Pengaruh Ekstrak Rimpang Kencur (Kaempferia Galanga L.) Terhadap Tingkat Kesembuhan Benih Ikan Lele Dumbo (Clarias SP.) Yang Terinfeksi Saprolegnia SP. [Effect of Rhizome Extract (Kaempferia Kalanga L.) for the Cure Rate of Catfish (Clarias SP.) Infected by Saprolegnia SP. ]

Saprolegnia sp. is a fungus that causes the disease Saprolegniasis on eggs and fresh water fish such as catfish (Clarias sp.). Treatment of Saprolegniasis have done using chemical drugs such as malachite green, formalin, sodium chloride and asetic acid. However, the use of chemical drugs is bad for the environment and biota. The purpose of this study is to determined the antifungal activity from rhizome extract (Kaempferia galanga L.) for the cure rate of catfish fry (Clarias sp) infected by Saprolegnia sp. The research was conducted on June 2013 at Fisheries and Marine Faculty of Airlangga University. The method used in this study is experimental method using Kruskall Wallis followed by Two Sample Independent test design with 5 treatments and four repetitions. Results showed that the extract of Kaempferia galanga L. has antifungal activity to recovery infected catfish fry. The optimal concentration from this research is 64%. The existence of antifungal activity of Kaempferia galanga L. extracts to Saprolegnia sp. showed that Kaempferia galanga L. extract consists some compounds as fungistatic and fungicidal such as flavonoid, saponin, phenolic and essential oil compounds

Parkinson's disease-associated mutations in DJ-1 modulate its dimerization in living cells

Mutations in the protein DJ-1 cause recessive forms of early onset familial Parkinson's disease (PD). To date, most of the causative mutations studied destabilize formation of DJ-1 homodimers, which appears to be closely linked to its normal function in oxidative stress and other cellular processes. Despite the importance of understanding the dimerization dynamics of this protein, this aspect of DJ-1 biology has not previously been directly studied in living cells. Here, we use bimolecular fluorescence complementation to study DJ-1 dimerization and find not only that DJ-1 forms homodimers in living cells but that most PD causative DJ-1 mutations disrupt this process, including the L166P, M26I, L10P, and P158∆ mutations. Interestingly, the E64D mutant form of DJ-1 retains the ability to form homodimers. However, while wild-type DJ-1 dimers are stabilized under oxidative stress conditions, we find that the E64D mutation blocks this stabilization. Furthermore, our data show that the E64D mutation potentiates the formation of aggresomes containing DJ-1. We also observe that while the widely studied L166P mutation prevents DJ-1 from forming homodimers or heterodimers with wild-type protein, the mutant protein is able to partially disrupt formation of wild-type homodimers. In summary, by investigating DJ-1 dimerization in living cells, we have uncovered several novel properties of PD causative mutations in DJ-1, which may ultimately provide novel insight into PD pathogenesis and possible therapeutic options

Limited antigenic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen 1 supports the development of effective multi-allele vaccines

BackgroundPolymorphism in antigens is a common mechanism for immune evasion used by many important pathogens, and presents major challenges in vaccine development. In malaria, many key immune targets and vaccine candidates show substantial polymorphism. However, knowledge on antigenic diversity of key antigens, the impact of polymorphism on potential vaccine escape, and how sequence polymorphism relates to antigenic differences is very limited, yet crucial for vaccine development. Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) is an important target of naturally-acquired antibodies in malaria immunity and a leading vaccine candidate. However, AMA1 has extensive allelic diversity with more than 60 polymorphic amino acid residues and more than 200 haplotypes in a single population. Therefore, AMA1 serves as an excellent model to assess antigenic diversity in malaria vaccine antigens and the feasibility of multi-allele vaccine approaches. While most previous research has focused on sequence diversity and antibody responses in laboratory animals, little has been done on the cross-reactivity of human antibodies.MethodsWe aimed to determine the extent of antigenic diversity of AMA1, defined by reactivity with human antibodies, and to aid the identification of specific alleles for potential inclusion in a multi-allele vaccine. We developed an approach using a multiple-antigen-competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to examine cross-reactivity of naturally-acquired antibodies in Papua New Guinea and Kenya, and related this to differences in AMA1 sequence.ResultsWe found that adults had greater cross-reactivity of antibodies than children, although the patterns of cross-reactivity to alleles were the same. Patterns of antibody cross-reactivity were very similar between populations (Papua New Guinea and Kenya), and over time. Further, our results show that antigenic diversity of AMA1 alleles is surprisingly restricted, despite extensive sequence polymorphism. Our findings suggest that a combination of three different alleles, if selected appropriately, may be sufficient to cover the majority of antigenic diversity in polymorphic AMA1 antigens. Antigenic properties were not strongly related to existing haplotype groupings based on sequence analysis.ConclusionsAntigenic diversity of AMA1 is limited and a vaccine including a small number of alleles might be sufficient for coverage against naturally-circulating strains, supporting a multi-allele approach for developing polymorphic antigens as malaria vaccines

