Research Notes : U.S.S.R. : Subunit composition of glycinin from various samples of cultivated and wild soybean

The major storage protein of llS class of soybean seeds, glycinin, has a complex subunit structure. Each of the six subunits is composed of two pro-tein molecules (acidic and basic), linked via disulphide bonds (Badley et al., 1975). Depending on subunit, the acidic moiety molecular weight varies from 37,000 to 42,000, with one exception (m.w. 10,000)

Vulnerability of primitive human placental trophoblast to Zika virus

Infection of pregnant women by Asian lineage strains of Zika virus (ZIKV) has been linked to brain abnormalities in their infants, yet it is uncertain when during pregnancy the human conceptus is most vulnerable to the virus. We have examined two models to study susceptibility of human placental trophoblast to ZIKV: cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast derived from placental villi at term and colonies of trophoblast differentiated from embryonic stem cells (ESC). The latter appear to be analogous to the primitive placenta formed during implantation. The cells from term placentas, which resist infection, do not express genes encoding most attachment factors implicated in ZIKV entry but do express many genes associated with antiviral defense. By contrast, the ESC-derived trophoblasts possess a wide range of attachment factors for ZIKV entry and lack components of a robust antiviral response system. These cells, particularly areas of syncytiotrophoblast within the colonies, quickly become infected, produce infectious virus and undergo lysis within 48 h after exposure to low titers (multiplicity of infection > 0.07) of an African lineage strain (MR766 Uganda: ZIKVU) considered to be benign with regards to effects on fetal development. Unexpectedly, lytic effects required significantly higher titers of the presumed more virulent FSS13025 Cambodia (ZIKVC). Our data suggest that the developing fetus might be most vulnerable to ZIKV early in the first trimester before a protective zone of mature villous trophoblast has been established. Additionally, MR766 is highly trophic toward primitive trophoblast, which may put the early conceptus of an infected mother at high risk for destruction

A six-inhibitor culture medium for improving naïve-type pluripotency of porcine pluripotent stem cells

Understanding essential signaling network requirements and making appropriate adjustments in culture conditions are crucial if porcine pluripotent stem cells (PSC) are to achieve their full potential. Here, we first used two protein factors (LIF and FGF2) and kinase inhibitor combinations in attempts to convert primed type lentiviral-reprogrammed porcine induced PSC (Lv-piPSC) into nai\u308ve-like state and developed a medium called FL6i. In addition to FGF2 and LIF, this medium contained inhibitors of MAPK14, MAPK8, TGFB1, MAP2K1, GSK3A and BMP. Crucially, the usual TGFB1 and BMP4 protein components of many stem cell media were replaced in FL6i with inhibitors of TGFB1 and BMP. With this medium, Lv-piPSC were readily transformed from their original primed state into cells that formed colonies with typical features of nai\u308ve-state stem cells. The FL6i medium also assisted generation of nai\u308ve-type piPSC lines from porcine embryonic fibroblasts with non-integrating episomal plasmids (Epi-piPSC). These lines, despite retaining variable amounts of vector DNA, expressed higher endogenous pPOU5F1 and pSOX2 than Lv-piPSC. They have been cultured without obvious morphological change for >45 passages and retained pluripotent phenotypes in terms of upregulation of genes associated with pluripotency, low expression of genes linked to emergence of somatic cell lineages, and ability to generate well differentiated teratomas in immune-compromised mice. FL6i conditions, therefore, appear to support elevated pluripotent phenotypes. However, FL6i was less able to support the generation of embryonic stem cells from porcine blastocysts. Although colonies with dome-shaped morphologies were evident and the cells had some gene expression features linked to pluripotency, the phenotypes were ultimately not stable. Pathway analysis derived from RNAseq data performed on the various cell lines generated in this study suggest the benefits of employing the FL6i medium on porcine cells reside in its ability to minimize TGFB1 and BMP signaling, which would otherwise de-stabilize the stem cell state

High Fat Diet Prevents Over-Crowding Induced Decrease of Sex Ratio in Mice

Adaptive theory predicts that mothers would be advantaged by adjusting the sex ratio of their offspring in relation to their offspring's future reproductive success. In the present study, we tested the effect of housing mice under crowded condition on the sex ratio and whether the fat content of the diet has any influence on the outcome of pregnancies. Three-week-old mice were placed on the control diet (NFD) for 3 weeks. Thereafter the mice were allotted randomly to two groups of 7 cages each with 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 mice in every cage to create increasing crowding gradient and fed either NFD or high fat diet (HFD). After 4 weeks, dams were bred and outcomes of pregnancy were analyzed. The average dam body weight (DBW) at conception, litter size (LS) and SR were significantly higher in HFD fed dams. Further, male biased litters declined with increasing crowding in NFD group but not in HFD. The LS and SR in NFD declined significantly with increasing crowding, whereas only LS was reduced in HFD group. We conclude that female mice housed under overcrowding conditions shift offspring SR in favor of daughters in consistent with the TW hypothesis and high fat diet reduces this influence of overcrowding

