Romanisation in Gaul: new methodological approaches for the study of Gaulish fine wares (200 B.C.-50 A.D.).

The twenty-second Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference (TRAC) was held at the Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main in spring 2012. During the three-day conference fifty papers were delivered, discussing issues from a wide range of geographical regions of the Roman Empire, and applying various theoretical and methodological approaches. An equally wide selection of subjects was presented: sessions looked at Greek art and philhellenism in the Roman world, the validity of the concept of 'Romanisation', change and continuity in Roman religion, urban neighbourhood relations in Pompeii and Ostia, the transformation of objects in and from the Roman world, frontier markets and Roman archaeology in the Provinces. In addition, two general sessions covered single topics such as the 'transvestite of Catterick', metal recycling or Egyptian funeral practice in the Roman period. This volume contains a selection of papers from all these sessions.

Concerted changes in N and C primary metabolism in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) under water restriction

Although the mechanisms of nodule N2 fixation in legumes are now well documented, some uncertainty remains on the metabolic consequences of water deficit. In most cases, little consideration is given to other organs and, therefore, the coordinated changes in metabolism in leaves, roots, and nodules are not well known. Here, the effect of water restriction on exclusively N2-fixing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plants was investigated, and proteomic, metabolomic, and physiological analyses were carried out. It is shown that the inhibition of nitrogenase activity caused by water restriction was accompanied by concerted alterations in metabolic pathways in nodules, leaves, and roots. The data suggest that nodule metabolism and metabolic exchange between plant organs nearly reached homeostasis in asparagine synthesis and partitioning, as well as the N demand from leaves. Typically, there was (i) a stimulation of the anaplerotic pathway to sustain the provision of C skeletons for amino acid (e.g. glutamate and proline) synthesis; (ii) re-allocation of glycolytic products to alanine and serine/glycine; and (iii) subtle changes in redox metabolites suggesting the implication of a slight oxidative stress. Furthermore, water restriction caused little change in both photosynthetic efficiency and respiratory cost of N2 fixation by nodules. In other words, the results suggest that under water stress, nodule metabolism follows a compromise between physiological imperatives (N demand, oxidative stress) and the lower input to sustain catabolism.

The synthesis of 1,2,3,6,6a,7-hexahydro-7-methyl-5-imino-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazolo[5,4-b]indole

N-3-(1-Methylindol-3-yl)propan-N-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxysulfonyl)guanidine was synthesized from 3-formyl-1-methylindole in six steps and subjected to conditions intended to convert the side-chain into a 2-iminotetrahydropyrimidine- containing product, of relevance to a possible synthesis of the aplicyanins. An alternative reaction course was observed, resulting in the formation of a new tetracyclic system.

The synthesis of 1,2,3,6,6a,7-hexahydro-7-methyl-5-imino-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazolo[5,4-b]indole

N-3-(1-Methylindol-3-yl)propan-N-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxysulfonyl)guanidine was synthesized from 3-formyl-1-methylindole in six steps and subjected to conditions intended to convert the side-chain into a 2-iminotetrahydropyrimidine- containing product, of relevance to a possible synthesis of the aplicyanins. An alternative reaction course was observed, resulting in the formation of a new tetracyclic system.

Anisotropic surface properties of micro/nanostructured a-C:H:F thin films with self-assembly applications

The singular properties of hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) thin filmsdeposited by pulsed DC plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), such as hardness and wear resistance, make it suitable as protective coating with low surface energy for self-assembly applications. In this paper, we designed fluorine-containing a-C:H (a-C:H:F) nanostructured surfaces and we characterized them for self-assembly applications. Sub-micron patterns were generated on silicon through laser lithography while contact angle measurements, nanotribometer, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the surface. a-C:H:F properties on lithographied surfaces such as hydrophobicity and friction were improved with the proper relative quantity of CH4 and CHF3 during deposition, resulting in ultrahydrophobic samples and low friction coefficients. Furthermore, these properties were enhanced along the direction of the lithographypatterns (in-plane anisotropy). Finally, self-assembly properties were tested with silicananoparticles, which were successfully assembled in linear arrays following the generated patterns. Among the main applications, these surfaces could be suitable as particle filter selector and cell colony substrate.

Avaliação do teor e da estabilidade de vitaminas do complexo B e vitamina C em bebidas isotônicas e energéticas

Vitamin C stability and concentration was evaluated in isotonic beverages and B group vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6) in power beverages. The amount of vitamins was found to be above of that declared on the labels, even after the shelf life had been exceeded. A small decrease in the amount of B group vitamins was observed during the shelf life of the products. In the case of vitamin C this decrease was slightly higher. The present research shows the need of increased quality control and inspection.

Redução de vitamina C em suco de caju (Anacardium occidentale L.) industrializado e cajuína

Vitamin C degradation was evaluated in industrialized cashew juice of high pulp content and in cajuina by the method of Tillmans during eleven days of storage after the opening of the flask. For recently opened juices, vitamin C was found in the concentration range of 112 to 170 mg for 100 g of juice. The degradation of vitamin C in industrialized cashew juices changes when different additives are used. All of the cajuinas presented a vitamin C content below that specified on the label.

