Aberrant Wing Pigmentation in \u3ci\u3eLibellula Luctuosa\u3c/i\u3e Specimens From Ohio

Over the past few years we obtained three female Libellula luctuosa specimens, all collected in northeast Ohio, which exhibited unusually reduced wing pigmentation. The individuals were extremely difficult to identify as most keys rely heavily upon wing pigmentation for identification of many Libellula species. A description of this aberrant wing pigmentation and a photograph are provided

Ara h 6 Complements Ara h 2 as an Important Marker for IgE Reactivity to Peanut

The similarities of two major peanut allergens, Ara h 2 and Ara h 6, in molecular size, amino acid sequence, and structure have made it difficult to obtain natural Ara h 6 free of Ara h 2. The objectives of this study were to purify natural Ara h 6 that is essentially free of Ara h 2 and to compare its IgE reactivity and potency in histamine release assays to Ara h 2. SDS-PAGE of the highly purified allergen (\u3c0.01% Ara h 2) revealed a single 14.5kD band and the identity of Ara h 6 was confirmed by LC-MS/MS. Ara h 6 showed a higher seroprevalence in chimeric-IgE ELISA (n=54), but a weaker biological activity in basophil histamine release assays than Ara h 2. Purified Ara h 6 will be useful for diagnostic IgE antibody assays, as well as molecular and cellular studies to investigate the immunological mechanisms of peanut allergy

Ara h 6 Complements Ara h 2 as an Important Marker for IgE Reactivity to Peanut

The similarities of two major peanut allergens, Ara h 2 and Ara h 6, in molecular size, amino acid sequence, and structure have made it difficult to obtain natural Ara h 6 free of Ara h 2. The objectives of this study were to purify natural Ara h 6 that is essentially free of Ara h 2 and to compare its IgE reactivity and potency in histamine release assays to Ara h 2. SDS-PAGE of the highly purified allergen (\u3c0.01% Ara h 2) revealed a single 14.5kD band and the identity of Ara h 6 was confirmed by LC-MS/MS. Ara h 6 showed a higher seroprevalence in chimeric-IgE ELISA (n=54), but a weaker biological activity in basophil histamine release assays than Ara h 2. Purified Ara h 6 will be useful for diagnostic IgE antibody assays, as well as molecular and cellular studies to investigate the immunological mechanisms of peanut allergy

Cell type–specific super-resolution imaging reveals an increase in calcium-permeable AMPA receptors at spinal peptidergic terminals as an anatomical correlate of inflammatory pain

Spinal hyperexcitability is a key event in the development of persistent pain, and arises partly from alterations in the number and localization of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA)-type glutamate receptors. However, determining precisely where these changes occur is challenging due to the requirement for multiplex labelling and nanoscale resolution. The recent development of super-resolution light microscopy provides new tools to address these challenges. Here, we apply combined confocal/direct STochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (dSTORM) to reveal changes in calcium-permeable subunits of AMPA-type glutamate receptors (GluA1) at identified spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH) peptidergic axon terminals in a model of inflammatory pain. L4/5 lumbar spinal cord was collected from adult male C57BL/6J mice 24 hours after unilateral hind paw injection of saline or 1% carrageenan (n = 6/group). Tissue was immunolabelled for markers of peptidergic axon terminals (substance P; SP), presynaptic active zones (Bassoon), and GluA1. Direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy revealed a 59% increase in total GluA1 immunolabelling in the SCDH in the carrageenan group, which was not detected by confocal microscopy. Cell type–specific analyses identified a 10-fold increase in GluA1 localized to SP+ structures, and identified GluA1 nanodomains that scaled with behavioural hypersensitivity, and were associated with synaptic release sites. These findings demonstrate that dSTORM has the sensitivity and power to detect nanoscale anatomical changes in the SCDH, and provides new evidence for synaptic insertion of GluA1+-AMPA-Rs at spinal peptidergic nociceptive terminals in a model of inflammatory pain

