Analysis of Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles by Small Angle X-Ray Diffraction: Evaluation of Drug and Pharmaceutical Additives Influence on the Internal Structure

The goal of this work was to study the liquid crystalline structure of a nanodispersion delivery system intended to be used in photodynamic therapy after loading with photosensitizers (PSs) and additives such as preservatives and thickening polymers. Polarized light microscopy and light scattering were performed on a standard nanodispersion in order to determine the anisotropy of the liquid crystalline structure and the mean diameter of the nanoparticles, respectively. Small angle X-ray diffraction (SAXRD) was used to verify the influence of drug loading and additives on the liquid crystalline structure of the nanodispersions. The samples, before and after the addition of PSs and additives, were stable over 90 days, as verified by dynamic light scattering. SAXRD revealed that despite the alteration observed in some of the samples analyzed in the presence of photosensitizing drugs and additives, the hexagonal phase still remained in the crystalline phase. (C) 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 100: 2849-2857, 2011

Internal staircase, Carpenter Hall house, Wilston, Brisbane

As seen from lower level of house.

Roof structure internal, Raun Raun Theatre, Goroka

View of carved king post.

Roof structure, internal, PNG Coffee Industry Board Office and Warehouse, Goroka

View to underside of roof with steel beam and insulation.

Internal cladding to north-east facade, Mooloomba House, Point Lookout, North Stradbroke Island

View of internal cladding to north-east facade as seen from dining studio.

Internal hallway, Powell House, Noosa River, Sunshine Coast

View down hall to living room.

The origin of a Robertsonian chromosomal translocation in house mice inferred from linked microsatellite markers

The Western European house mouse, Mus domesticus, includes many distinct Robertsonian (Rb) chromosomal races. Two competing hypotheses may explain the distribution of Rb translocations found in different populations: they may have arisen independently multiple times or they may have arisen once and been spread through long distance dispersal. We investigated the origin of the Rb 5.15 translocation using 6 microsatellite loci linked to the centromeres of chromosomes 5 and 15 in 84 individuals from 3 Rb populations and 4 neighboring standard-karyotype populations. Microsatellite variation on the 5.15 metacentric chromosomes was significantly reduced relative to the amount of variation found on acrocentric chromosomes 5 and 15, suggesting that linked microsatellite loci can track specific mutational events. Phylogenetic analyses resulted in trees which are consistent with multiple origins of the 5.15 metacentric found in the three Rb populations. These results suggest that cytologically indistinguishable mutations have arisen independently in natural populations of house mice.

Verbs as Spatial Deixis markers in Jingulu

Contrary to the common pattern of spatial terms being metaphorically extended to location in time, the Australian language Jingulu shows an unusual extension of temporal markers to indicate location in space. Light verbs, which typically encode tense, aspect, mood and associated motion, are occasionally found on nouns to indicate the relative location of the referent with respect to the speaker. It is hypothesised that this pattern resulted from the reduction of verbal clauses used as relative modifiers to the nouns in question.

Isolation of genotype- and chromosome-specific DNA markers in a biotype of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides using random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis

Genetic markers that distinguish fungal genotypes are important tools for genetic analysis of heterokaryosis and parasexual recombination in fungi. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers that distinguish two races of biotype B of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides infecting the legume Stylosanthes guianensis were sought. Eighty-five arbitrary oligonucleotide primers were used to generate 895 RAPD bands but only two bands were found to be specifically amplified from DNA of the race 3 isolate. These two RAPD bands were used as DNA probes and hybridised only to DNA of the race 3 isolate. Both RAPD bands hybridised to a dispensable 1.2 Mb chromosome of the race 3 isolate. No other genotype-specific chromosomes or DNA sequences were identified in either the race 2 or race 3 isolates. The RAPD markers hybridised to a 2 Mb chromosome in all races of the genetically distinct biotype A pathogen which infects other species of Stylosanthes as well as S. guianensis. The experiments indicate that RAPD analysis is a potentially useful tool for obtaining genotype-and chromosome-specific DNA probes in closely related isolates of one biotype of this fungal pathogen.

Inference of phylogeny and taxonomy within the Didymozoidae (Digenea) from the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of ribosomal DNA

DNA sequences of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) were determined for 11 species from four genera of Didymozoinae (Indodidymozoon, Helicodidymozoon, Rhopalotrema and Neometadidymozoon) and a species of the Lecithasteridae, Lecithaster stellatus. Sequences were used to test the validity of species recognised on morphological criteria and to infer phylogenetic relationships. Sequences of the 11 didymozoids differed by 0.5% to 19%. Our phylogenetic analyses: (i) indicate that species in the genera Helicodidymozoon and Rhopalotrema are a monophyletic group; (ii) support separation of the genus Helicodidymozoon from the genera Indodidymozoon and Neometadidymozoon; and (iii) support recognition of Rhopalotrema as a genus distinct from Neometadidymozoon. We found the gonochoristic species, I. pearsoni and I. suttiei, to be genetically similar to the hermaphroditic species in the genus Indodidymozoon and found no evidence to indicate that they belong in a separate genus.

