Antibodies raised against guanosine bind to double-stranded DNA

Antibodies elicited against guanosine have been reported to bind to single-stranded DNA. Using an avidin-biotin microELISA, we report that these antibodies also bind to double-stranded DNA. The binding is specific and is completely inhibited by the homologous hapten. The cross-reactivity of double-stranded DNA binding antibodies to single-stranded DNA is low. The antibodies are shown to bind to the topoisomers of plasmid DNA as assessed by a gel retardation assay.

Farm-raised shrimp: good aquacultural practices for product quality and safety

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Fish sorting assessments of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings raised in fish tanks

Fish sorting assessments of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings stocked and raised in fish tanks were undertaken for a 6-month culture period: Sorting was undertaken from the first, second, and third months of stocking the fish fingerlings while the control was not sorted at all. The sorting assessments revealed that the twice sorting of fish fingerlings stocked with a Marginal Rate of Return (MRR) of 3.44 was significantly different (p>0.05) from those sorted once with MRR of 0.912, and three times with MRR of 2.65 respectively, thus making twice sorting most advisable for fish farmers utilizing Clarias gariepinus fingerlings for tank aquaculture

Length-weight relationship and organ indices of pond raised and wild population of C. gariepinus (Burchell 1822) pisces-Claridae

Samples of C. gariepinus collected from the wild and cultured populations in Plateau and Niger States of Nigeria were analyzed for length-weight relationship and organ indices (Gonadosomatic index (GSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI), renalsomatic index (RSI) and somatic fat deposit index (PDI). High correlation and linear relationship between body length and body weight was observed in all sample population (P<0.05). A significant difference was observed between the GSI of males and females of both wild and cultured population and also between females of the wild and cultured population,(P < 0.05).There was no significant difference in HSI, CSI RSI and PDI of all the sample populations (P < 0.05).The importance of length-weight relationship and organ indices in fish production are discussed

Federalismo e gestão metropolitana: subsídios para o planejamento territorial dos serviços de saúde.

Esta tese analisou o planejamento, a gestão e a configuração do sistema de saúde na região metropolitana do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Tem com base o referencial teórico do federalismo e apoiou-se em pesquisa qualitativa de caráter descritivo. A pesquisa versou sobre aspectos político-institucionais; normativos, organizacionais; práticos e estruturais da rede de serviços de saúde na região. A análise empreendida aponta as características do modelo tridimensional do federalismo brasileiro a Constituição Federal de 1988 transfere o poder de instituir regiões metropolitanas aos estados, mas na prática, anula a capacidade de intervenção nos municípios e reduz o papel político e administrativo dos estados. Entre os desafios apontados pela tese estão: o comportamento autárquico dos municípios; a disparidade existente entre eles; o enfraquecimento do papel de coordenação do governo estadual; a descontinuidade e pouca integração entre políticas públicas para as regiões metropolitanas; a falta de experiência em planejamento regional e intersetorial; a necessidade de institucionalizar um órgão metropolitano que, entre outras funções, estabeleça fundos financeiros, com definição de fontes de receitas e critérios de alocação de recursos regionais. Quanto à política de regionalização da saúde análise da capacidade instalada dos municípios na integração de serviços de saúde regionais , a tese destaca as fragilidades e desigualdades na distribuição da oferta de serviços; a relação concorrencial entre os municípios para incorporar maior força produtiva qualificada, a oferta de serviços especializados, o adensamento e a concentração de serviços e profissionais de saúde no núcleo metropolitano (a cidade do Rio de Janeiro). O trabalho destaca o potencial de atuação do novo pacto de gestão, representado pelo Contrato Organizativo de Ação Pública em Saúde (COAP) e dos Mapas de Saúde como instrumentos político-institucionais na regulação regional e metropolitana da saúde. Apesar disso, sinaliza que avanços na governança regional serão possíveis com a institucionalização de um órgão que tenha autonomia para tomada de decisões regionais. O estudo reforça a importância da revalorização da gestão das regiões metropolitanas e o potencial de conectividade entre as políticas públicas urbanas através da organização de redes de serviços públicos na agenda política em detrimento das práticas municipalistas.

Um estudo comparativo entre os indicadores de inovação utilizados pelos métodos de scorecard para o cálculo de ativos intangíveis com os utilizados pelos fundos de capital de risco para investimentos em empresas spin-offs acadêmicas incubadas.