Influência de M/C (M = Mo, Cu, Fe e W) incorporado à camada difusora do eletrodo de difusão de gás frente à reação de oxidação de hidrogênio na presença de CO

The performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) with Pt-based anodes is drastically lowered when CO-containing hydrogen is used to feed the system, because of the strong adsorption of CO on platinum. In the present work the effects of the presence of a conversion layer of CO to CO2 composed by several M/C materials (where M = Mo, Cu, Fe and W) in gas diffusion anodes formed by Pt catalysts were investigated. The diffusion layers formed by Mo/C e W/C show good CO-tolerance, and this was attributed to the CO removal by parallel occurrence of the water-gas shift reaction and the so-called bifunctional mechanism.

Differential Regulation of c-FLIP Isoforms Through Post-translational Modifications

Cells are constantly responding to signals from the surrounding tissues and the environment. To dispose of infected and potentially dangerous cells, to ensure the optimal execution of developmental processes and to maintain tissue homeostasis, a multicellular organism needs to tightly control both the number and the quality of its cells. Apoptosis is a form of active cellular self-destruction that enables an organism to regulate its cell number by deleting damaged or potentially dangerous cells. Apoptosis can be induced by death ligands, which bind to death receptors on the cell surface. Ligation of the receptors leads to the formation of an intracellular death inducing signaling complex (DISC). One of the DISC components is caspase-8, a protease that triggers the caspase cascade and is thereby a key initiator of programmed cell death. The activation of caspase-8 is controlled by the cellular FLICE-inhibitory proteins (c-FLIPs). Consequently, sensitivity towards receptor-mediated apoptosis is determined by the amount of c-FLIP, and the c-FLIP levels are actively regulated for example during erythroid differentiation of K562 erythroleukemia cells and by hyperthermia in Jurkat leukemia cells. The aim of my thesis was to investigate how c-FLIP is regulated during these processes. We found that c-FLIP isoforms are short-lived proteins, although c-FLIPS had an even shorter half-life than c-FLIPL. In both experimental models, increased death receptor sensitivity correlated with induced ubiquitylation and consequent proteasomal degradation of c-FLIP. Furthermore, we elucidated how phosphorylation regulates the biological functions and the turnover of c-FLIP, thereby contributing to death receptor sensitivity. We mapped the first phosphorylation sites on c-FLIP and dissected how their phosphorylation affects c-FLIP. Moreover, we demonstrated that phosphorylation of serine 193, a phosphorylated residue common to all c-FLIPs, is primarily mediated by the classical PKC. Furthermore, we discovered a novel connection between the phosphorylation and ubiquitylation of c-FLIP: phosphorylation of S193 protects c-FLIP from ubiquitylation. Surprisingly, although all c-FLIP isoforms are phosphorylated on this conserved residue, the biological outcome is different for the long and short isoforms, since S193 specifically prolongs the half-lives of the short c-FLIP isoforms, but not c-FLIPL. To summarize, we show that c-FLIP proteins are modified by ubiquitylation and phosphorylation, and that the biological outcomes of these modifications are isoform-specifically determined.

Influência da luz e da temperatura sobre a oxidação do óleo essencial de capim-lim��o (Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.) Stapf)

The identification of the chemical compounds of the essential oil was performed with a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer. The oil was left in the presence and absence of light and submitted to different temperatures to evaluate its stability. The yields of the major compounds were evaluated every fifteen days. Citral and myrcene, the major compounds of the essential oil, were degraded over time in both the presence and absence of light, but temperature only influenced the degradation of myrcene.

Ácido clavulânico e cefamicina c: uma perspectiva da biossíntese, processos de isolamento e mecanismo de ação

The present article reviews different aspects of the chemistry of two widely used β-lactam antibiotics Clavulanic Acid and Cephamycin C. The article discusses important details of the biosynthesis of these compounds, their action mechanism and, principally, the methods employed in their isolation and purification, in accordance with the available literature. Despite the large quantity of available articles and patents concerning β-lactam antibiotics, those which describe the isolation and purification of Clavulanic Acid and Cephamycin C are rare. Overall, the intention of this article is to discuss the up-to-date scientific research related to the compounds under review.

Determinación de vitamina C, compuestos fenólicos totales y actividad antioxidante de frutas de guayaba (Psidium guajava L.) cultivadas en Colombia

Some physicochemical parameters, vitamin C, total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity (AA) measured by ABTS, FRAP and DPPH methods were determinated in four different varieties of ripe guava produced in Colombia. Samples were statistically similar in their titratable acidity. Soluble solids were statistically similar and higher in "Pear", "Pink Regional", and "White Regional", but lower in "Apple" guavas. Vitamin C was statistically lower in "Pear" guava. Phenolics, ABTS-, FRAP-, and DPPH-AA were statistically lower in "Apple" guava if compared in wet basis. "Pink Regional" and "White Regional" contained the highest levels in vitamin C, phenolics and antioxidant activity.

