The linker domain of the Ha-Ras hypervariable region regulates interactions with exchange factors, Raf-1 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase

Ha-Ras and Ki-Ras have different distributions across plasma membrane microdomains. The Ras C-terminal anchors are primarily responsible for membrane microlocalization, but recent work has shown that the interaction of Ha-Ras with lipid rafts is modulated by GTP loading via a mechanism that requires the hypervariable region (HVR). We have now identified two regions in the HVR linker domain that regulate Ha-Ras raft association. Release of activated Ha-Ras from lipid rafts is blocked by deleting amino acids 173-179 or 166-172. Alanine replacement of amino acids 173-179 but not 166-172 restores wild type micro-localization, indicating that specific N-terminal sequences of the linker domain operate in concert with a more C-terminal spacer domain to regulate Ha-Ras raft association. Mutations in the linker domain that confine activated Ha-RasG12V to lipid rafts abrogate Raf-1, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and Akt activation and inhibit PC 12 cell differentiation. N-Myristoylation also prevents the release of activated Ha-Ras from lipid rafts and inhibits Raf-1 activation. These results demonstrate that the correct modulation of Ha-Ras lateral segregation is critical for downstream signaling. Mutations in the linker domain also suppress the dominant negative phenotype of Ha-RasS17N, indicating that HVR sequences are essential for efficient interaction of Ha-Ras with exchange factors in intact cells.

Using crop simulation to generate genotype by environment interaction effects for sorghum in water-limited environments

Multi-environment trials (METs) used to evaluate breeding lines vary in the number of years that they sample. We used a cropping systems model to simulate the target population of environments (TPE) for 6 locations over 108 years for 54 'near-isolines' of sorghum in north-eastern Australia. For a single reference genotype, each of 547 trials was clustered into 1 of 3 'drought environment types' (DETs) based on a seasonal water stress index. Within sequential METs of 2 years duration, the frequencies of these drought patterns often differed substantially from those derived for the entire TPE. This was reflected in variation in the mean yield of the reference genotype. For the TPE and for 2-year METs, restricted maximum likelihood methods were used to estimate components of genotypic and genotype by environment variance. These also varied substantially, although not in direct correlation with frequency of occurrence of different DETs over a 2-year period. Combined analysis over different numbers of seasons demonstrated the expected improvement in the correlation between MET estimates of genotype performance and the overall genotype averages as the number of seasons in the MET was increased.

Centile reference for total energy expenditure in infants from 1 to 12 months

Background: A knowledge of energy expenditure in infancy is required for the estimation of recommended daily amounts of food energy, for designing artificial infant feeds, and as a reference standard for studies of energy metabolism in disease states. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to construct centile reference charts for total energy expenditure (TEE) in infants across the first year of life. Methods: Repeated measures of TEE using the doubly labeled water technique were made in 162 infants at 1.5, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. In total, 322 TEE measurements were obtained. The LMS method with maximum penalized likelihood was used to construct the centile reference charts. Centiles were constructed for TEE expressed as MJ/day and also expressed relative to body weight (BW) and fat-free mass (FFM). Results: TEE increased with age and was 1.40,1.86, 2.64, 3.07 and 3.65 MJ/day at 1.5, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, respectively. The standard deviations were 0.43, 0.47, 0.52, 0.66 and 0.88, respectively. TEE in MJ/kg increased from 0.29 to 0.36 and in MJ/day/kg FFM from 0.36 to 0.48. Conclusions: We have presented centile reference charts for TEE expressed as MJ/day and expressed relative to BW and FFM in infants across the first year of life. There was a wide variation or biological scatter in TEE values seen at all ages. We suggest that these centile charts may be used to assess and possibly quantify abnormal energy metabolism in disease states in infants.

A Novel Short-Step Synthesis of New Xanthenedione Derivatives from the Cyclization of 3-Cinnamoyl-2-styrylchromones

Novel (E)-3-aryl-4-benzylidene-8-hydroxy-3,4-dihydro-1 H-xanthene-1,9(2H)-diones are prepared by the cyclization of (E,E)-3-cinnamoyl-5-hydroxy-2-styrylchromones efficiently catalyzed with boron tribromide. The (E,E)-3-cinnamoyl-5-hydroxy-2-styrylchromones are obtained from the Baker���Venkataraman rearrangement of (E,E)-2-acetyl-1,3-phenylene bis(3-phenylacrylate), which is greatly improved under microwave irradiation.