Este trabalho pretende verificar o alinhamento entre os indicadores de inovação utilizados pelos métodos Scorecard de mensuração dos ativos intangíveis e pelas agências governamentais nacionais e internacionais com aqueles utilizados pelos fundos de capital de risco na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, para investimento em empresas spin-offs acadêmicas incubadas. A metodologia constou de uma revisão bibliográfica sobre os métodos de mensuração e valoração dos ativos intangíveis, indicadores de inovação propostos por agências governamentais nacionais e internacionais e fundos de capital de risco que atuam na cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Além de serem aplicados questionários nas empresas de fundos de capital de risco desta cidade. Foram levantados diversos métodos Scorecards na literatura com seus indicadores, além dos indicadores de inovação de agências governamentais nacionais e internacionais. Adicionando-se a isso, identificou-se o foco de investimento, o processo de seleção, o método utilizado de avaliação de oportunidades de investimento e indicadores relevantes para as empresas de capital de risco da cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Observou-se que os ativos intangíveis, entre eles os de inovação, não são avaliados individualmente. A informação obtida com as empresas que receberão investimentos dessas empresas de capital de risco é utilizada para se entender a origem dos fluxos de caixa projetados e os principais fatores de risco. E esses dados aplicados ao método do fluxo de caixa descontado permitem que se estime o valor da empresa. Pela vasta experiência dos gestores dos fundos de capital de risco com micro e pequenas empresas inovadoras, espera-se que o estudo das práticas deste segmento traga importantes reflexões para as discussões relativas aos ativos intangíveis e a inovação.

National issues raised by IIMA study on development and management of freshwater aquaculture in India: a review

An examination is made of various issues regarding freshwater aquaculture development raised by the IIMA study on inland fish marketing in India. The following topics are discussed: 1)fish production and the resources; 2)desirability for refined methodology for assessment of fish production; 3)pond resource under fish culture; 4)conflicting data and 5)observation on research input for freshwater.

Characterisation of neurons in the pedal ganglia of the green-lipped mussel, Perna canaliculus, using antibodies raised against neuropeptides and neurotransmitters involved in gastropod egg-laying behaviour and bivalve reproduction and spawning

To characterise central neurons in the pedal ganglia of both male and female green lipped mussel, Perna canaliculus immunohistochemical techniques were used. Mollusc antibodies were used against neuropeptides and neurotansmitters known to control reproduction and spawning. Anti-ELH and anti-APGWamide showed very strong immunoreactivity in small type of neurons. Anti-5-HT and anti-DA immunoreactivity was mostly in large type of neurons. The labelled neurons are consistent with descriptions of neurosecretory cells implicated in the control of reproduction and spawning on the basis of earlier histological staining techniques used in this species. The use of selective immunological markers for peptides and amines appears to be a, promising tool for further characterisation of neurosecretory cells, and to isolate an'tl characterise neuropeptides and other biologically active materials involved in the control of reproduction in Perna canaliculus.

Neurons characterization in the cerebral ganglia of the green-lipped mussel, Perna canaliculus, using antibodies raised against neuropeptides and neurotransmitters involved in gastropod egg-laying behaviour and bivalve reproduction and spawning

Immunohistochemical techniques were used to characterise central neurons in the cerebral ganglia of both male and female Perna canaliculus. We used mollusc antibodies raised against neuropeptides and neurotransmitters known to control reproduction and spawning. Anti-ELH and anti-APGWamide showed very strong immunoreactivity in small type of neurons. Anti-5-HT and anti-DA immunoreactivity was mostly in large type of neurons. The labelled neurons are consistent with descriptions of neurosecretory cells implicated in the control of reproduction and spawning on the basis of earlier histological staining techniques used in this species. The use of selective immunological markers for peptides and amines appears to be a promising tool for further characterisation of neurosecretory cells, and to isolate and characterise neuropeptides and other biologically active materials involved in the control of reproduction in Perna canaliculus.

Nanobodies raised against monomeric α-synuclein distinguish between fibrils at different maturation stages.

Nanobodies are single-domain fragments of camelid antibodies that are emerging as versatile tools in biotechnology. We describe here the interactions of a specific nanobody, NbSyn87, with the monomeric and fibrillar forms of α-synuclein (αSyn), a 140-residue protein whose aggregation is associated with Parkinson's disease. We have characterized these interactions using a range of biophysical techniques, including nuclear magnetic resonance and circular dichroism spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry and quartz crystal microbalance measurements. In addition, we have compared the results with those that we have reported previously for a different nanobody, NbSyn2, also raised against monomeric αSyn. This comparison indicates that NbSyn87 and NbSyn2 bind with nanomolar affinity to distinctive epitopes within the C-terminal domain of soluble αSyn, comprising approximately amino acids 118-131 and 137-140, respectively. The calorimetric and quartz crystal microbalance data indicate that the epitopes of both nanobodies are still accessible when αSyn converts into its fibrillar structure. The apparent affinities and other thermodynamic parameters defining the binding between the nanobody and the fibrils, however, vary significantly with the length of time that the process of fibril formation has been allowed to progress and with the conditions under which formation occurs, indicating that the environment of the C-terminal domain of αSyn changes as fibril assembly takes place. These results demonstrate that nanobodies are able to target forms of potentially pathogenic aggregates that differ from each other in relatively minor details of their structure, such as those associated with fibril maturation.