Molecular modeling of asymmetric induction in heterogeneously catalyzed hydrogenation of the C=O bond

Modifiering av metallytor med starkt adsorberade kirala organiska molekyler är eventuellt den mest relevanta teknik man vet i dag för att skapa kirala ytor. Den kan utnyttjas i katalytisk produktion av enantiomeriskt rena kirala föreningar som behövs t.ex. som läkemedel och aromkemikalier. Trots m��nga fördelar av asymmetrisk heterogen katalys j��mfört med andra sätt för att få kirala föreningar, har den ändå inte blivit ett allm��nt verktyg för storskaliga tillämpningar. Detta beror t.ex. på brist på djupare kunskaper i katalytiska reaktionsmekanismer och ursprunget för asymmetrisk induktion. I denna studie användes molekylmodelleringstekniker för att studera asymmetriska, heterogena katalytiska system, speciellt hydrering av prokirala karbonylföreningar till motsvarande kirala alkoholer på cinchona-alkaloidmodifierade Pt-katalysatorer. 1-Fenyl-1,2-propandion (PPD) och några andra föreningar, som innehåller en prokiral C=O-grupp, användes som reaktanter. Konformationer av reaktanter och cinchona-alkaloider (som kallas modifierare) samt vätebundna 1:1-komplex mellan dem studerades i gas- och lösningsfas med metoder som baserar sig på vågfunktionsteori och täthetsfunktionalteori (DFT). För beräkningen av protonaffiniteter användes också högst noggranna kombinationsmetoder såsom G2(MP2). Den relativa populationen av modifierarnas konformationer varierade som funktion av modifieraren, dess protonering och lösningsmedlet. Flera reaktant–modifierareinteraktionsgeometrier beaktades. Slutsatserna på riktning av stereoselektivitet baserade sig på den relativa termodynamiska stabiliteten av de diastereomeriska reaktant–modifierare-komplexen samt energierna hos π- och π*-orbitalerna i den reaktiva karbonylgruppen. Adsorption och reaktioner på Pt(111)-ytan betraktades med DFT. Regioselektivitet i hydreringen av PPD och 2,3-hexandion kunde förklaras med molekyl–yta-interaktioner. Storleken och formen av klustret använt för att beskriva Pt-ytan inverkade inte bara på adsorptionsenergierna utan också på de relativa stabiliteterna av olika adsorptionsstrukturer av en molekyl. Populationerna av modifierarnas konformationer i gas- och lösningsfas korrelerade inte med populationerna på Pt-ytan eller med enantioselektiviteten i hydreringen av PPD på Pt–cinchona-katalysatorer. Vissa modifierares konformationer och reaktant–modifierare-interaktionsgeometrier var stabila bara på metallytan. Teoretiskt beräknade potentialenergiprofiler för hydrering av kirala α-hydroxiketoner på Pt implicerade preferens för parvis additionsmekanism för väte och selektiviteter i harmoni med experimenten. De uppnådda resultaten ökar uppfattningen om kirala heterogena katalytiska system och kunde därför utnyttjas i utvecklingen av nya, mera aktiva och selektiva kirala katalysatorer.

Leaf blight and defoliation of Eugenia spp. caused by Cylindrocladium candelabrum and C. spathiphylli in Brazil

Leaf blight and defoliation of Eugenia stipitata Mc Vaugh and Eugenia patrisii Vahl, caused respectively by Cylindrocladium candelabrum (Calonectria scoparia) and C. spathiphylli (Calonectria spathiphylli) are reported in the state of Pará, Brazil. On both host species, the disease is characterized by dark brown lesions of different sizes and shapes. A whitish bright sporulation, resembling Cylindrocladium is observed on the necrotic lesions by using a stereomycroscope or a pocket lense (10-20 X). Under favorable conditions and depending on the level of infection, intense premature tree defoliation may also be found.Although the conidial germination and mycelial growth were higher at 25ºC for both species, C. candelabrum was more sensitive to the variation of temperature (10, 20, 30 and 40 ºC) than C. spathiphylli. This is the first report of C. candelabrum and C. spathiphylli on Eugenia stipitata (araçá-boi) and on Eugenia patrisii (ubaia-da-amazônia), respectively in Brazil.

Screening of antigenemia and isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii from cloaca and crop of birds in the state of Paraná, Brazil

Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii are associated with dry bird excreta but rarely recovered from birds' digestive tract. The objective of the present study was (1) to verify the existence of C. neoformans and C. gattii in crop and cloaca of wildlife and captivity birds hypothesizing about a possible primary source of this yeast in the excreta, and (2) to determine the fungi's invasive capability in avian species through latex agglutination. For that purpose, 172 cloacal and 77 crop samples of domestic pigeon, Passerine, and Psittacine birds were collected. None of these samples was positive, suggesting that the yeast is not saprobiotic in the digestive tract of these birds. Only one out of 82 serum samples collected from pigeons and Psittacine birds was positive (title 1:2) showing that Cryptococcus sp. probably has a low invasive capability in birds, and is thus considered only a dry excreta colonizer.