Decline of unique Pontocaspian biodiversity in the Black Sea Basin: a review

Environmental Biolog

ANALYZING NARRATIVE DISCLOSURE TONE IN GERMAN-LANGUAGE ANNUAL REPORTS: A DOMAIN-SPECIFIC WORDLIST APPROACH

The aim of this paper is to investigate how narrative framing is utilized by HDAX companies when describing financial results. We analyzed the narratives in shareholder letters (Aktionärsbrief) and strategic reports (Lagebericht), which German companies employed to depict revenue and profit developments. In addition to focusing on negative or positive disclosure tone, as seen in previous research on English-language financial texts, we introduced an additional analysis category concerning communicated materiality, in line with the framing hypothesis of behavioral effects by users of financial reporting. Using the original texts of 89 annual reports in their native German language, we developed a domain-specific wordlists with three categories of words: (1) those used to address negative and positive developments, (2) those used to convey the manager\u27s attitude towards reported information, and (3) those used for communicating materiality

CHANGES IN THE PARAMETERS OF BLOOD LIPIDS AND CYTOKINES IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY OSTEOARTHRITIS DURING TREATMENT WITH ARTHRA

Objective: to study the time course of changes in the cytokine profile, the parameters of lipid peroxidation (LPO), antioxidant defense, and lipid spectrum during Arthra therapy in patients with primary osteoarthritis (POA). Subjects and methods. The study was conducted in 26 POA patients (aged 39.5+5.4 years) with knee and hip joint lesions in the absence of synovitis. The efficiency of treatment was evaluated by pain intensity and WOMAC index. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines, lipids, LPO primary and intermediate products, and antioxidant defense were compared in patients with PAO prior to and 12 and 24 weeks after Arthra therapy. Results. Positive changes in articular manifestations were determined after 24 weeks of therapy, by using the WOMAC scale. The mean concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) was halved in the patients 24 weeks following the start of Arthra therapy. The blood levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, TNF-α decreased just after 12 weeks of therapy as compared to the baseline level and continued to decline by the end of the therapy. There were reductions in LPO primary and intermediate products in serum and red blood cells. There was activation of antiradical protection (increases in serum and red blood cell catalase activities and serum antioxidant activity and a decrease in the number of hemolyzed red blood cells). After a course of therapy, there were reduced blood concentrations of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in patients with POA. Conclusion. The POA patients treated with Arthra displayed improvements in LPO profile and antioxidant defense and lower blood concentrations of cholesterol and LDL cholesterol along with a decline in the levels of the blood cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, TNF-α, and CRP

Research Notes : U.S.S.R. : Subunit composition of glycinin from various samples of cultivated and wild soybean

The major storage protein of llS class of soybean seeds, glycinin, has a complex subunit structure. Each of the six subunits is composed of two pro-tein molecules (acidic and basic), linked via disulphide bonds (Badley et al., 1975). Depending on subunit, the acidic moiety molecular weight varies from 37,000 to 42,000, with one exception (m.w. 10,000).</p

Effect of Transfer Film on Tribological Properties of Anti-Friction PEI- and PI-Based Composites at Elevated Temperatures

The structure, mechanical and tribological properties of the PEI- and PI-based composites reinforced with Chopped Carbon Fibers (CCF) and loaded with commercially available micron-sized solid lubricant fillers of various nature (polymeric-PTFE, and crystalline-Gr and MoS2) were studied in the temperature range of 23&ndash;180 (240) &deg;C. It was shown that tribological properties of these ternary composites were determined by the regularities of the transfer film (TF) adherence on their wear track surfaces. The patterns of TFs formation depended on the chemical structure of the polymer matrix (stiffness/flexibility) as well as the tribological test temperatures. Loading with PTFE solid lubricant particles, along with the strengthening effect of CCF, facilitated the formation and fixation of the TF on the sliding surfaces of the more compliant PEI-based composite at room temperature. In this case, a very low coefficient of friction (CoF) value of about 0.05 was observed. For the more rigid identically filled PI-based composite, the CoF value was twice as high under the same conditions. At elevated temperatures, rising both CoF levels and oscillation of their values made it difficult to retain the non-polar PTFE transfer film on the sliding surfaces of the PI-based composite. As a result, friction of the ceramic counterpart proceeded over the composite surface without any protecting TF at T &ge; 180 &deg;C. For the sample with the more flexible PEI matrix, the PTFE-containing TF was retained on its sliding surface, providing a low WR level even under CoF rising and oscillating conditions. A similar analysis was carried out for the less efficient crystalline solid lubricant filler MoS2