Diagn��stico ambiental de uma queijaria e proposta de melhorias

O presente trabalho tem como objectivo o diagn��stico ambiental da empresa Lacticinios do Paiva, S.A, a avalia����o da ��gua do processo e da ETARI e o estudo da fermenta����o do soro de queijo com o intuito de produ����o de bioetanol. No diagn��stico ambiental da empresa, observou-se que 18.227.731 litros de leite usados anualmente geram 5.031 ton/ano de queijo, 7.204 ton/ano de soro de queijo, 74.201 m3/ano de efluente liquido, 14 ton/ano de pl��stico e 20 ton/ano de cart��o. Os principais problemas com necessidade de optimiza����o s��o a recupera����o de ��gua das lavagens, avalia����o da produ����o de biog��s no digestor anaer��bio, recupera����o do volume de leite que �� desperdi��ado na produ����o de queijo fresco de longa dura����o, avalia����o da efici��ncia energ��tica da empresa, valoriza����o das natas e do soro de queijo. Decidiu-se neste trabalho avaliar a possibilidade de reciclagem das ��guas de lavagem, avaliar o funcionamento da ETARI face �� legisla����o existente e estudar a possibilidade de valoriza����o do soro de queijo. Na avalia����o das ��guas de processo das lavagens para posterior reciclagem, verifica-se que relativamente ao pH e aos s��lidos suspensos n��o existe problema, podendo encarar-se a hip��tese de reciclagem directa. No entanto, no que respeita �� carga org��nica das ��guas de lavagem do sistema de ultrafiltra����o do queijo fresco de longa dura����o, constata-se que esta n��o poderia ser utilizada novamente, uma vez que apresenta valores elevados de CQO. Para a sua reutiliza����o, ser�� necess��rio remover a CQO, hip��tese que se estudou com resultados positivos. Verificou-se que, um tratamento por adsor����o em carv��o activado precedido de microfiltra����o, reduz a CQO de forma significativa permitindo admitir a hip��tese de reciclagem da ��gua, nomeadamente para as 1�� e 3�� ��guas de lavagem. As outras ��guas teriam necessidade de mais tempo de contacto com o carv��o activado. No sentido de avaliar o funcionamento da ETARI, foram analisadas v��rias correntes da mesma, em particular a do efluente final, no que respeita a par��metros como: pH, S��lidos Suspensos Totais, Car��ncia Qu��mica de Oxig��nio, Car��ncia Bioqu��mica de Oxig��nio, Turva����o, Nitratos, F��sforo Total, Azoto Kjeldalh, Azoto Amoniacal e Cloretos. Observou-se que os valores para o efluente final da ETARI s��o os seguintes: pH compreendido entre [7,21 ��� 8,69], SST entre [65,3 ��� 3110] mg/L, CQO entre [92,5 ��� 711,5] mg/L, CBO5 entre [58 ��� 161] mg/L, NO3- entre [10,8 ��� 106,7] mg/L, f��sforo total entre [8,3 ��� 64,3] mg/L, turva����o entre [67,7 ��� 733,3] FTU e cloretos entre [459,9 ��� 619,81] mg/L; pode-se dizer que os par��metros analisados se encontram quase sempre dentro da gama de valores impostos pela C��mara Municipal de Lamego pelo que o efluente pode ser lan��ado no Colector Municipal de Cambres. Relativamente �� fermenta����o alco��lica do soro de queijo, verifica-se que a levedura Kluyveromyces Marxianus consegue degradar praticamente todo o a����car presente no permeado produzindo assim uma quantidade razo��vel de etanol. Quando se utilizou a levedura Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, a produ����o de etanol foi muito reduzida, como esperado, dado que esta levedura apresenta dificuldades na metaboliza����o da lactose. Constatou-se assim que a melhor levedura para a fermenta����o do permeado do soro de queijo �� a Kluyveromyces Marxianus, estimando-se em 150 mg a produ����o de etanol por L de soro.

