and heart failure. To assess the potential for GPR35 as a therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease, this study investigated the cardiovascular phenotype of a GPR35 knockout mouse under both basal conditions and following pathophysiological stimulation. METHODS: Blood pressure was monitored in male wild-type and GPR35 knockout mice over 7–14 days using implantable telemetry. Cardiac function and dimensions were assessed using echocardiography, and cardiomyocyte morphology evaluated histologically. Two weeks of angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion was used to investigate the effects of GPR35 deficiency under pathophysiological conditions. Gpr35 messenger RNA expression in cardiovascular tissues was assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in blood pressure, cardiac function, or cardiomyocyte morphology in GPR35 knockout mice compared with wild-type mice. Following Ang II infusion, GPR35 knockout mice were protected from significant increases in systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure or impaired left ventricular systolic function, in contrast to wild-type mice. There were no significant differences in Gpr35 messenger RNA expression in heart, kidney, and aorta following Ang II infusion in wild-type mice. CONCLUSIONS: Although GPR35 does not appear to influence basal cardiovascular regulation, these findings demonstrate that it plays an important pathological role in the development of Ang II–induced hypertension and impaired cardiac function. This suggests that GPR35 is a potential novel drug target for therapeutic intervention in hypertension

Toll-like Receptor 2 and 4 (TLR2 and TLR4) Agonists Differentially Regulate Secretory Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Gene Expression in Macrophages

Treatment of macrophages with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria or peptidoglycan (PGN) from Gram-positive bacteria activates multiple intracellular signaling pathways and a large, diverse group of nuclear transcription factors. The signaling receptors for PGN and LPS are now known to be the Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 (TLR2 and -4, respectively). While a large body of literature indicates that the members of the TLR family activate nearly identical cytoplasmic signaling programs, several recent reports have suggested that the functional outcomes of signaling via TLR2 or TLR4 are not equivalent. In the current studies, we compared the responses of the secretory IL-1 receptor antagonist (sIL-1Ra) gene to both LPS and PGN. Both LPS and PGN induced IL-1Ra gene expression; however, the combination of both stimuli synergistically increased sIL-1Ra mRNA expression and promoter activity, suggesting that the signals induced by PGN and LPS are not equivalent. While both LPS and PGN utilized the PU.1-binding sites in the proximal sIL-1Ra promoter region to generate a full response, additional distinct promoter elements were utilized by LPS or PGN. Activation of p38 stress-activated protein kinase was required for LPS- or PGN-induced IL-1Ra gene expression, but the p38-responsive promoter elements localized to distinct regions of the sIL-1Ra gene. Additionally, while the LPS-induced, p38-dependent response was dependent upon PU.1 binding, the PGN-induced, p38 response was not. Collectively, these data indicated that while some of the intracellular signaling events by TLR2 and TLR4 agonists are similar, there are clearly distinct differences in the responses elicited by these two bacterial products

An analysis of nature-based treatment processes for cleaning contaminated surface water runoff from an informal settlement: a case study of the Stiebeuel River catchment, Franschhoek, South Africa

