Combined SIMS-SPM Instrument For High Sensitivity And High Resolution Elemental 3D Analysis

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, July 29 - August 2, 201

Rationale for a Stronger Disposition of Chardonnay Wines for Stuck and Sluggish Fermentation

The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate factors that contribute to fermentation problems inChardonnay, since this variety is reported to have frequent problems. Analytical methods included gaschromatography mass spectrometry, as well as atomic absorption spectroscopy and FT-MIR spectroscopy.Chardonnay, Pinot blanc, Pinot noir and Pinot noir précoce were screened to relate observations to specificvarietal properties. The results show a significant distinction in the amino acid profile of Chardonnay,which can be correlated with sluggish fermentation. A comparison between the fatty acid profile ofChardonnay and Pinot blanc reveals that Chardonnay contains more toxic compounds, which inhibityeast metabolism. Mineral supply and potential metal toxicity were also analysed. The concentrationsof iron, copper, magnesium, zinc and manganese show significant variations among the grape varieties.In conclusion, the possible causes for stuck fermentation in Chardonnay could be more related more tovariety than to oenological decisions

Use of bioengineered human commensal gut bacteria-derived microvesicles for mucosal plague vaccine delivery and immunization

Plague caused by the Gram-negative bacterium, Yersinia pestis, is still endemic in parts of the world today. Protection against pneumonic plague is essential to prevent the development and spread of epidemics. Despite this, there are currently no licensed plague vaccines in the western world. Here we describe the means of delivering biologically active plague vaccine antigens directly to mucosal sites of plague infection using highly stable microvesicles (outer membrane vesicles; OMVs) that are naturally produced by the abundant and harmless human commensal gut bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (Bt). Bt was engineered to express major plague protective antigens in its OMVs, specifically Fraction 1 (F1) in the outer membrane and LcrV (V antigen) in the lumen, for targeted delivery to the gastrointestinal (GI) and respiratory tracts in a non-human primate (NHP) host. Our key findings were that Bt OMVs stably expresses F1 and V plague antigens, particularly the V antigen, in the correct, immunogenic form. When delivered intranasally V-OMVs elicited substantive and specific immune and antibody responses, both in the serum [immunoglobulin (Ig)G] and in the upper and lower respiratory tract (IgA); this included the generation of serum antibodies able to kill plague bacteria. Our results also showed that Bt OMV-based vaccines had many desirable characteristics, including: biosafety and an absence of any adverse effects, pathology or gross alteration of resident microbial communities (microbiotas); high stability and thermo-tolerance; needle-free delivery; intrinsic adjuvanticity; the ability to stimulate both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses; and targeting of primary sites of plague infection

Разработка основного оборудования получения металлического лития

Объектом исследования является выпарной аппарат установки получения металлического лития, находящейся в ОАО "НЗХК" (Новосибирский завод химконцентратов). Целью работы были проектирование и исследование выпарного аппарата с центральной циркуляционной трубой и подвесной греющей камерой. Преимущества аппарата с подвесной греющей камерой. Для достижения поставленной цели были решены следующие задачи: анализ конструкций аппаратов; произведен конструктивный и механический расчеты; сравнение полученных расчетов.The object of study is evaporating apparatus unit for production of lithium metal located in the Novosibirsk chemical concentrates plant (Novosibirsk chemical concentrates plant). The aim of this work was the design and study of evaporator with the Central circulation pipe and the suspended heating chamber. The advantages of the apparatus with overhead heating chamber. To achieve this goal have been resolved following tasks: analysis of equipment designs; produced structural and mechanical calculations; comparison of the calculations

Бухгалтерский учет расчетов с персоналом по оплате труда (на примере предприятия HORUS INTERTRADE & CONSULTING)