Type II Quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: V. Imaging host galaxies with the Hubble Space Telescope

Type II quasars are luminous Active Galactic Nuclei whose centers are obscured by large amounts of gas and dust. In this paper we present 3-band HST images of nine type II quasars with redshifts 0.2 < z < 0.4 selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey based on their emission line properties. The intrinsic luminosities of these AGN are estimated to be -24 > M_B > -26, but optical obscuration allows their host galaxies to be studied unencumbered by bright nuclei. Each object has been imaged in three continuum filters (`UV', `blue' and `yellow') placed between the strong emission lines. The spectacular, high quality images reveal a wealth of details about the structure of the host galaxies and their environments. Six of the nine galaxies in the sample are ellipticals with de Vaucouleurs light profiles, one object has a well-defined disk component and the remaining two have marginal disks. Stellar populations of type II quasar hosts are more luminous (by a median of 0.3-0.7 mag, depending on the wavelength) and bluer (by about 0.4 mag) than are M* galaxies at the same redshift. When smooth fits to stellar light are subtracted from the images, we find both positive and negative residuals that become more prominent toward shorter wavelengths. We argue that the negative residuals are due to kpc-scale dust obscuration, while most positive residuals are due to the light from the nucleus scattered off interstellar material in the host galaxy. Scattered light makes a significant contribution to the broad band continuum emission and can be the dominant component of the extended emission in the UV in extreme cases.Comment: 51 pages, including 12 grey scale figures, 4 color figures, 5 tables. In press in AJ. Version with higher-resolution images available at http://www.astro.princeton.edu/~nadia/qso2.html. (Minor changes in response to the referee report

Shared and distinct transcriptional programs underlie the hybrid nature of iNKT cells

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are innate-like T lymphocytes that act as critical regulators of the immune response. To better characterize this population, we profiled iNKT cell gene expression during ontogeny and in peripheral subsets as part of the Immunological Genome Project (ImmGen). High-resolution comparative transcriptional analyses defined developmental and subset-specific iNKT cell gene expression programs. In addition, iNKT cells were found to share an extensive transcriptional program with natural killer (NK) cells, similar in magnitude to that shared with major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted T cells. Strikingly, the NK- iNKT program also operated constitutively in γδT cells and in adaptive T cells following activation. Together, our findings highlight a core effector program regulated distinctly in innate and adaptive lymphocytes

Formation of Nitriles in the Interstellar Medium via Reactions of Cyano Radicals, CN(X 2Σ+), with Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

Crossed molecular beam experiments of cyano radicals, CN(X 2Σ+, ν = 0), in their electronic and vibrational ground state reacting with unsaturated hydrocarbons acetylene, C2H2(X 1Σ), ethylene, C2H4(X 1Ag), methylacetylene, CH3CCH(X 1A1), allene, H2CCCH2(X 1A1), dimethylacetylene, CH3CCCH3(X 1A1'), and benzene, C6H6 (X 1A1g), were performed at relative collision energies between 13.3 and 36.4 kJ mol-1 to unravel the formation of unsaturated nitriles in the outflows of late-type AGB carbon stars and molecular clouds. In all reactions, the CN radical was found to attack the π electron density of the hydrocarbon molecule with the radical center located at the carbon atom; the formation of an initial addition complex is a prevalent pathway on all the involved potential energy surfaces. A subsequent carbon-hydrogen bond rupture yields the nitriles cyanoacetylene, HCCCN (X 1Σ+), vinylcyanide, C2H3CN (X 1A'), 1-methylcyanoacetylene, CH3CCCN (X 1A1), cyanoallene, H2CCCH(CN) (X 1A'), 3-methylcyanoacetylene, HCCCH2CN(X 1A'), 1,1-cyanomethylallene, H2CCC(CN)(CH3) (X 1A'), and cyanobenzene, C6H5CN (X 1A1). In case of acetylene and ethylene, a second reaction channel involves a [1, 2]-H atom shift in the initial HCCHCN and H2CCH2CN collision complexes prior to a hydrogen atom release to form cyanoacetylene, HCCCN (X 1Σ+), and vinylcyanide, C2H3CN (X 1A'). Since all these radical-neutral reactions show no entrance barriers, have exit barriers well below the energy of the reactant molecules, and are exothermic, the explicit identification of this CN versus H atom exchange pathway under single collision conditions makes this reaction class a compelling candidate to synthesize unsaturated nitriles in interstellar environments holding temperatures as low as 10 K. This general concept makes it even feasible to predict the formation of nitriles once the corresponding unsaturated hydrocarbons are identified in the interstellar medium. Here HCCCN, C2H3CN, and CH3CCCN have been already observed; since CH3CCH is the common precursor to H2CCCH(CN)/CH3CCCN and the latter isomer has been assigned unambiguously toward TMC-1 and OMC-1, H2CCCH(CN) is strongly expected to be present in both clouds as well. The formation of isonitrile isomers was not observed in our experiments. Since all reactions to HCCNC, C2H3NC, CH3CCNC, H2CCCH(NC), H2CCC(NC)(CH3), and C6H5NC are either endothermic or the exit barrier is well above the energy of the reactants, neutral-neutral reactions of cyano radicals with closed shell unsaturated hydrocarbons cannot synthesize isonitriles in cold molecular clouds. However, in outflow of carbon stars, the enhanced translational energy of both reactants close to the photosphere of the central star can compensate this endothermicity, and isonitriles might be formed in these hotter environments as well

