F1 F5 Research Articles

Hemostatic properties of Venezuelan Bothrops snake venoms with special reference to Bothrops isabelae venom

In Venezuela, Bothrops snakes are responsible for more than 80% of all recorded snakebites. This study focuses on the biological and hemostatic characteristics of Bothrops isabelae venom along with its comparative characteristics with two other closely related Bothrops venoms, Bothrops atrox and Bothrops colombiensis. Electrophoretic profiles of crude B. isabelae venom showed protein bands between 14 and 100 kDa with the majority in the range of 14–31 kDa. The molecular exclusion chromatographic profile of this venom contains five fractions (F1–F5). Amidolytic activity evaluation evidenced strong thrombin-like followed by kallikrein-like activities in crude venom and in fractions F1 and F2. The fibrinogenolytic activity of B. isabelae venom at a ratio of 100:1 (fibrinogen/venom) induced a degradation of Aα and Bβ chains at 15 min and 2 h, respectively. At a ratio of 100:10, a total degradation of Aα and Bβ chains at 5 min and of γ chains at 24 h was apparent. This current study evidences one of rarely reported for Bothrops venoms, which resembles the physiologic effect of plasmin. B. isabelae venom as well as F2 and F3 fractions, contain fibrinolytic activity on fibrin plate of 36, 23.5 and 9.45 mm 2/μg, respectively using 25 μg of protein. Crude venom and F1 fraction showed gelatinolytic activity. Comparative analysis amongst Venezuelan bothropoid venoms, evidenced that the LD 50 of B. isabelae (5.9 mg/kg) was similar to B. atrox-Puerto Ayacucho 1 (6.1 mg/kg) and B. colombiensis-Caucagua (5.8 mg/kg). B. isabelae venom showed minor hemorrhagic activity, whereas B. atrox-Parguasa (Bolivar state) was the most hemorrhagic. In this study, a relative high thrombin-like activity was observed in B. colombiensis venoms (502–568 mUA/min/mg), and a relative high factor Xa-like activity was found in B. atrox venoms (126–294 mUA/min/mg). Fibrinolytic activity evaluated with 10 μg protein, showed that B. isabelae venom contained higher specific activity (50 mm 2/μg) than B. colombiensis and B. atrox venoms, which should encourage the isolation of these fibrinolytic molecules to improve the quality of immunotherapy.

Effect of Carbon Chain Length in the Substituent of PCBM‐like Molecules on Their Photovoltaic Properties

AbstractA series of [6,6]‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM)‐like fullerene derivatives with the butyl chain in PCBM changing from 3 to 7 carbon atoms, respectively (F1–F5), are designed and synthesized to investigate the relationship between photovoltaic properties and the molecular structure of fullerene derivative acceptors. F2 with a butyl chain is PCBM itself for comparison. Electrochemical, optical, electron mobility, morphology, and photovoltaic properties of the molecules are characterized, and the effect of the alkyl chain length on their properties is investigated. Although there is little difference in the absorption spectra and LUMO energy levels of F1–F5, an interesting effect of the alkyl chain length on the photovoltaic properties is observed. For the polymer solar cells (PSCs) based on P3HT as donor and F1–F5, respectively, as acceptors, the photovoltaic behavior of the P3HT/F1 and P3HT/F4 systems are similar to or a little better than that of the P3HT/PCBM device with power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) above 3.5%, while the performances of P3HT/F3 and P3HT/F5‐based solar cells are poorer, with PCE values below 3.0%. The phenomenon is explained by the effect of the alkyl chain length on the absorption spectra, fluorescence quenching degree, electron mobility, and morphology of the P3HT/F1–F5 (1:1, w/w) blend films.

Myosin heavy chain genes expressed in juvenile and adult silver carp Hypopthalmichthys molitrix: Novel fast-type myosin heavy chain genes of silver carp

Silver carp Hypopthalmichthys molitrix is eurythermal temperate fish, whose muscle is considered to express several types of myosin heavy chain (MYH) genes at different stages of its growth and to adjust to the environmental temperature. In this study, MYH genes expressed in the muscles of juvenile and adult silver carp were investigated. Five types of MYH cDNA clone were isolated from silver carp ( H. molitrix) by RACE strategy using a set of fast-type MYH specific primers, and termed scMYH F1, scMYH F2, scMYH F3, scMYH F4 and scMYH F5 in the order of their abundance in cDNA libraries constructed from fast skeletal muscles of adult silver carp. scMYH F1, scMYH F3 and scMYH F5 showed high nucleotide sequence identities of 96, 98 and 96% to gcMYH F30, gcMYH F10 and gcMYH FI, respectively, that encode MYHs predominantly expressed in fast skeletal muscle of grass carp ( Ctenopharyngodon idella) acclimated to 30, 10 and 20 °C, respectively. scMYH F2 and scMYH F4 showed a high identity to A4-type MYH from rock cod ( Notothenia coriiceps) slow skeletal muscle. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that scMYH F1 and scMYH F5 were monophyletic with fish adult fast-type MYHs, whereas scMYH F2 and scMYH F4 formed a cluster with fish slow-like fast-type MYH, and scMYH F3 did with fish embryonic fast-type MYHs. Interestingly, juvenile silver carp predominantly expressed scMYH F3 irrespective of acclimation temperatures at 10, 18 or 26 °C. The comparison among scMYH F1, scMYH F2 and scMYH F3 in the deduced amino acid sequence revealed that the putative binding sites for ATP, actin, and essential and regulatory light chains in myosin subfragment-1 (S1) have high identities with each other (81–100%). However, their loop-1 and loop-2 regions in S1 were highly variable, suggesting their different functions. The deduced amino acid sequences of myosin subfragment-2 and L-meromyosin showed high identities of 90–91% and 86–90%, respectively, among the above three scMYHs.