Utiliza����o da Nanotecnologia para o desenvolvimento sustent��vel na ind��stria agro-alimentar

O crescimento populacional esperado para os pr��ximos anos conduzir�� �� necessidade de aumentar a produ����o agr��cola de modo a satisfazer o aumento da procura. Nos ��ltimos anos tem-se assistido a uma evolu����o tecnol��gica nos sistemas de produ����o que tem permitido aumentar a produtividade agr��cola, por vezes �� custa de elevados consumos de energia e com pr��ticas nem sempre ambientalmente corretas. Os desafios que se colocam atualmente s��o no sentido de melhorar a conserva����o de recursos escassos, como o solo e a ��gua, de aumentar a efici��ncia de uso de fatores de produ����o, de encontrar novas culturas, do desenvolvimento da biotecnologia, da diminui����o dos consumos energ��ticos e de melhorar ainda mais as tecnologias associadas �� produ����o. De maneira a responder aos desafios emergentes da procura por alimentos, da escassez de terrenos agr��colas ar��veis bem como da exist��ncia de pragas de insetos e de ervas daninhas, os pesticidas tem vindo a ser usados com maior frequ��ncia, tendo-se assistido a uma contamina����o dos solos e ��guas subterr��neas, causando deste modo um risco para a sa��de dos seres vivos. Neste sentido, v��rios fabricantes de pesticidas est��o a desenvolver novas formula����es contendo pesticidas encapsulados em nanopart��culas como modo de aumentar a sua solubilidade em ��gua, biodisponibilidade, volatilidade, estabilidade e efic��cia. tendo por objetivo um desenvolvimento sustent��vel. Neste trabalho, procedeu-se ao estudo do encapsulamento do herbicida Oxadiargil (5-terc-butil-3-[2,4-dicloro-5-(2-propiniloxi)fenil]-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2(3H)-ona) com a 2-hidroxipropil-��-ciclodextrina (HP-��-CD). O estudo da forma����o do complexo de inclus��o Oxadiargil - HP-��-CD foi realizado em diferentes meios, ��gua desionizada, tamp��o acetato pH = 3,46 e pH = 5,34 e tamp��o fosfato pH = 7,45, com o objetivo de determinar e comparar a sua constante de estabilidade. Verificou-se, em qualquer dos casos, a ocorr��ncia de uma rela����o linear entre o aumento da solubilidade do Oxadiargil e o aumento da concentra����o de HP-��-CD, com um declive inferior a um, o que indicia a forma����o de um complexo na propor����o estequiom��trica de 1:1. Os resultados obtidos permitiram concluir que o processo de complexa����o Oxadiargil - HP-��-CD n��o �� muito influenciado pela constitui����o e pelo pH do meio. De facto, as constantes de estabilidade obtidas para a ��gua desionizada e solu����es-tamp��o pH = 3,46, pH = 5,34 e pH = 7,45 foram de 919 �� 25, 685 �� 13, 623 �� 17 e 753 �� 9, respetivamente. A solubilidade do complexo obtido nos estudos realizados, em diferentes meios, �� cerca de 23 a 32 vezes superior �� observada para o Oxadiargil livre. De forma a caracterizar o complexo Oxadiargil - HP-��-CD procedeu-se �� sua s��ntese utilizando o m��todo de ���kneading���. O composto obtido foi caracterizado por Resson��ncia Magn��tica Nuclear (RMN) tendo-se confirmado a forma����o de um complexo de inclus��o na propor����o estequiom��trica de 1:1. O complexo obtido �� mais sol��vel e porventura mais est��vel quimicamente. O encapsulamento permite uma redu����o da aplica����o dos pesticidas diminuindo assim os custos e o impacto negativo no ambiente. Com a nanotecnologia �� poss��vel a liberta����o controlada dos pesticidas, aumentando a sua efic��cia e fornecendo os meios necess��rios para um desenvolvimento sustent��vel.

S��ntese de algicidas da fam��lia da bacilamida e rearranjos de di��ximas-1,3 c��clicas com vista a dessimetriza����o funcional

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Doutor em Qu��mica Org��nica

Observa����es s��bre a terap��utica da ascaridiose com o hidroclorato e com o ciclamato de 2,3,5,6 – Tetrahidro - 6 fenil - imidazo (2,1-b) tiazol

Os autores estudam a a����o do ciclamato e do cloridrato de 2, 3, 5, 6, - Tetrahidro-6-fenil-imidazo (2,1-b) tiazol no tratamento da ascaridiose. Foram tratados ao todo 84 indiv��duos sendo 48 com o cloridrato e 36 com o ciclamato. O ��ndice de cura com o primeiro foi de 83,9% e com o segundo de 76,4%. Nenhuma rea����o colateral foi observada com o empr��go do cloridrato sendo que com o ciclamato 53,6 dos pacientes apresentaram sintomas discretos de intoler��ncia. Os ��ndices de cura assemelham-se aos observados com a piperazina que �� a medica����o cl��ssica para terap��utica da ascaridiose.