Experience of the cleft lip and palate clinic at the hospital general de México 2017-2023

Background: The care of cleft lip and palate patients at the general hospital of Mexico has nearly 70 years of experience. Methods: An observational study of a 7-year cohort of resolved cases of cleft lip and palate by the plastic and reconstructive surgery service of the general hospital of Mexico (2017-2023) was conducted. Results: The 121 patients were recorded, with 47 palatoplasties, 44 primary cheiloplasties, 24 secondary cheiloplasties, and 11 veloplasties performed. All patients are evaluated by a multidisciplinary team composed of plastic surgery, dentistry, clinical nutrition, speech therapy, audiology, genetics, and psychology to determine a comprehensive treatment plan. Conclusions: The data reported by the cohort in this work aligns with international reports. The frequency of cases decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but has increased in recent years

Comparison between off-resonance and electron Bernstein waves heating regime in a microwave discharge ion sourcea)

A microwave discharge ion source (MDIS) operating at the Laboratori Nazionali del Sud of INFN, Catania has been used to compare the traditional electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) heating with an innovative mechanisms of plasma ignition based on the electrostatic Bernstein waves (EBW). EBW are obtained via the inner plasma electromagnetic-to-electrostatic wave conversion and they are absorbed by the plasma at cyclotron resonance harmonics. The heating of plasma by means of EBW at particular frequencies enabled us to reach densities much larger than the cutoff ones. Evidences of EBW generation and absorption together with X-ray emissions due to high energy electrons will be shown. A characterization of the discharge heating process in MDISs as a generalization of the ECR heating mechanism by means of ray tracing will be shown in order to highlight the fundamental physical differences between ECR and EBW heating

Towards an understanding of isospin violation in pion-nucleon scattering

We investigate isospin breaking in low-energy pion-nucleon scattering in the framework of chiral perturbation theory. This work extends the systematic analysis of [1] to the energy range above threshold. Various relations, which identically vanish in the limit of isospin symmetry, are used to quantify isospin breaking effects. We study the energy dependence of the S- and P-wave projections of these ratios and find dramatic effects in the S-waves of those two relations which are given in terms of isoscalar quantities only. This effect drops rather quickly with growing center-of-mass energy.Comment: 12 pp, REVTeX, 8 figs, FZJ-IKP(TH)-2000-2

Ubiquitin Fusion Degradation Protein 1 as a Blood Marker for The Early Diagnosis of Ischemic Stroke

Background: Efficacy of thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke is strongly related to physician’s ability to make an accurate diagnosis and to intervene within 3–6 h after event onset. In this context, the discovery and validation of very early blood markers have recently become an urgent, yet unmet, goal of stroke research. Ubiquitin fusion degradation protein 1 is increased in human postmortem CSF, a model of global brain insult, suggesting that its measurement in blood may prove useful as a biomarker of stroke.Methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure UFD1 in plasma and sera in three independent cohorts, European (Swiss and Spanish) and North-American retrospective analysis encompassing a total of 123 consecutive stroke and 90 control subjects.Results: Highly significant increase of ubiquitin fusion degradation protein 1 (UFD1) was found in Swiss stroke patients with 71% sensitivity (95% CI, 52–85.8%), and 90% specificity (95% CI, 74.2–98%) (N = 31, p < 0.0001). Significantly elevated concentration of this marker was then validated in Spanish (N = 39, p < 0.0001, 95% sensitivity (95% CI, 82.7–99.4%)), 76% specificity (95% CI, 56.5–89.7%)) and North-American stroke patients (N = 53, 62% sensitivity (95% CI, 47.9–75.2%), 90% specificity (95% CI, 73.5–97.9%), p < 0.0001). Its concentration was increased within 3 h of stroke onset, on both the Swiss (p < 0.0001) and Spanish (p = 0.0004) cohorts.Conclusions: UFD1 emerges as a reliable plasma biomarker for the early diagnosis of stroke, and in the future, might be used in conjunction with clinical assessments, neuroimaging and other blood markers.Abbreviations: AUC: area under curve; BBB: blood–brain barrier; CO: cut-off; CSF: cerebrospinal fluid; CT: computerized tomography; H-FABP: heart-fatty acid binding protein; MMP9: matrix metalloproteinase 9; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; NDKA: nucleotide diphosphate kinase A; OR: odds ratio; RFU: relative fluorescence units; ROC: receiver operating characteristic; rtPA: recombinant tissue plasminogen activator; SE: sensitivity; SP: specificity; TIA: transient ischemic attack; UFD1: ubiquitin fusion degradation protein