The genome sequence of Bacillus anthracis Ames and comparison to closely related bacteria

Bacillus anthracis is an endospore-forming bacterium that causes inhalational anthrax. Key virulence genes are found on plasmids (extra-chromosomal, circular, double-stranded DNA molecules) pXO1 (ref. 2) and pXO2 (ref. 3). To identify additional genes that might contribute to virulence, we analysed the complete sequence of the chromosome of B. anthracis Ames (about 5.23 megabases). We found several chromosomally encoded proteins that may contribute to pathogenicity--including haemolysins, phospholipases and iron acquisition functions--and identified numerous surface proteins that might be important targets for vaccines and drugs. Almost all these putative chromosomal virulence and surface proteins have homologues in Bacillus cereus, highlighting the similarity of B. anthracis to near-neighbours that are not associated with anthrax. By performing a comparative genome hybridization of 19 B. cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis strains against a B. anthracis DNA microarray, we confirmed the general similarity of chromosomal genes among this group of close relatives. However, we found that the gene sequences of pXO1 and pXO2 were more variable between strains, suggesting plasmid mobility in the group. The complete sequence of B. anthracis is a step towards a better understanding of anthrax pathogenesis.     

Aspects of Romanian Early-Middle Jurassic palaeobotany and palynology. Part VII. Successions and floras

The Jurassic floras of Romania occur in the Carpathian Mountains and in Dobrogea (Eastern Romania). In the South Carpathians, diverse and well preserved floras have been recorded since the middle of the 19th Century in the Resita, Sirinia, Presacina, CernaJiu, Holbav and Cristian Basins. The ages of these floras range between Hettangian and Sinemurian, with representatives belonging to Bryophytes, Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. Excellent preservation and diversity were recorded in Anina, in the central area of the Resita Basin, a possible fossile-Lagerst?tte locality. The 3D collecting opportunities due to underground coal mining permitted detailed phytostratigraphical studies. These studies showed a floral change at the Hettangian-Sinemurian boundary, related to climate change. The Jurassic coal basins of the South Carpathians show both intramontainous and paralic features. The Resita Basin is a typical intramountainous depression basin, while the other basins are influenced by the marine realm. From a paleogeographical point of view, the Romanian Early and Middle Jurassic floras occurred on the northern frame of the Tethys realm, floristic features indicating the Eurosinian Province. One of the closest floras in terms of floristic similarities is the Iranian Early Jurassic flora. In the Apuseni Mountains, the HettangianSinemurian flora is less well-preserved and diverse than those of the South Carpathians. The Middle Jurassic flora of Romania is confined to Dobrogea (Eastern Romania), where a bennettite-dominated assemblage with low diversity and preservation was recorded.     

The genome of the protist parasite Entamoeba histolytica

Entamoeba histolytica is an intestinal parasite and the causative agent of amoebiasis, which is a significant source of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Here we present the genome of E. histolytica, which reveals a variety of metabolic adaptations shared with two other amitochondrial protist pathogens: Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis. These adaptations include reduction or elimination of most mitochondrial metabolic pathways and the use of oxidative stress enzymes generally associated with anaerobic prokaryotes. Phylogenomic analysis identifies evidence for lateral gene transfer of bacterial genes into the E. histolytica genome, the effects of which centre on expanding aspects of E. histolytica's metabolic repertoire. The presence of these genes and the potential for novel metabolic pathways in E. histolytica may allow for the development of new chemotherapeutic agents. The genome encodes a large number of novel receptor kinases and contains expansions of a variety of gene families, including those associated with virulence. Additional genome features include an abundance of tandemly repeated transfer-RNA-containing arrays, which may have a structural function in the genome. Analysis of the genome provides new insights into the workings and genome evolution of a major human pathogen.     

Genome sequence and comparative analysis of the model rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii yoelii

Species of malaria parasite that infect rodents have long been used as models for malaria disease research. Here we report the whole-genome shotgun sequence of one species, Plasmodium yoelii yoelii, and comparative studies with the genome of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum clone 3D7. A synteny map of 2,212 P. y. yoelii contiguous DNA sequences (contigs) aligned to 14 P. falciparum chromosomes reveals marked conservation of gene synteny within the body of each chromosome. Of about 5,300 P. falciparum genes, more than 3,300 P. y. yoelii orthologues of predominantly metabolic function were identified. Over 800 copies of a variant antigen gene located in subtelomeric regions were found. This is the first genome sequence of a model eukaryotic parasite, and it provides insight into the use of such systems in the modelling of Plasmodium biology and disease.     