Sodium chloride added to transport water and physiological responses of Matrinx�� Brycon amazonicus (Teleost: Characidae)

The addition of salt to the water has been used to mitigate stress and improve survival in fishes. This study investigated the effects of sodium chloride (0.0, 1.0, 3.0 and 6.0 g/l) on levels of plasma cortisol, glucose, tryacilglycerol, total protein, hematocrit, hemoglobin, erythrocyte number, liver glycogen and lipid, and muscle lipid in adult matrinx��(Brycon amazonicum) after a 4-h transport and during a 96-h recovery period. Fish were sampled before and after transport, and 24 and 96 h of the recovery period. Plasma cortisol was higher than initial condition immediately after transportation, except in fish transported in 3.0 and 6.0 g/l of salt. A similar pattern was observed for blood glucose but fish transported in water with 0.0, 1.0 and 3.0 g/l of salt needed more than 24 h to return to the initial condition. Liver glycogen was lower after transport in fish not exposed to salt. Hemoglobin, erythrocyte number, total plasma protein and liver lipid did not change during the experiment but hematocrit was lower after transport in all treatments and returned to pre-transport values in 24 h. Reductions of muscle lipid and plasma tryacilglycerol were observed during the recovery period in fish from all treatments. The results show that 6.0 g/l NaCl added to the transport water reduce the stress responses and a 96-h recovery period is needed if no salt is used to mitigate the stress.

Quantitative method of viral pollution determination for large volume of water using ferric hydroxide gel impregnated on the surface of glassfibre cartridge

Quantitative method of viral pollution determination for large volume of water using ferric hydroxide gel impregnated on the surface of glassfibre cartridge filter. The use of ferric hydroxide gel, impregnated on the surface of glassfibre cartridge filter enable us to recover 62.5% of virus (Poliomylitis type I, Lsc strain) exsogeneously added to 400 liters of tap-water. The virus concentrator system consists of four cartridge filters, in which the three first one are clarifiers, where the contaminants are removed physically, without significant virus loss at this stage. The last cartridge filter is impregnated with ferric hydroxide gel, where the virus is adsorbed. After the required volume of water has been processed, the last filter is removed from the system and the viruses are recovered from the gel, using 1 liter of glycine/NaOH buffer, at pH 11. Immediately the eluate is clarified through series of cellulose acetate membranes mounted in a 142mm Millipore filter. For the second step of virus concentration, HC1 1N is added slowly to the eluate to achieve pH 3.5-4. MgC1, is added to give a final concentration of 0.05M and the viruses are readsorbed on a 0.45 , porosity (HA) cellulose acetate membrane, mounted in a 90 mm Millipore filter. The viruses are recovered using the same eluent plus 10% of fetal calf serum, to a final volume of 3 ml. In this way, it was possible to concentrate virus from 400 liters of tap-water, into 1 liter in the first stage of virus concentration and just to 3 ml of final volume in a second step. The efficiency, simplicity and low operational cost, provded by the method, make it feasible to study viral pollution of recreational and tap-water sources.

The effect of ethanol on fat storage in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: Ethanol can account for up to 10 percent of the energy intake of persons who consume moderate amounts of ethanol. Its effect on energy metabolism, however, is not known. METHODS: We studied the effect of ethanol on 24-hour substrate-oxidation rates in eight normal men during two 48-hour sessions in an indirect-calorimetry chamber. In each session, the first 24 hours served as the control period. On the second day of one session, an additional 25 percent of the total energy requirement was added as ethanol (mean [+/- SD], 96 +/- 4 g per day); during the other session, 25 percent of the total energy requirement was replaced by ethanol, which was isocalorically substituted for lipids and carbohydrates. RESULTS: Both the addition of ethanol and the isocaloric substitution of ethanol for other foods reduced 24-hour lipid oxidation. The respective mean (+/- SE) decreases were 49.4 +/- 6.7 and 44.1 +/- 9.3 g per day (i.e., reductions of 36 +/- 3 percent and 31 +/- 7 percent from the oxidation rate during the control day; P less than 0.001 and P less than 0.0025). This effect occurred only during the daytime period (8:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.), when ethanol was consumed and metabolized. Neither the addition of ethanol to the diet nor the isocaloric substitution of ethanol for other foods significantly altered the oxidation of carbohydrate or protein. Both regimens including ethanol produced an increase in 24-hour energy expenditure (7 +/- 1 percent with the addition of ethanol, P less than 0.001; 4 +/- 1 percent with the substitution of ethanol for other energy sources, P less than 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Ethanol, either added to the diet or substituted for other foods, increases 24-hour energy expenditure and decreases lipid oxidation. Habitual consumption of ethanol in excess of energy needs probably favors lipid storage and weight gain.