Roles of key active-site residues in flavocytochrome P450 BM3

Abbreviations used: P450, cytochrome P450 mono-oxygenase; ImC12, 12-(imidazolyl)dodecanoic acid; 1-PIM, 1-phenylimidazole.The effects of mutation of key active-site residues (Arg-47, Tyr-51, Phe-42 and Phe-87) in Bacillus megaterium flavocytochrome P450 BM3 were investigated. Kinetic studies on the oxidation of laurate and arachidonate showed that the side chain of Arg-47 contributes more significantly to stabilization of the fatty acid carboxylate than does that of Tyr-51 (kinetic parameters for oxidation of laurate: R47A mutant, Km 859 µM, kcat 3960 min-1; Y51F mutant, Km 432 µM, kcat 6140 min-1; wild-type, Km 288 µM, kcat 5140 min-1). A slightly increased kcat for the Y51F-catalysed oxidation of laurate is probably due to decreased activation energy (DG‡) resulting from a smaller DG of substrate binding. The side chain of Phe-42 acts as a phenyl 'cap' over the mouth of the substrate-binding channel. With mutant F42A, Km is massively increased and kcat is decreased for oxidation of both laurate (Km 2.08 mM, kcat 2450 min-1) and arachidonate (Km 34.9 µM, kcat 14620 min-1; compared with values of 4.7 µM and 17100 min-1 respectively for wild-type). Amino acid Phe-87 is critical for efficient catalysis. Mutants F87G and F87Y not only exhibit increased Km and decreased kcat values for fatty acid oxidation, but also undergo an irreversible conversion process from a 'fast' to a 'slow' rate of substrate turnover [for F87G (F87Y)-catalysed laurate oxidation: kcat 'fast', 760 (1620) min-1; kcat 'slow', 48.0 (44.6) min-1; kconv (rate of conversion from fast to slow form), 4.9 (23.8) min-1]. All mutants showed less than 10% uncoupling of NADPH oxidation from fatty acid oxidation. The rate of FMN-to-haem electron transfer was shown to become rate-limiting in all mutants analysed. For wild-type P450 BM3, the rate of FMN-to-haem electron transfer (8340 min-1) is twice the steady-state rate of oxidation (4100 min-1), indicating that other steps contribute to rate limitation. Active-site structures of the mutants were probed with the inhibitors 12-(imidazolyl)dodecanoic acid and 1-phenylimidazole. Mutant F87G binds 1-phenylimidazole > 10-fold more tightly than does the wild-type, whereas mutant Y51F binds the haem-co-ordinating fatty acid analogue 12-(imidazolyl)dodecanoic acid > 30-fold more tightly than wild-type

FTIR spectroscopy can predict organic matter quality in regenerating cutover peatlands.

International audienceVegetational changes during the restoration of cutover peatlands leave a legacy in terms of the organic matter quality of the newly formed peat. Current efforts to restore peatlands at a large scale therefore require low cost, and high throughout, techniques to monitor the evolution of organic matter. In this study, we assessed the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra of the organic matter in peat samples at various stages of peatland regeneration from five European countries. Using predictive partial least squares analyses, we were able to reconstruct both peat C:N ratio and carbohydrate signatures, but not the micromorphological composit ion of vegetation remains, from the FTIR datasets. Despite utilising different size fractions, both carbohydrate (< 200 μm fraction) and FTIR (bulk soil) analyses report on the composition of plant cell wall constituents in the peat and therefore essentially reveal the composition of the parent vegetational material. This suggests that FTIR analysis of peat may be used successfully for evaluation of the present and future organic matter composition of peat in monitoring of restoration efforts

