New transit timing observations for GJ 436 b, HAT-P-3 b, HAT-P-19 b, WASP-3 b, and XO-2 b

We present new transit observations acquired between 2014 and 2018 for the hot exoplanets GJ 436 b, HAT-P-3 b, HAT-P-19 b, WASP-3 b, and XO-2 b. New mid-transit times extend the timespan covered by observations of these exoplanets and allow us to refine their transit ephemerides. All new transits are consistent with linear ephemerides

Association of Fecal Microbial Diversity and Taxonomy with Selected Enzymatic Functions

Few microbial functions have been compared to a comprehensive survey of the human fecal microbiome. We evaluated determinants of fecal microbial β-glucuronidase and β-glucosidase activities, focusing especially on associations with microbial alpha and beta diversity and taxonomy. We enrolled 51 healthy volunteers (26 female, mean age 39) who provided questionnaire data and multiple aliquots of a stool, from which proteins were extracted to quantify β-glucuronidase and β-glucosidase activities, and DNA was extracted to amplify and pyrosequence 16S rRNA gene sequences to classify and quantify microbiome diversity and taxonomy. Fecal β-glucuronidase was elevated with weight loss of at least 5 lb. (P = 0.03), whereas β-glucosidase was marginally reduced in the four vegetarians (P = 0.06). Both enzymes were correlated directly with microbiome richness and alpha diversity measures, directly with the abundance of four Firmicutes Clostridia genera, and inversely with the abundance of two other genera (Firmicutes Lactobacillales Streptococcus and Bacteroidetes Rikenellaceae Alistipes) (all P = 0.05–0.0001). Beta diversity reflected the taxonomic associations. These observations suggest that these enzymatic functions are performed by particular taxa and that diversity indices may serve as surrogates of bacterial functions. Independent validation and deeper understanding of these associations are needed, particularly to characterize functions and pathways that may be amenable to manipulation

Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of Novel Donor-Acceptor N-(Pyridin-2-yl)-Substituted Benzo(thio)amides and Their Difluoroboranyl Derivatives

quantum yield than its oxygen counterpart. The fluorescence quantum yield is much higher upon formation of theThe unprecedented N-pyridin-2-yl substituted benzo(thio)amides were prepared and subsequently converted into the cyclic difluoroboranyl (BF2) derivatives. Mass spectrometry, multinuclear NMR, IR, and elemental analysis confirmed the structure of these compounds. UV/vis and fluorescence spectroscopy as well as first-principle calculations were used to study their properties. For the first time, the influence of both the O/S replacement and presence/absence of the BF2 moiety on the photophysical properties of compounds exhibiting charge transfer properties were examined experimentally and theoretically. We show that the sulfur-containing compound has a much smaller emission difluoroboranyl complex

Aryl glycosidases from Lactobacillus plantarum increase antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds

Glycosidases have great relevance in polyphenols, since their bioavailability is enhanced by these enzymatic activities. Glycosylated phenolic compounds are deglycosylated either in tissues or by the colonic microbiota. Lactobacillus plantarum is a widespread lactic acid bacteria commonly found in many fermented food products and in the gastrointestinal tract, some strains of which are employed as probiotics. The presence of glycosidase activities was assayed in L. plantarum strains isolated from different origins. The analyzed strains presented hydrolytic activity against α- and β-d-glucopyranoside and β-d-galactopyranoside. The latter activity could be related to the presence of a β-galactosidase encoding-gene present in all the L. plantarum strains analyzed. Glycosylated food phenolics, such as quercetin glucoside, phloridzin, esculin, salicin, and daidzin were deglycosylated by cell cultures or by cell extracts from L. plantarum CECT 748T as demonstrated by HPLC analysis. In this study was clearly demonstrated for the first time that the deglycosylation of specific aryl glycosides by L. plantarum was associated with an increase in their antioxidant activity measured by DPPH and SOD methods. Therefore, in addition to the improvement of their bioavailability, the presence of glycosidase activities on L. plantarum strains increases the antioxidant activity of glycosylated phenolic compounds. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.This work was supported by grants AGL2008-01052, AGL2011-22745, Consolider INGENIO 2010 CSD2007-00063 FUN-C-FOOD (MINECO), RM2012-00004 (INIA), and S-0505/AGR/000153 (CAM).Peer Reviewe