Nanobodies raised against monomeric α-synuclein distinguish between fibrils at different maturation stages

Nanobodies are single-domain fragments of camelid antibodies that are emerging as versatile tools in biotechnology. We describe here the interactions of a specific nanobody, NbSyn87, with the monomeric and fibrillar forms of α-synuclein (αSyn), a 140-residue protein whose aggregation is associated with Parkinson's disease. We have characterized these interactions using a range of biophysical techniques, including nuclear magnetic resonance and circular dichroism spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry and quartz crystal microbalance measurements. In addition, we have compared the results with those that we have reported previously for a different nanobody, NbSyn2, also raised against monomeric αSyn. This comparison indicates that NbSyn87 and NbSyn2 bind with nanomolar affinity to distinctive epitopes within the C-terminal domain of soluble αSyn, comprising approximately amino acids 118-131 and 137-140, respectively. The calorimetric and quartz crystal microbalance data indicate that the epitopes of both nanobodies are still accessible when αSyn converts into its fibrillar structure. The apparent affinities and other thermodynamic parameters defining the binding between the nanobody and the fibrils, however, vary significantly with the length of time that the process of fibril formation has been allowed to progress and with the conditions under which formation occurs, indicating that the environment of the C-terminal domain of αSyn changes as fibril assembly takes place. These results demonstrate that nanobodies are able to target forms of potentially pathogenic aggregates that differ from each other in relatively minor details of their structure, such as those associated with fibril maturation. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Cultivation of the brown alga Hizikia fusiformis (Harvey) Okamura: stress resistance of artificially raised young seedlings revealed by chlorophyll fluorescence measurement

Commercial farming of the intertidal brown alga Hizikia fusiformis (Harvey) Okamura in China and South Korea in the sea depends on three sources of seedlings: holdfast-derived regenerated seedlings, young plants from wild population and zygote-derived seedlings. Like many successfully farmed seaweed species, the sustainable development of Hizikia farming will rely on a stable supply of artificial seedlings via sexual reproduction under controlled conditions. However, the high rate of detachment of seedlings after transfer to open sea is one of the main obstacles, and has limited large-scale application of zygote-derived seedlings. To seek the optimal condition for growing seedlings on substratum in land-based tanks for avoidance of detachment in this investigation, young seedlings were grown in both outdoor tanks exposed directly to sunlight and in indoor raceway tanks in reduced, filtered sunlight. Results showed that young seedlings, immediately after fertilization, could withstand a daily fluctuation of direct solar irradiance up to a level of 1800 mu mol photons m(-1)s(-1), and maintained a faster growth rate than seedlings grown in indoor tanks. Detailed experiments by use of chlorophyll fluorescence measurements further demonstrated that the overnight (12 h) recovery of optimal fluorescence quantum yield (F-v/F-m) of seedlings after 1 h treatment at 40 degrees C was 98%, and the 48 h recovery of F-v/F-m of seedlings after 1 h exposure to 1800 mu mol m(-2)s(-1) was 92%. Forty-one-day-old seedlings showed no significant decrease of optimal fluorescence quantum yield at salinity ranging from 30 to 5 ppt for a treatment up to 17 h. Six-hour desiccation treatment did not have any influence on the optimal fluorescence quantum yield. Exposure to 18 mmol L-1 sodium hypochlorite for 10 min did not damage the PSII efficiency, and thus could be used to remove epiphytic algae. The strong tolerance of young seedlings to high temperature, high irradiance, low salinity and desiccation found in this investigation supports the view that mass production of Hizikia seedlings should be performed in ambient light and temperature instead of in shaded greenhouse tanks.

Badania wykorzystania przez polskie biblioteki naukowe środków europejskich, grantów ministerialnych i samorządowych oraz dotacji sponsorów w latach 2000-2008

Badania dotyczące pozyskiwania środków pomocowych przez polskie biblioteki naukowe przeprowadzone zostały w ramach wewnętrznych projektów badawczych Biblioteki Uniwersyteckiej w Poznaniu. Realizacji projektu podjął się Oddział Prac Naukowych, Wydawniczych i Dydaktycznych BU. Zadanie wykonano od września 2008 do czerwca 2009 roku. Zamierzeniem autorek artykułu było uzyskanie pełnej informacji na temat środków pozabudżetowych pozyskiwanych przez polskie biblioteki naukowe oraz określenie stopnia ich wykorzystania. Zastosowano metodę sondażu diagnostycznego z wykorzystaniem techniki ankiety. Przygotowany kwestionariusz ankiety wraz z informacją dla respondentów o celu prowadzonych badań skierowano do wszystkich bibliotek uniwersyteckich, bibliotek głównych uczelni technicznych, medycznych, ekonomicznych, bibliotek akademii wychowania fizycznego, uczelni pedagogicznych i rolniczych oraz do bibliotek publicznych posiadających status bibliotek naukowych. Łącznie wysłano 70 ankiet, odpowiedzi udzieliło 38 respondentów. Wskazany w artykule okres 2000-2008 był czasem zwiększonych możliwości uzyskiwania dodatkowych funduszy przez biblioteki. Najczęściej otrzymywane fundusze to dotacje ministerialne, dalej środki sponsorów na działalność podstawową. W poważnym stopniu wspierały biblioteki, głównie biblioteki publiczne, lokalne samorządy. Zauważalne były dotacje wspierające biblioteki przekazywane przez fundacje i środki ofiarowane przez sponsorów na działalność organizacyjną; ewenementem natomiast – subwencje unijne.