В данной работе была рассмотрена специфика бухгалтерского учета расчетов с персоналом по оплате труда как в соответствии с российским законодательством, так и с законодательством Республики Узбекистан, дана характеристика организации бухгалтерского учета операций по расчетам с персоналом в узбекской компании ООО "Horus Intertrade & Consulting Kft", предложены меры по ее совершенствованию.In this work, the specifics of the bookkeeping of settlements with employees on remuneration of labor, both in accordance with Russian legislation and with the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, was given, and the characteristics of the organization of accounting for transactions with personnel in the Uzbek company Horus Intertrade & Consulting Kft, Measures for its improvement have been proposed

Use of genetically modified bacteria for drug delivery in humans: Revisiting the safety aspect

The use of live, genetically modified bacteria as delivery vehicles for biologics is of considerable interest scientifically and has attracted significant commercial investment. We have pioneered the use of the commensal gut bacterium Bacteroides ovatus for the oral delivery of therapeutics to the gastrointestinal tract. Here we report on our investigations of the biological safety of engineered B. ovatus bacteria that includes the use of thymineless death as a containment strategy and the potential for the spread of transgenes in vivo in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. We demonstrate the ability of GM-strains of Bacteroides to survive thymine starvation and overcome it through the exchange of genetic material. We also provide evidence for horizontal gene transfer in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract resulting in transgene-carrying wild type bacteria. These findings sound a strong note of caution on the employment of live genetically modified bacteria for the delivery of biologics

The proteome of extracellular vesicles produced by the human gut bacteria bacteroides thetaiotaomicron in vivo Is influenced by environmental and host-derived factors

Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) released from both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria provide an effective means of communication and trafficking of cell signaling molecules. In the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) BEVs produced by members of the intestinal microbiota can impact host health by mediating microbe-host cell interactions. A major unresolved question, however, is what factors influence the composition of BEV proteins and whether the host influences protein packaging into BEVs and secretion into the GIT. To address this, we have analyzed the proteome of BEVs produced by the major human gut symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron both in vitro and in vivo in the murine GIT in order to identify proteins specifically enriched in BEVs produced in vivo. We identified 113 proteins enriched in BEVs produced in vivo, the majority (62/113) of which accumulated in BEVs in the absence of any changes in their expression by the parental cells. Among these selectively enriched proteins, we identified dipeptidyl peptidases and an asparaginase and confirmed their increased activity in BEVs produced in vivo. We also showed that intact BEVs are capable of degrading bile acids via a bile salt hydrolase. Collectively these findings provide additional evidence for the dynamic interplay of host-microbe interactions in the GIT and the existence of an active mechanism to drive and enrich a selected group of proteins for secretion into BEVs in the GIT

Low Prevalence of Lactase Persistence in Bronze Age Europe Indicates Ongoing Strong Selection over the Last 3,000 Years

Lactase persistence (LP), the continued expression of lactase into adulthood, is the most strongly selected single gene trait over the last 10,000 years in multiple human populations. It has been posited that the primary allele causing LP among Eurasians, rs4988235-A [1], only rose to appreciable frequencies during the Bronze and Iron Ages [2, 3], long after humans started consuming milk from domesticated animals. This rapid rise has been attributed to an influx of people from the Pontic-Caspian steppe that began around 5,000 years ago [4, 5]. We investigate the spatiotemporal spread of LP through an analysis of 14 warriors from the Tollense Bronze Age battlefield in northern Germany (∼3,200 before present, BP), the oldest large-scale conflict site north of the Alps. Genetic data indicate that these individuals represent a single unstructured Central/Northern European population. We complemented these data with genotypes of 18 individuals from the Bronze Age site Mokrin in Serbia (∼4,100 to ∼3,700 BP) and 37 individuals from Eastern Europe and the Pontic-Caspian Steppe region, predating both Bronze Age sites (∼5,980 to ∼3,980 BP). We infer low LP in all three regions, i.e., in northern Germany and South-eastern and Eastern Europe, suggesting that the surge of rs4988235 in Central and Northern Europe was unlikely caused by Steppe expansions. We estimate a selection coefficient of 0.06 and conclude that the selection was ongoing in various parts of Europe over the last 3,000 years