Functional characterization of the human-specific (type II) form of kallikrein 8, a gene involved in learning and memory

Kallikrein 8 (KLK8) is a serine protease functioning in the central nervous system, and essential in many aspects of neuronal activities. Sequence comparison and gene expression analysis among diverse primate species identified a human-specific splice for

Distribution of CCR2-64I and SDF1-3 ' A alleles and HIV status in 7 ethnic populations of Cameroon

Limited information is available on the prevalence among rural Africans of host genetic polymorphisms conferring resistance to HIV-1 infection or slowing HIV disease progression.We report the allelic frequencies of the AIDS-related polymorphisms CCR2-64I, SDF1-3#A, and CCR5-D32 in 321 volunteers from 7 ethnic groups in Cameroon. Allelic frequencies differed among the 7 ethnic groups, ranging from 10.8% to 31.3% for CCR2-64I and 0.0% to 7.1% for SDF1-3#A. No CCR5-D32 alleles were found. HIV seroprevalence was 6.9% in the total population and peaked at younger ages in girls and women than in boys and men. Among 15- to 54-year-olds, HIV seroprevalence varied from 2.0% to 11.1% among the village populations. Conditional logistic regression analysis using data from boys and men aged 15 to 54 years showed the number of CCR2-64I alleles to be a significant risk factor for HIV seropositivity (odds ratio per allele adjusted for age and matched on ethnic group = 6.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.3–30.3); this association was not found in women. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that CCR2-64I alleles may delay HIV disease progression without affecting susceptibility to infection among men. We did not observe this relation among women, and other factors, such as multiple pregnancies or maternal stressors (eg, breastfeeding), may have masked any protective effect of CCR2-64I alleles. Further study of this issue among women is warranted. SDF1-3#A did not differ between HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative individuals but wasassociated with increasing age among HIV-seronegative women, suggesting a protective effect against HIV-1 infection.

Effect of phosphorous supplementation in the formulated fish feed on carcass quality of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L.

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of phosphorus supplementation in the formulated fish diet on carcass quality of Nile tilapia in net-cages suspended in fertilized earthen ponds. In the experiment 3% di-calcium phosphate (DCP), 3% triple supper phosphate (TSP) and 7% 16:20 inorganic fertilizer were added as phosphorous sources to three diets containing fish meal as main protein ingredient. Feeding tilapia in net-cages with these diets significantly (pgrade fertilizer supplemented diets were comparable.

Studies on the suitability of producing value-added products from silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix

Silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix is contributing significantly to the total production of fish through aquaculture in Bangladesh. However, its low market price has become a serious concern to the fish farmers. The suitability of silver carp mince for the production of various value-added products (VAPs) - surimi, fish sausage, fish burger and fish stick was studied during April-September 2000 to ensure more appropriate and profitable utilization of silver carp. Surimi/frozen mince block was produced by washing the silver carp mince with 0.1% NaCl for 7-8 min (4-5 min agitation and 3-4 min settling). A two-step heating schedule for incubation at 50°C for 2 h and cooking at 95°C for 30 min gave high textured good quality consumer product. With the addition of cryoprotectants, surimi could be kept frozen for 5 months without loosing [sic] much of its textural and sensory qualities. Mince-mix and a batter with different ingredients and spices were formulated to produce fish burger using potato smash as the binding agent. Fish flake-mix and a batter with different ingredients and spices were formulated to prepare fish stick using both potato starch and potato smash as filler ingredients. Unwashed and washed frozen mince block or fresh flesh of silver carp was used to prepare fish sausage by heating at 100°C for 1 h after incubating at 50°C for 2 h. A spice-mix formulated with various local spices at the rate of 1.0-1.2% gave good texture and flavor to the sausage. A good-appeared sausage-pink color was developed by combining three food-grade colors of asthaxanthin. Products prepared with potato starch, potato smash and rice smash had an acceptable bacterial load in refrigeration (5°C) for up to 8 days and in room temperature (28°C) for up to 3 days. No coliform bacteria were found in the products prepared.

Diversification in utilisation of trash fish by gamma irradiation

Radiation pasteurisation enhances the shelf stability of trash fish varieties and enables the grading of fish depending upon the freshness quality. As against the ice-chilled fish which spoils within 8-10 days, exposure to 100 Krad and storage at ice temperature helps in maintaining the quality in Grade I, II or III up to 10, 20 or 25 days respectively. The improvement in quality thus provides scope for greater utilisation of trash fish for various secondary products.

Effect of box stowage on quality fish

Quality of boxed cod and haddock was compared with that of penned fish in terms of organoleptic grading, trimethylamine values, Intelectron Fish Tester readings and fish and fillet yield. Boxed fish showed a higher percentage of grade one fish than penned fish. TMA values, however, did not differ greatly. There was less physical damage due to squeezing with boxed fish and consequently a greater yield of landed round fish and fillets.

Anti Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Agents 4. Discovery of 5,5 '-(p-Phenylenebisazo)-8-hydroxyquinoline Sulfonates as New HIV-1 Inhibitors in Vitro

To search for compounds with superior anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) activity, ten 5,5'-(p-phenylenebisazo)-8-hydroxyquinoline sulfonates (4a-j) were synthesized and preliminarily evaluated as HIV-1 inhibitors in vitro for the first time. Some compounds demonstrated anti-HIV-1 activity, especially 5,5'-(p-phenylenebisazo)-8-hydroxyquinoline p-ethylbenzenesulfonate (4g) and 5,5'-(p-phenylenebisazo)-8-hydroxyquinoline p-chlorobenzenesulfonate (41) showed the more potent anti-HIV-1 activity with 50% effective concentration (EC50) values of 2.59 and 4.01 mu g/ml, and therapeutic index (TI) values of 31.77 and 24.51, respectively.

Size distribution of heavy mineral grains in some modern Nile Delta coastal sands, Egypt

This study includes determination and discussion of the texture and heavy mineral compositions of some modem Nile Delta coastal sands (river, coastal dune, beach-face, and nearshore marine) in order to delineate the process and factors that regulate the size distribution of heavy mineral grains comprising these coastal sands. Textural analysis of unseparated bulk samples indicate that the examined four types of sands differ in their mean grain sizes and degree of sorting. However, analysis of size distribution curves of 10 heavy mineral species or group of species in the four environments having the same general shape and nearly similar in that general order of arrangement. However, these curves vary both in median sizes and sorting. The size distribution of a heavy mineral in the Nile Delta coastal sands appear to depend on: (1) range of grain size fractions in each sample, (2) relative availability of heavy mineral in each size grade of the sample, (3) specific gravity of minerals comprising these sands, and (4) some other unknown factor or factors. Results of size measurement of heavy minerals indicated that increasing specific gravity is accompanied by increasing fineness of the heavy minerals. This study may be useful in search for marine placers and understanding the processes of grain-sorting on the sea beaches.

Report of the training workshop on the application of Ecopath with Ecosim to BOBLME, Phuket, Thailand, 8-12 September, 2014

The workshop's objective was to provide information to improve a regional Ecopath with Ecoism (EwE) model.The workshop described the basis and principles underlying the software, encompassing the basics of Ecopath to Ecospace, economics and management strategy evaluation.

云南8种树蛙的染色体组型比较研究

报道了云南8种树蛙的染色体组型, 并对目前所已知的树蛙种类的染色体组型进行了比较。