Ur Next GF: Urine as Next Generation Fertilizer with Meat and Bone Meal Applied on Vigna radiata (Monggo plant)

Fertilizers play an important role in providing crops with essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), which supplements plant growth. Compared to synthetically composed commercial fertilizers, next generation fertilizers are manufactured from low-energy mechanisms and are composed of nutrients from repurposed wastes which make them cost-efficient and sustainable. With the objective of determining which would deem to be an effective next generation fertilizer, we focus on human urine and meat and bone meal, to which its processing included solar drying, freezing, grinding, and utilizing additives to prevent fungal growth as well as improve efficacy. Three iterations, each with four set ups: plain urine, urine and meat and bone meal, control, and meat and bone meal only; were used to examine which content would prove more beneficial to the growth and quality of the chosen plant, Vigna radiata. The study adapted a quantitative analysis that aimed to measure the plant height, leaf area index, and dark green color index through the conduction of statistical tests and the use of ImageJ. As a result, the paper was able to conclude that the combination of urine and meat and bone meal poses a great potential for future fertilizer use

Human neutrophil alloantigens systems

Neutrophil alloantigens are involved in a variety of clinical conditions including immune neutropenias, transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), refractoriness to granulocyte transfusions and febrile transfusion reactions. In the last decade, considerable progress has been made in the characterization of the implicated antigens. Currently, seven antigens are assigned to five human neutrophil antigen (HNA) systems. The HNA-1a, HNA-1b and HNA-1c antigens have been identified as polymorphic forms of the neutrophil Fcγ receptor IIIb (CD16b), encoded by three alleles. Recently, the primary structure of the HNA-2a antigen was elucidated and the HNA-2a-bearing glycoprotein was identified as a member of the Ly-6/uPAR superfamily, which has been clustered as CD177. The HNA-3a antigen is located on a 70-95 kDa glycoprotein; however, its molecular basis is still unknown. Finally, the HNA-4a and HNA-5a antigens were found to be caused by single nucleotide mutations in the αM (CD11b) and αL (CD11a) subunits of the leucocyte adhesion molecules (β2 integrins). Molecular and biochemical characterization of neutrophil antigenshave expanded our diagnostic tools by the introduction of genotyping techniques and immunoassays for antibody identification. Further studies in the field of neutrophil immunology will facilitate the prevention and management of transfusion reactions and immune diseases caused by neutrophil antibodies.Os aloantígenos de neutrófilos estão associados a várias condições clínicas como neutropenias imunes, insuficiência pulmonar relacionada à transfusão (TRALI), refratariedade à transfusão de granulócitos, e reações transfusionais febris. Na última década, foi observado considerável progresso na caracterização dos aloantígenos envolvidos nestas condições clínicas. Atualmente sete antígenos estão incluídos em cinco sistemas de antígenos de neutrófilo humano (HNA). Os antígenos HNA-1a, HNA-1b e HNA-1c foram identificados como formas polimórficas do receptor Fcγ RIIIb (CD16b), codificados por três alelos. Recentemente, a estrutura primária do antígeno HNA-2a foi elucidada e a glicoproteína carreadora do antígeno foi identificada como um membro da superfamília Ly-6/uPARe designada como CD177. O antígeno HNA-3a está localizadoem uma glicoproteína de 70-90 kDa, entretanto sua base molecular ainda é desconhecida. Finalmente, os antígenos HNA-4ae HNA-5a são resultantes de mutações de um único nucleotídeo nas subunidades αM (CD11b) and αL (CD11a) das moléculas de adesão de leucócitos (β2 integrinas). A caracterização molecular e bioquímica dos antígenos neutrofílicos permitiu a expansão das ferramentas diagnósticas pela introdução de técnicas de genotipagem e imunoensaios para a identificação de anticorpos. Novos estudos envolvendo a imunologia de granulócitos serão de grande valor para a prevenção e tratamento de reações transfusionais e doenças imunes causadas por aloanticorpos de neutrófilos.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

Chemical structure-guided design of dynapyrazoles, potent cell-permeable dynein inhibitors with a unique mode of action

Cytoplasmic dyneins are motor proteins in the AAA+ superfamily that transport cellular cargos toward microtubule minus-ends. Recently, ciliobrevins were reported as selective cell-permeable inhibitors of cytoplasmic dyneins. As is often true for first-in-class inhibitors, the use of ciliobrevins has in part been limited by low potency. Moreover, suboptimal chemical properties, such as the potential to isomerize, have hindered efforts to improve ciliobrevins. Here, we characterized the structure of ciliobrevins and designed conformationally constrained isosteres. These studies identified dynapyrazoles, inhibitors more potent than ciliobrevins. At single-digit micromolar concentrations dynapyrazoles block intraflagellar transport in the cilium and lysosome motility in the cytoplasm, processes that depend on cytoplasmic dyneins. Further, we find that while ciliobrevins inhibit both dynein's microtubule-stimulated and basal ATPase activity, dynapyrazoles strongly block only microtubule-stimulated activity. Together, our studies suggest that chemical-structure-based analyses can lead to inhibitors with improved properties and distinct modes of inhibition

Neuropeptide Receptor Transcriptome Reveals Unidentified Neuroendocrine Pathways

Neuropeptides are an important class of molecules involved in diverse aspects of metazoan development and homeostasis. Insects are ideal model systems to investigate neuropeptide functions, and the major focus of insect neuropeptide research in the last decade has been on the identification of their receptors. Despite these vigorous efforts, receptors for some key neuropeptides in insect development such as prothoracicotropic hormone, eclosion hormone and allatotropin (AT), remain undefined. In this paper, we report the comprehensive cloning of neuropeptide G protein-coupled receptors from the silkworm, Bombyx mori, and systematic analyses of their expression. Based on the expression patterns of orphan receptors, we identified the long-sought receptor for AT, which is thought to stimulate juvenile hormone biosynthesis in the corpora allata (CA). Surprisingly, however, the AT receptor was not highly expressed in the CA, but instead was predominantly transcribed in the corpora cardiaca (CC), an organ adjacent to the CA. Indeed, by using a reverse-physiological approach, we purified and characterized novel allatoregulatory peptides produced in AT receptor-expressing CC cells, which may indirectly mediate AT activity on the CA. All of the above findings confirm the effectiveness of a systematic analysis of the receptor transcriptome, not only in characterizing orphan receptors, but also in identifying novel players and hidden mechanisms in important biological processes. This work illustrates how using a combinatorial approach employing bioinformatic, molecular, biochemical and physiological methods can help solve recalcitrant problems in neuropeptide research

Surface cleaning and pure nitridation of GaSb by in-situ plasma processing

A clean and flat GaSb surface without native oxides has been attained by H2 plasma cleaning and subsequent in-situ N2 plasma nitridation process at 300 oC. The mechanisms of thermal desorption behavior of native oxides on GaSb have been studied by thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) analysis. The suitable heat treatment process window for preparing a clean GaSb surface is given. Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) analysis indicates that native oxides were completely removed on the GaSb surface after H2 plasma exposure and the pure nitridation of the clean GaSb surface was obtained at a relatively low temperature of 300 °C. This pure nitridation of GaSb have a possibility to be used as a passivation layer for high quality GaSb MOS devices