Solid solution or amorphous phase formation in TiZr-based ternary to quinternary multi-principal-element films

TiZr-based multicomponent metallic films composed of 3–5 constituents with almost equal atomic concentrations were prepared by cosputtering of pure metallic targets in an Ar atmosphere.X-ray diffraction was employed to determine phase composition,crystalline structure,lattice parameters,texture and crystallite size of the deposited films.The deposited films exhibited only solid solution(fcc,bcc or hcp) or amorphous phases,no intermetallic components being detected.It was found that the hcp structure was stabilized by the presence of Hf or Y,bcc by Nb or Al and fcc by Cu.For the investigated films,the atomic size difference,mixing enthalpy,mixing entropy,Gibbs free energy of mixing and the electronegativity difference for solid solution and amorphous phases were calculated based on Miedema’s approach of the regular solution model.It was shown that the atomic size difference and the ratio between the Gibbs free energies of mixing of the solid solution and amorphous phases were the most significant parameters controlling the film crystallinity.     

Novel insights into the biology of interleukin-32

Interleukin (IL)-32 is known as a proinflammatory cytokine that is likely involved in several diseases, including infections, chronic inflammation, and cancer. Since the first report in 2005, IL-32 has been the subject of numerous studies to unravel the biological function of this molecule. For example, silencing of endogenous IL-32 in primary or cell lines of human origin consistently suppressed responses to Toll-like receptors. The protein folding structure of the six isoforms of IL-32 does not resemble that of any classical cytokine and as of this writing, a specific IL-32 receptor has not been identified. Instead, we propose a mechanism by which exposure to extracellular IL-32 or overexpression of the molecule results in binding to intracellular partners that influences functions such as gene expression, cell death, or survival. As such, this review offers insights into the role of IL-32 in several diseases, host defense, inflammation, immune function, and cancer. Finally, possibilities to target IL-32 in several diseases are proposed.     

Do credit booms predict US recessions?

This paper investigates the role of bank credit in predicting US recessions since the 1960s in the context of a bivariate probit model. A set of results emerge. First, credit booms are shown to have strong positive effects in predicting declines in the business cycle at horizons ranging from 6 to 9 months. Second, I propose to isolate the effect of credit booms by identifying the contribution of excess bank liquidity alongside a housing factor in the downturn of each cycle. Third, the out-of-sample performance of the model is tested on the most recent credit-driven recession: the Great Recession of 2008. The model performs better than a more parsimonious version where we restrict the effect of credit booms on the business cycle in the system to be zero.     

Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Thin Films Based on Strong Polycations of Integral type

Nonstoichiometric interpolyelectrolyte complexes （NIPECs） as nanoparticles, on the one side, and nanostructured thin films with controlled architecture, deposited on some planar surfaces, on the other side, have been designed by eco-friendly techniques using strong polycations （PC） containing quaternary ammonium groups in the backbone and either strong polyanions or multicharged azo dyes.     

Surface Graphite Degeneration in Ductile Iron Castings for Resin Molds

The objective of this paper is to review the factors influencing the formation of degenerated graphite layers on the surfaces of ductile iron castings for chemical resins-acid molding and core-making systems and how to reduce this defect. In the resin mold technique the sulphur in the P-toluol sulphonic acid （PTSA）, usually used as the hardener, has been identified as one factor causing graphite degeneration at the metalmold interface. Less than 0.15% S in the mold （or even less than 0.07% S） can reduce the surface layer depth. Oxygen may also have an effect, especially for sulphur containing systems with turbulent flows in the mold, water-bearing no-bake binder systems, Mg-Silica reactions, or dross formation conditions. Despite the lower level of nitrogen in the iron melt after magnesium treatment （less than 90 ppm）, nitrogen bearing resins have a profound effect on the frequency and severity of surface pinholes, but a limited influence on surface graphite degeneration.     

Active foundering of a continental arc root beneath the southern Sierra Nevada in California

Seismic data provide images of crust-mantle interactions during ongoing removal of the dense batholithic root beneath the southern Sierra Nevada mountains in California. The removal appears to have initiated between 10 and 3 Myr ago with a Rayleigh-Taylor-type instability, but with a pronounced asymmetric flow into a mantle downwelling (drip) beneath the adjacent Great Valley. A nearly horizontal shear zone accommodated the detachment of the ultramafic root from its granitoid batholith. With continuing flow into the mantle drip, viscous drag at the base of the remaining approximately 35-km-thick crust has thickened the crust by approximately 7 km in a narrow welt beneath the western flank of the range. Adjacent to the welt and at the top of the drip, a V-shaped cone of crust is being dragged down tens of kilometres into the core of the mantle drip, causing the disappearance of the Moho in the seismic images. Viscous coupling between the crust and mantle is therefore apparently driving present-day surface subsidence.