Contaminated surface water runoff from inadequate drainage and sanitation systems in informal settlements threaten the quality of available freshwater and can negatively impact both human and environmental health. Biofiltration systems (biofilters) provide water pollution controls without inputs of additional energy and chemicals, placing them in the overall context of the need for affordable and sustainable stormwater infrastructure in informal settlements. In addition, cleaned waters from biofilters may be suitable for some reuse applications if they are well-designed and maintained. However, most research is conducted in developed countries where heavy metals are the main surface water pollutant. Consequently, little is known about the extent to which biofilters can be used to meet the water quality targets in conditions likely to be found in informal settlements. In addition, no attempts have been made to recover or reuse the surface water runoff from informal settlements, despite its high nutrient loadings. This study analyses the extent to which biofilters can be used to clean and reuse contaminated surface water runoff from informal settlements. The objectives are threefold: (i) to analyse the performance of two field-scale biofiltration cells (one vegetated and one non-vegetated) that are batch-fed with surface water runoff from an upstream informal settlement; (ii) to determine the effects of varying operating, design and environmental parameters on the performance of the cells; and (iii) to develop a model which predicts the outflow pollutant concentrations under varying conditions. Both cells effectively reduced ammonia (NH3), Total Phosphate (TP) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) concentrations, but leached nitrate (NO3 - ) and nitrite (NO2 - ). The treated waters were suitable for irrigational reuse, however, additional disinfection was required to reduce faecal contamination in some cases. Correlation analyses showed that inflow water quality significantly influenced cell performance, with the vegetated cell outperforming the non-vegetated cell under higher inflow pollutant concentrations. Multiple regression models also investigated several parameters influencing outflow NH3 and showed that inflow pH, temperature and NH3 concentration can be used to determine the outflow NH3 concentration of the cells. These models are important for predicting cell performance and thus can be used to improve the design and/or operation of the cells for varying inflow water quality conditions

The shallow fontlet of Charles Lamb

When Charles lamb was twenty-two years old, his sister killed his mother. Mary, who at thirty-two was almost entirely responsible for a senile father, an invalid mother, and an elderly aunt, broke under the strain, and attacked her apprentice with a case knife when the girl argued with her. When Mrs. Lamb called for help, Mary turned on her mother, stabbing her in the heart. The landlord, responding to the cries of the apprentice, found the mother dead, the father wounded on his forehead by one of Mary\u27s wildly thrown forks, and Mary still standing over her mother

Impacts of harmonic distortion from charging electric vehicles on low voltage networks

Paper focusing on the impacts of harmonic distortion from charging electric vehicles on low voltage networks

Manili Astronomicon. Liber II Manili Astronomicon. Liber II. Edidit H. W. Garrod. 1 vol. Pp. 166 + c. Oxford University Press, 1911. 10s. 6d. net.

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Nutritional value of Pleurotus (Flabellatus) Djamor (R-22) cultivated on sawdusts of different woods

The sawdust of different woods were investigat ed for the cultivation of exotic strain of Pleurotus (flabellatus) djamor (R-22) to find out the efficiency of different nutrients including protein, fat, crude fiber, ash, dry matter and moisture. Among all type of nutrients, protein, fat, cr ude fiber, ash, dry matter and moisture of Pleurotus ostreatus on sawdust of different woods were observed. Protein was observed on cont rol treatment (cotton waste, kikar, mango, mixed sawdust, simbal and kail (21.89), (21.64), (21.34), (21.16), (21.03) and (20.75) % respectively. Fat was observed on control treatment (cotton waste, kikar, mango, mi xed sawdust, simbal and kail (0.80), (0.53), (0 .41), (0.33), (0.24) and (0.11)% respectively. Crude fiber was observed on control treatment (cotton waste, kikar, mango, mixed sawdust, simbal and kail (8.92), (8.45), (8.17), (7.96), (7.70) and (7.32) % respectively. Ash was observ ed on control treatment (cotton waste, kikar, mango, mixed sawdust, simbal and kail (7.65), (6.75), (6 .47), (6.39), (6.33) and (6.23%) respectively. Dry matter was observed on control treatment (cotton waste, kikar, mango, mixed sawdust, simbal and kail (6.47), (6.27), (6.13), (6.01), (5.87) and (5.67) % respectively. Moisture was observed on control treatment (c otton waste, kikar, mango, mixed sawdust, simbal and kail (84.55), (81.20), (79.85), (76.26), (74.35) and (71.14) % respectively. Oyster mushroom showed relatively more contents on control treatment cotton waste as compared to other substrates. The maximum protein, fat, crude fiber, ash, dry matter and moisture contents in Pleurotus (flabellatus) djamor (R-22) was obtained on Kikar sawdust .The lowest contents was obtained on kail sawdust