A New Method of Measuring 81Kr and 85Kr Abundances in Environmental Samples

We demonstrate a new method for determining the 81Kr/Kr ratio in environmental samples based upon two measurements: the 85Kr/81Kr ratio measured by Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA) and the 85Kr/Kr ratio measured by Low-Level Counting (LLC). This method can be used to determine the mean residence time of groundwater in the range of 10^5 - 10^6 a. It requires a sample of 100 micro-l STP of Kr extracted from approximately two tons of water. With modern atmospheric Kr samples, we demonstrate that the ratios measured by ATTA and LLC are directly proportional to each other within the measurement error of +/- 10%; we calibrate the 81Kr/Kr ratio of modern air measured using this method; and we show that the 81Kr/Kr ratios of samples extracted from air before and after the development of the nuclear industry are identical within the measurement error

(Strept)avidin as host for biotinylated coordination complexes: stability, chiral discrimination, and cooperativity

Incorporation of a biotinylated ruthenium tris(bipyridine) [Ru(bpy)₂(Biot-bpy)]²⁺ (1) in either avidin or streptavidin-(strept)avidin-can be conveniently followed by circular dichroism spectroscopy. To determine the stepwise association constants, cooperativity, and chiral discrimination properties, diastereopure (Λ and δ)-1 species were synthesized and incorporated in tetrameric (strept)avidin to afford (δ-[Ru(bpy)₂(Biot-bpy)]²⁺)x⊂avidin, (Λ- [Ru(bpy)₂(Biot-bpy)]²⁺)x⊂avidin, (δ-[Ru(bpy)₂(Biot- bpy)]²⁺)x⊂streptavidin, and (Λ-[Ru(bpy)₂(Biot-bpy)]²⁺) x⊂streptavidin (x = 1-4) For these four systems, the overall stability constants are log β₄ = 28.6, 30.3, 36.2, and 36.4, respectively. Critical analysis of the CD titrations data suggests a strong cooperativity between the first and the second binding event (x = 1, 2) and a pronounced difference in affinity between avidin and streptavidin for the dicationic guest 1 as well as modest enantiodiscrimination properties with avidin as host

A Yap-dependent mechanoregulatory program sustains cell migration for embryo axis assembly

The assembly of the embryo’s primary axis is a fundamental landmark for the establishment of the vertebrate body plan. Although the morphogenetic movements directing cell convergence towards the midline have been described extensively, little is known on how gastrulating cells interpret mechanical cues. Yap proteins are well-known transcriptional mechanotransducers, yet their role in gastrulation remains elusive. Here we show that the double knockout of yap and its paralog yap1b in medaka results in an axis assembly failure, due to reduced displacement and migratory persistence in mutant cells. Accordingly, we identified genes involved in cytoskeletal organization and cell-ECM adhesion as potentially direct Yap targets. Dynamic analysis of live sensors and downstream targets reveal that Yap is acting in migratory cells, promoting cortical actin and focal adhesions recruitment. Our results indicate that Yap coordinates a mechanoregulatory program to sustain intracellular tension and maintain the directed cell migration for embryo axis development

Exposure to Leptospira spp. and associated risk factors in the human, cattle and dog populations in Bhutan

Leptospirosis is a neglected worldwide zoonotic bacterial disease with a high prevalence in subtropical and tropical countries. The prevalence of Leptospira spp. in humans, cattle and dogs is unknown in Bhutan. Therefore, we sought to find out whether humans, cattle or dogs had been infected in the past with leptospires by measuring antibodies in the serum. We therefore collected blood from 864 humans >/=13 years of age, 130 bovines and 84 dogs from different rural and urban areas in Bhutan and tested the serum for antibodies specific for leptospires with a screening of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and a confirmatory microscopic agglutination test (MAT). In humans, 17.6% were seropositive by ELISA and 1.6% by MAT. The seropositivity was stronger in bovines (36.9%) and dogs (47.6%). "Having had a fever recently" (OR 5.2, p = 0.004), "working for the military" (OR 26.6, p = 0.028) and "being unemployed" (OR 12.9, p = 0.041) (reference category = housemaker) were statistically significantly associated with seropositivity when controlled for the effects of other risk factors. However, due to the small number of positive test results, the findings on risk factors should be interpreted with caution. Based on the serogroups found in the three species, dogs could be a source of infection for humans, or dogs and humans are exposed to the same environmental risk factors Clinical leptospirosis in humans and domestic animals should be investigated by testing blood and urine for the presence of leptospires by molecular methods (qPCR)

Rapid processing of ⁸⁵5 Kr/Kr ratios using Atom Trap Trace Analysis

We report a methodology for measuring ⁸⁵ Kr/Kr isotopic abundances using Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA) that increases sample measurement throughput by over an order of magnitude to six samples per 24 h. The noble gas isotope ⁸⁵ Kr (half-life 510.7 years) is a useful tracer for young groundwater in the age range of 5–50 years. ATTA, an efficient and selective laser-based atom counting method, has recently been applied to ⁸⁵ Kr/Kr isotopic abundance measurements, requiring 5–10 μL of krypton gas at STP extracted from 50 to 100 L of water. Previously, a single such measurement required 48 h. Our new method demonstrates that we can measure 85Kr/Kr ratios with 3–5% relative uncertainty every 4 h, on average, with the same sample requirements