Microbial degradation of bitumen

Summary A blown bitumen Mexphalte R 90/40 with a high content of saturated hydrocarbons was degraded by several microorganisms to the same extent. In batch cultures ofSaccharomycopsis lipolytica, maximal biodegradation was estimated to be about 9% w/w, 3.2·10^–3 g/cm² and 3.1·10^–3 cm of degraded bitumen. The Mexphalte R 90/40 degradation rate was closely coupled to biofilm formation. The microbial activity concerned predominantly the oxidation of saturated hydrocarbons. A direct distillation bitumen 80/100 with a low content of saturated hydrocarbons and a high content of aromatic hydrocarbons and resins was more resistant to biodegradation.     

用测量模态阻尼和振型的方法对复合材料薄平板进行无损质量检测

复合材料薄平板经热压制成后,都需要进行质量检测。本文探索用测量模态阻尼和振型的方法,对复合材料薄平板的制作质量进行无损检测,作为对其它昂贵的无损检测方法的补充。略述用振动方法进行无损检测的原理,测量薄平板阻尼的方法以及提高测量精度的措施。还讨论在测量薄平板阻尼时可能遇到的一些特殊问题(如非线性刚度、拍、模态密集等问题);以云母基复合材料薄平板作为例子,从测量其阻尼和振型的结果,对这种板的制作质量进行讨论。     

Effect of 15(R)-15-methyl-prostaglandin E2 on iron absorption in the rat

Summary The administration of 15(R)-15-methyl prostaglandin E₂ (15(R)-15-M-PGE₂) in vivo significantly diminished the uptake of⁵⁹Fe into blood, spleen, liver, femur and dried intestine of rats, whereas acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) increased the counts significantly. This effect of ASA was counteracted by 15(R)-15-M-PGE₂. It is suggested that prostaglandins (PGs) might play an important role in inhibiting iron absorption at the intestinal level.This work was supported by grant No.6638 from CONICET (Argentina). The technical assistance of Mrs María E. Castro and Norma Rizzo is gratefully acknowleged.     

Host cell reactivation of ozone-treated T3 bacteriophage by different strains ofEscherichia coli

Summary Host cell reactivation capacity for ozone T3 phage was determined for differentE. coli strains deficient in one or more of the DNA repair mechanisms. The results indicate that DNA polymerase I appears to play a key role in the repair of damage produced on the DNA by ozone while thelexA gene product seems to play a minor one.This research was sponsored by the National Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada. One of us (PLH) acknowledges a scholarship from the NSERCof Canada.     

Studies on the Dd antigen-antibody system. I. The nature of antigen Dd and its antibodies

Summary The nature of antigen Dd, an antigen present in the extracts of human dandruff which precipitates human sera selectively, and antibodies reacting with it are reported.This work was supported through U.G.C. Grant No. F.23-230/75/SR II. H.K. participated in this study, first as J.R.F. of U.G.C. and then as S.R.F. of I.C.M.R. We are grateful to Dr Baruch S. Blumberg for his invaluable suggestions and to Professor H. Walter for the gift of IgG, IgM and IgA immune sera.     

Fibulin-5/DANCE is essential for elastogenesis in vivo.

The elastic fibre system has a principal role in the structure and function of various types of organs that require elasticity, such as large arteries, lung and skin. Although elastic fibres are known to be composed of microfibril proteins (for example, fibrillins and latent transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta-binding proteins) and polymerized elastin, the mechanism of their assembly and development is not well understood. Here we report that fibulin-5 (also known as DANCE), a recently discovered integrin ligand, is an essential determinant of elastic fibre organization. fibulin-5-/- mice generated by gene targeting exhibit a severely disorganized elastic fibre system throughout the body. fibulin-5-/- mice survive to adulthood, but have a tortuous aorta with loss of compliance, severe emphysema, and loose skin (cutis laxa). These tissues contain fragmented elastin without an increase of elastase activity, indicating defective development of elastic fibres. Fibulin-5 interacts directly with elastic fibres in vitro, and serves as a ligand for cell surface integrins alphavbeta3, alphavbeta5 and alpha9beta1 through its amino-terminal domain. Thus, fibulin-5 may provide anchorage of elastic fibres to cells, thereby acting to stabilize and organize elastic fibres in the skin, lung and vasculature.     

The melatonin rhythm: both a clock and a calendar

The paper briefly reviews the data which shows that the circadian production and secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland can impart both daily, i.e., clock, and seasonal, i.e., calendar, information to the organism. The paper summarizes the 3 patterns of nocturnal melatonin production that have been described. Clearly, regardless of the pattern of nocturnal melatonin production a particular species normally displays, the duration of nightime elevated melatonin is proportional to the duration of the night length. Since daylength under natural conditions changes daily the melatonin rhythm, which adjusts to the photoperiod sends time of year information to the organism. The melatonin receptors which subserve the clock message sent by the pineal gland in the form of a melatonin cycle may reside in the biological clock itself, namely, the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). The melatonin receptors that mediate seasonal changes in reproductive physiology are presumably those that are located on the pars tuberalis cells of the anterior pituitary gland. Besides these receptors which likely mediate clock and calendar information, melatonin receptors have been described in other organs. Interestingly, the distribution of melatonin receptors is highly species-specific. Whereas the clock and calendar information that the melatonin cycle imparts to the organism relies on cell membrane receptors, a fact that is of some interest considering the high lipophilicity of melatonin, recent studies indicate that other functions of melatonin may require no receptor whatsoever.     

A study of macromolecular diffusion through native porcine mucus.

A diffusion chamber technique based on time-lag analysis for the estimation of effective diffusion coefficients of radiolabelled macromolecules of varying molecular weights through native mucus gel is reported. For all solutes studied, a reduction in effective diffusion coefficients was observed with a retardation of solute flux in both aqueous and mucus layers. Over the molecular weight range of solutes investigated (126-186,000 Daltons), a consistent effect of molecular weight was evident with regard to the retarding effect of mucus. No apparent or absolute molecular weight cut-off for macromolecular transfer was exhibited. However, at high molecular weights (greater than 30,000 Daltons) the retardation was greatly enhanced. The results confirm that mucus can be regarded as a gel with finite pores, but that it does not constitute an absolute barrier to even high molecular weight solutes.