Interpreta����o de resultados anal��ticos de f��sforo pelos extratores Mehlich-1 e Mehlich-3 em solos do Rio Grande do Sul

As solu����es extratoras multielementares possibilitam avaliar a disponibilidade de v��rios nutrientes de plantas no mesmo extrato; dentre estes o P merece especial aten����o. As solu����es Mehlich-1 (M1) e Mehlich-3 (M3) enquadram-se nesta categoria. Neste estudo, foram comparados os teores de P extra��dos por estas solu����es em 360 amostras de solos do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Os coeficientes de correla����o entre os teores de P extra��do pelas mesmas indicaram alto grau de associa����o e de signific��ncia. Os teores de P extra��do pela solu����o Mehlich-3 foram, em m��dia, 50 % maiores que os extra��dos pela solu����o Mehlich-1. O teor de argila, entretanto, influenciou a capacidade extrativa de P pela solu����o Mehlich-3, sendo necess��ria uma tabela de ajuste para a interpreta����o dos valores do P extra��do por esta solu����o.

Flooded rice yield as affected by levels of water salinity in different stages of its cycle

Losses of productivity of flooded rice in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, may occur in the Coastal Plains and in the Southern region due to the use of saline water from coastal rivers, ponds and the Laguna dos Patos lagoon, and the sensibility of the plants are variable according to its stage of development. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the production of rice grains and its components, spikelet sterility and the phenological development of rice at different levels of salinity in different periods of its cycle. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, in pots filled with 11 dm�� of an Albaqualf. The levels of salinity were 0.3 (control), 0.75, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 dS m-1 kept in the water layer by adding a salt solution of sodium chloride, except for the control, in different periods of rice development: tillering initiation to panicle initiation; tillering initiation to full flowering; tillering initiation to physiological maturity; panicle initiation to full flowering; panicle initiation to physiological maturity and full flowering to physiological maturity. The number of panicles per pot, the number of spikelets per panicle, the 1,000-kernel weight, the spikelet sterility, the grain yield and phenology were evaluated. All characteristics were negatively affected, in a quadratic manner, with increased salinity in all periods of rice development. Among the yield components evaluated, the one most closely related to grain yields of rice was the spikelet sterility.

Attributes of irrigated rice and soil solution as affected by salinity levels of the water layer

In the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, flooded rice fields using Patos Lagoon as the source of water for irrigation are subject to be damaged by salinity, since this source is bound to the sea on its southern end. The sensitivity of rice is variable during plant development, being higher in the seedling and reproductive periods. However, there is not enough information about the behavior of plants under salt stress during the course of its development, especially in the vegetative stage. This study evaluated the effect of different levels of salinity of irrigation water on the salinity of soil solution over time and on some plant attributes, during the vegetative stage of rice. The study was conducted in a greenhouse, where seeds of the variety IRGA 424 were sown in pots and irrigated with water with electrical conductivity (ECi) levels of: 0.3, 0.75, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 dS m-1; from the tillering initiation (V4) until the panicle initiation (PI). The evaluations made were the electrical conductiviy of soil solution (ECe), the dry biomass of plants and stems, tillering, height and the transpiration of plants. The ECe increased with the ECi over time, and was determined by water transpiration flux in pots. The ECe values at the end of the experiment were high and, in most cases, higher than the critical values for flooded rice. The growth attributes of rice were negatively affected from ECi of 2.0 dS m-1 and ECe of 4.0 dS m-1.

Healthy Aging Update, April 1, 2008, Vol. 3, no. 3

This bimonthly electronic newsletter will provide information and resources on nutrition and health promotion and disease prevention. The Healthy Aging Update is produced for informal and educational purposes only. The newsletter will be distributed electronically and posted on the Department���s website at www.state.ia.us/elderaffairs.