Slow Darkening in Pinto Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Seed Coats Is Controlled by a Single Major Gene

Postharvest seed coat darkening is a significant problem in pinto beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), resulting in product that is undesirable to consumers and that is discounted in the marketplace. There is a range in the rate and extent of darkening among pinto germplasm and recently, slow‐darkening (SD) lines have been identified. Line 1533‐15, an SD line from the University of Saskatchewan, was crossed to CDC Pintium, a regular darkening pinto, and seed of F1 and F2 individuals and F5:6 recombinant inbred lines were assessed for their darkening phenotype. Segregation data indicated that there is a single, recessive gene that controls the SD phenotype. All F2 individuals from a cross between 1533‐15 and Pinto Saltillo, another SD line, were slow‐darkening suggesting that the phenotype is controlled by the same gene in both lines. The simple genetics of this trait should facilitate the introduction of this trait into breeding programs, thereby increasing the quality of pinto beans being developed.

Ovulatory cycle-related alterations in the thecal growth and membrane protein content of thecal tissue of hen preovulatory follicles

In the hen ovary, each preovulatory follicle in the hierarchy, irrespective of its size and the level of its maturity is exposed to the preovulatory LH surge in each ovulatory cycle of an egg laying sequence. In the present study, the thecal weight and membrane protein content of theca layers at different stages of hen ovulatory cycle were assessed. Hens were killed 2 h (stage I), 9 h (stage II), 16 h (stage III), and 23 h (stage IV) after oviposition. The first (F1), second (F2), third (F3), fourth (F4) and fifth (F5) largest yellow follicles were utilized. In all follicles except F1, the thecal weight rose considerably between stages I and III ( P < 0.05) followed by a slight cessation of the thecal growth at stage IV. The mean content of the theca membrane protein in F1–F5 follicles was lowest at stage III, increasing at stage IV ( P < 0.05), although, in the case of individual follicles the difference was significant ( P < 0.05) in F3 follicles only. Estradiol-17β levels in the plasma were lowest (but not significant) at stage III, and a fourfold increase in the plasma progesterone concentration occurred at stage IV. These findings demonstrate for the first time the ovulatory cycle-related alterations in the thecal weight and membrane protein content in the hen preovulatory follicles. Data suggest that the preovulatory rise in ovarian steroid hormones is probably involved in transient termination of the growth and induction of differentiation of the theca in preovulatory follicles as they pass from one category to the next.

Exploring dynamic self-adaptive populations in differential evolution

Although the Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm has been shown to be a simple yet powerful evolutionary algorithm for optimizing continuous functions, users are still faced with the problem of preliminary testing and hand-tuning of the evolutionary parameters prior to commencing the actual optimization process. As a solution, self-adaptation has been found to be highly beneficial in automatically and dynamically adjusting evolutionary parameters such as crossover rates and mutation rates. In this paper, we present a first attempt at self-adapting the population size parameter in addition to self-adapting crossover and mutation rates. Firstly, our main objective is to demonstrate the feasibility of self-adapting the population size parameter in DE. Using De Jong's F1–F5 benchmark test problems, we showed that DE with self-adaptive populations produced highly competitive results compared to a conventional DE algorithm with static populations. In addition to reducing the number of parameters used in DE, the proposed algorithm actually outperformed the conventional DE algorithm for one of the test problems. It was also found that that an absolute encoding methodology for self-adapting population size in DE produced results with greater optimization reliability compared to a relative encoding methodology.