The Ursinus Weekly, October 5, 1977

Ursinus news in brief: Ursinus changes dormitory hours; Student teachers assigned positions; Counseling services discussed; Library announces new hours; Sophomores hold road rally; ProTheatre news; Union calendar of events • Ursinus slated for evaluation • New faculty welcomed • Ursinus logs acceptances • U.S.G.A. announces plans • Comment: On editorial policy; Bomberger quaked • Evening School announces innovations • Letters to the editor • Danforth announces competition • Yost retires • Movie attack: The Deep • Elvis what happened? • Art and loneliness • Ottenberg speaks at Ursinus • Paisley to exhibit art works • New Zealand trip • Varsity soccer looks strong • Lack of consistency haunts Bears • Cross country undefeated • Hockey team opens seasonhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1072/thumbnail.jp

Multilocus Sequence Typing Methods for the Emerging Campylobacter Species C. hyointestinalis, C. lanienae, C. sputorum, C. concisus, and C. curvus

Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) systems have been reported previously for multiple food- and food animal-associated Campylobacter species (e.g., C. jejuni, C. coli, C. lari, and C. fetus) to both differentiate strains and identify clonal lineages. These MLST methods focused primarily on campylobacters of human clinical (e.g., C. jejuni) or veterinary (e.g., C. fetus) relevance. However, other, emerging, Campylobacter species have been isolated increasingly from environmental, food animal, or human clinical samples. We describe herein four MLST methods for five emerging Campylobacter species: C. hyointestinalis, C. lanienae, C. sputorum, C. concisus, and C. curvus. The concisus/curvus method uses the loci aspA, atpA, glnA, gltA, glyA, ilvD, and pgm, whereas the other methods use the seven loci defined for C. jejuni (i.e., aspA, atpA, glnA, gltA, glyA, pgm, and tkt). Multiple food animal and human clinical C. hyointestinalis (n = 48), C. lanienae (n = 34), and C. sputorum (n = 24) isolates were typed, along with 86 human clinical C. concisus and C. curvus isolates. A large number of sequence types were identified using all four MLST methods. Additionally, these methods speciated unequivocally isolates that had been typed ambiguously using other molecular-based speciation methods, such as 16S rDNA sequencing. Finally, the design of degenerate primer pairs for some methods permitted the typing of related species; for example, the C. hyointestinalis primer pairs could be used to type C. fetus strains. Therefore, these novel Campylobacter MLST methods will prove useful in differentiating strains of multiple, emerging Campylobacter species

The Aussie, 1918-1931: cartoons, digger remembrance and First World War identity

Feelings of community, cultural definition and memory were kept alive through the soldiers’ mass circulation tabloid, the Aussie, examined here in the light of theorization of memory and representation, applied to both text and cartoons. The publication’s aim for veterans’ values to become shared national values is analysed in the light of its high profile usage of soft cartoon humour and also of nostalgia – highlighting the limitations as well as the effectiveness in terms of Australia’s evolving national identity. When the post-war economic situation worsened, deeper issues of national tension were glossed over by the use of scapegoats such as ‘profiteers’ and ‘lazy workers’. The armed forces were obliged to take on a political role of lobbying for their cause, but the Aussie as ‘cheerful friend’ experienced its own identity crisis that proved to be terminal

Using microalgae in the circular economy to valorise anaerobic digestate::Challenges and Opportunities

Managing organic waste streams is a major challenge for the agricultural industry. Anaerobic digestion (AD) of organicwastes is a preferred option in the waste management hierarchy, as this processcangenerate renewableenergy, reduce emissions from wastestorage, andproduce fertiliser material.However, Nitrate Vulnerable Zone legislation and seasonal restrictions can limit the use of digestate on agricultural land. In this paper we demonstrate the potential of cultivating microalgae on digestate as a feedstock, either directlyafter dilution, or indirectlyfromeffluent remaining after biofertiliser extraction. Resultant microalgal biomass can then be used to produce livestock feed, biofuel or for higher value bio-products. The approach could mitigate for possible regional excesses, and substitute conventional high-impactproducts with bio-resources, enhancing sustainability withinacircular economy. Recycling nutrients from digestate with algal technology is at an early stage. We present and discuss challenges and opportunities associated with developing this new technology