Hylambatin and (Thr)11-hylambatin from the skin secretion of the African hyperoliid frog, Kassina maculata: Structural characterisation, precursor cDNA cloning and preliminary pharmacological testing

The tachykinins hylambatin and (Thr)11-hylambatin have been isolated from the defensive skin secretion of the African hyperoliid frog, Kassina maculata,. Hylambatin (DPPDPNRFYGMMamide) is revised in structure from the original sequence by a single site substitution (Asn/Asp at position 6), and (Thr)11-hylambatin, a novel tachykinin, differs in structure from hylambatin by a single Thr/Met substitution. (Thr)11-hylambatin is five- to ten-fold more abundant than hylambatin in secretions. Synthetic replicates of both peptides were active in smooth muscle preparations including the rat tail artery, rat ileum and bovine trachea. While hylambatin displayed activity consistent with an NK1-receptor ligand, (Thr)11-hylambatin was more active than either substance P or neurokinin A in both NK1- and NK-2 receptor rich preparations. Incorporation of a threoninyl residue rather than the canonical leucyl residue at the penultimate position in both substance P and neurokinin A, generated active ligands in both arterial and intestinal smooth muscle preparations. Hylambatin precursor cDNAs, designated HYBN-1 and HYBN-2, respectively, were cloned from a skin library by 3'- and 5'-RACE reactions. Both were highly-homologous containing open-reading frames of 66 amino acids encoding single copies of either hylambatin or (Thr)11-hylambatin. These data reveal a hitherto unrecognized structure/activity attribute of mammalian tachykinin receptors revealed though discovery of a novel amphibian skin-derived, site-substituted peptide ligand.

High incidence of cryptic repeated elements in microsatellite flanking regions of galatheid genomes and its evolutionary implications

During the development of PCR primer sets for icrosatellite marker loci from enriched genomic libraries for three squat lobster species from Galatheidae (Decapoda: Anomura); Munida rugosa (Fabricius, 1775), M. sarsi (Huus, 1935), and Galathea strigosa (Linnaeus, 1761) (collectively known as squat lobsters), a number of unforeseen problems were encountered. These included PCR amplification failure, lack of amplification consistency, and the amplification of multiple fragments. Careful examination of microsatellite containing sequences revealed the existence of cryptic repeated elements on presumed unique flanking regions. BLAST analysis of these and other VNTR containing sequences (N 5 252) indicates that these cryptic elements can be grouped into families based upon sequence similarities. The unique features characterising these families suggest that different molecular mechanisms are involved. Of particular relevance is the association of microsatellites with mobile elements. This is the first reported observation of this phenomenon in crustaceans, and it also helps to explain why microsatellite primer development in galatheids has been relatively unsuccessful to date. We suggest a number of steps that can be used to identify similar problems in microsatellite marker development for other species, and also alternative approaches for both marker development and for the study of molecular evolution of species characterised by complex genome organisation. More specifically, we argue that new generation sequencing methodologies, which capitalise on parallel and multiplexed sequencing may pave the way forward for future crustacean research.

Spectroscopy of the type Ia supernova SN 2002er: Days-11 to+215

We present an extensive set of optical spectroscopy of the nearby type Ia supernova, SN 2002er, with 24 epochs spanning -11 to +34 days. Its spectral evolution is fairly typical of a type Ia supernova although it suffers high extinction. Nevertheless, there are differences in the spectral evolution when compared to coeval spectra of other normal type Ia supernova with comparable decline-rate parameters. Modelling of the photospheric phase spectra using a homogeneous abundance distribution in the atmosphere provides a fair match to the observations, but only by pushing the adopted distance and risetime close to the observational limits. Future improvements here will require models with a more realistic stratified abundance distribution. From simple modelling of a nebular spectrum obtained at +215 d, we infer a Ni-56 mass of 0.69 M-circle dot, consistent with that derived from the light curve.

Policing the Globe: State Sovereignty and the International in the Post-9/11 Crime Novel

Two recent studies of 9/11 literature are dismissive of the contributions that crime and espionage novels have made to ongoing efforts to map the significance of 9/11 and its aftermath. My essay contests the assumption that only literary fiction – which pays sufficient attention to trauma – can “bear witness” to the events of 9/11 and argues that such fiction is, in fact, singularly ill-equipped to illuminate the complex geo-political circumstances that 9/11 entrenched and transformed. By contrast, genre novels by John Le Carré and Don Winslow have responded in imaginative and critical ways to post-9/11 and avowedly trans-national securitization initiatives and hence to efforts to trouble traditional accounts of state sovereignty.

Comparative validation of c-kit exon 11 mutation analysis on cytology samples and corresponding surgical resections of gastrointestinal stromal tumours

Objective:

Cation complexation by chemically modified calixarenes. 11. Complexation and extraction of alkali cations by calix[5]- and -[6]arene ketones. Crystal and molecular structures of calix[5]arene ketones and Na+ and Rb+ complexes

A series of four calix[5]arenes and three calix[6]arenes (R-calixarene-OCH2COR1) (R = H or Bu-t) with alkyl ketone residues (R-1 = Me or Bu-t) on the lower rim have been synthesized, and their affinity for complexation of alkali cations has been assessed through phase-transfer experiments and stability constant measurements. The conformations of these ketones have been probed by H-1 NMR and X-ray diffraction analysis, and by molecular mechanics calculations. Pentamer 3 (R R-1 = Bu-t) possesses a symmetrical cone conformation in solution and a very distorted cone conformation in the solid state. Pentamer 5 (R = H, R-1 = Bu-t) exists in a distorted 1,2-alternate conformation in the solid state, but in solution two slowly interconverting conformations, one a cone and the other presumed to be 1,2-alternate, can be detected. X-ray structure analysis of the sodium and rubidium perchlorate complexes of 3 reveal the cations deeply encapsulated by the ethereal and carbonyl oxygen atoms in distorted cone conformations which can be accurately reproduced by molecular mechanics calculations. The phase-transfer and stability constant data reveal that the extent of complexation depends on calixarene size and the nature of the alkyl residues adjacent to the ketonic carbonyls with tert-butyl much more efficacious than methyl.

Internet use and psychological wellbeing among 10 and 11 year old children

This paper uses data from the 2009 Kids’ Life and Times Survey, involving 3657 children aged 10 or 11 years old in Northern Ireland. The survey indicated high levels of use of Internet applications, including social-networking sites and online games. Using the KIDSCREEN-27 instrument, the data indicate that the use of social-networking sites and online games is related to poorer psychological well-being among girls, but not boys. Boys and girls who experience “cyberbullying” have poorer psychological well-being. This association between psychological well-being and some Internet applications merits more attention in future research and policy development.