Coupling of a Jahn-Teller pseudorotation with a hindered internal rotation in an isolated molecule: 9-hydroxytriptycene

The irregular vibronic structure in the S-1<--S-0 resonant two-photon ionization (R2PI) spectrum of supersonically cooled triptycene is a result of a classic Exe Jahn-Teller effect [A. Furlan et al., J. Chem. Phys. 96, 7306 (1992)]. This is well characterized and can be used as an effective probe of intramolecular perturbations. Here we examine the S-1<--S-0 R2PI spectrum of 9-hydroxytriptycene and the fluorescence from various excited state vibronic levels. In this system the pseudorotation of the Jahn-Teller vibration is strongly coupled to the torsional motion of the bridgehead hydroxy group. This torsional motion results in a tunneling splitting in both the ground and excited states. The population of the upper level in the ground electronic state results in additional vibronic transitions becoming symmetry allowed in the R2PI spectrum that are forbidden in the bare triptycene molecule. The assignment of the R2PI and fluorescence spectra allows the potential energy surfaces of these vibrational modes to be accurately quantified. The full C-3v vibronic point group must be used to interpret the spectra. The time scale of the internal rotation of the-OH group and the butterfly flapping of the Jahn-Teller pseudorotation are of similar magnitude. The tunneling between the nine minima on the three dimensional potential energy surface is such that the Jahn-Teller pseudorotation occurs in concert with the-OH internal rotation. The Berry phase that is acquired during this motion is discussed. The simple physical picture emerges of the angle between two of the three benzene moieties opening in three equivalent ways in the S-1 electronic state. This geometry follows the position of the hydroxy group, which preferentially orients itself to point between these two rings. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(98)02348-4].

Comparison of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, immunoglobulin A antibodies reactive with acetaldehyde-modified protein and acetaldehyde-modified albumin with conventional markers of alcohol consumption

Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) has emerged as the best new marker for alcohol abuse. Recently plasma immunoglobulin A (IgA) reactivity with acetaldehyde (AcH)-modified proteins, or the modified proteins per se, have been proposed as a markers for high levels of alcohol consumption. In this study, we have compared CDT, IgA reactivity with AcH adducts (IgA ASR), and AcH-modified albumin with conventional markers of high alcohol intake in groups with well-defined drinking histories, The plasma activity of ALT, AST, and gamma-glutamyltransferase increased steadily with increasing alcohol consumption, CDT and AcH-modified albumin showed a similar pattern, whereas IgA ASR appeared only to be elevated after a threshold level of consumption had been reached, Neither CDT IgA ASR or AcH-modified albumin correlated strongly with any of the conventional markers or each other. This study shows that CDT, IgA ASR, AcH-modified albumin, and the conventional markers are not related, but suggests that the concurrent use of CDT and IgA ASR may lead to better identification of high alcohol intake.

Identification in Australia of the quarantine pathogen of sunflower Phoma macdonaldii (Teleomorph : Leptosphaeria lindquistii)

Isolations from black stem lesions of sunflower growing in south-eastern Queensland yielded fungi putatively identified as species of Phoma. Pathogenicity assays showed that these isolates were capable of killing sunflower plants under glasshouse conditions. The isolates were compared with authentic cultures of Phoma macdonaldii and other isolates of Phoma taken from sunflower from around the world. Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis showed that all the Australian isolates examined were very similar to the holotype culture of Phoma macdonaldii from Canada. Sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer regions also revealed the relatedness of the Australian isolates to the holotype. This is the first official record of P. macdonaldii in Australia.

Autoinhibition by an internal nuclear localization signal revealed by the crystal structure of mammalian importin alpha

Importin alpha is the nuclear import receptor that recognizes classical monopartite and bipartite nuclear localization signals (NLSs). The structure of mouse importin alpha has been determined at 2.5 Angstrom resolution. The structure shows a large C-terminal domain containing armadillo repeats, and a less structured N-terminal importin beta-binding domain containing an internal NLS bound to the NLS-binding site. The structure explains the regulatory switch between the cytoplasmic, high-affinity form, and the nuclear, low-affinity form for NLS binding of the nuclear import receptor predicted by the current models of nuclear import. Importin beta conceivably converts the low- to high-affinity form by binding to a site overlapping the autoinhibitory sequence. The structure also has implications for understanding NLS recognition, and the structures of armadillo and HEAT repeats.