Proposed multidimensional structure of mania: beyond the euphoric-dysphoric dichotomy

Background: Although the construct of depression has been subjected to numerous factor analytic studies and phenomenological subtypes of clinical relevance have been delineated, this is not the case for mania. The few available studies have reported at least two factors, which consist of euphoric versus dysphoric-hostile subtypes. Our objective was to replicate and further enrich this literature. Methods: In the EPIMAN French National Study we systematically evaluated 104 DSM-IV hospitalized manic patients in four university centers in different regions of France. Psychiatrists completed the Beigel-Murphy Manic State Rating Scale (MSRS), as well as the HAM-D 17, affective temperament scales, and the GAF Axis V from DSM-IV. Categorization of patients into pure versus dysphoric mania was made on the basis of clinical diagnosis, independent from psychometric measures. Results: On principal component analysis of the MSRS, three factors explained the largest variance: a global manic (23.3% variance), paranoid-hostile (14.8% variance), and psychotic (9.1% variance). After varimax rotation, we obtained seven independent factors: F1 Disinhibition-instability, F2 Paranoia-hostility, F3 Deficit, F4 Grandiosity-psychosis, F5 Elation-euphoria, F6 Depression, and F7 (Hyper)sexuality. We could not demonstrate significant correlations between the individual factors and impaired functioning on GAF. However, depressive and, to some extent, cyclothymic temperaments correlated with F6 Depression. Finally, intergroup comparisons between pure versus dysphoric mania diagnosed clinically showed high levels of F3 Deficit and F5 Elation in the pure, and of F6 Depression in dysphoric, mania; F2 Paranoia-hostility did not discriminate these two clinical forms of mania. Limitations: Although the present analyses on the Beigel-Murphy represent the largest sample studied to date, they are still underpowered and do not guarantee a stable factorial structure. Our findings are cross-sectional and require prospective validation. Conclusions: Our data suggest that ‘dysphoria’ as used in the literature to qualify mania is insufficiently precise, and is best further specified as ‘depressive’ versus ‘irritable.’ Moreover, our data extend the rich multidimensional phenomenology of mania beyond the existing literature: we submit that disinhibition-instability (a core ‘activation’ component) can, on the one hand, be associated with distinct emotional presentations (euphoric, depressive, or irritable-hostile), as well as psychotic and deficit symptomatology on the other.

Air Classification of Barley Flours

ABSTRACTFlour samples from seven different barleys, including covered and naked barleys and barleys with normal, waxy, and high‐amylose starches, as well as the high fiber barley Prowashonupana, were impact‐milled and air‐classified in a pilot unit. Six fractions (F1–F5 and C5) with increasing particle size were obtained from each barley. All fractions were analyzed for ash, protein, starch, dietary fiber, and total and unextractable β‐glucan. Ash was enriched in C5; covered barleys (4.3–5.7% of dry matter) had a higher ash content than naked barleys (2.1–3.2%). Starch was enriched in F4 for normal and waxy barleys (72–79%) and in F3 for high‐amylose barleys (72–75%). Protein was enriched in F1 (14–26%) for the different barleys. β‐glucan was enriched in F5 and C5 (7–23%), Prowashonupana had the highest value. The extractability of β‐glucan decreased with increasing particle size, probably because of lower amounts of endogenous β‐glucanase and poorer availability of the substrate in larger particles.

Specific Isoforms of Actin-binding Proteins on Distinct Populations of Golgi-derived Vesicles

Golgi membranes and Golgi-derived vesicles are associated with multiple cytoskeletal proteins and motors, the diversity and distribution of which have not yet been defined. Carrier vesicles were separated from Golgi membranes, using an in vitro budding assay, and different populations of vesicles were separated using sucrose density gradients. Three main populations of vesicles labeled with beta-COP, gamma-adaptin, or p200/myosin II were separated and analyzed for the presence of actin/actin-binding proteins. beta-Actin was bound to Golgi cisternae and to all populations of newly budded vesicles. Centractin was selectively associated with vesicles co-distributing with beta-COP-vesicles, while p200/myosin II (non-muscle myosin IIA) and non-muscle myosin IIB were found on different vesicle populations. Isoforms of the Tm5 tropomyosins were found on selected Golgi-derived vesicles, while other Tm isoforms did not colocalize with Tm5 indicating the association of specialized actin filaments with Golgi-derived vesicles. Golgi-derived vesicles were shown to bind to F-actin polymerized from cytosol with Jasplakinolide. Thus, newly budded, coated vesicles derived from Golgi membranes can bind to actin and are customized for differential interactions with microfilaments by the presence of selective arrays of actin-binding proteins.

Steroidogenic relationships of gonadotrophin hormones in the ovary of the hen ( Gallus domesticus)

The effects of chicken luteinizing hormone (cLH: IRC-2 and PRC AE1-1), turkey LH (B221B and HS-5-18), bovine follicle-stimulating hormone (bFSH: HS-2-17), chicken FSH (cFSH: PRC DC3(2) and AGCQSQ113445C), and turkey FSH (B150A and HS-1-153) on steroid output were evaluated by in vitro incubation of various ovarian tissues with the gonadotrophins. Output of androstenedione and estradiol was determined by 3-hr incubations of individual whole small follicles, classified by size and color as follows: small white (SWF, <1 mm), large white (LWF, 2–3 mm), and small yellow follicles (SYF, 5–10 mm). The effects of gonadotrophin preparations were also evaluated in large preovulatory follicles (F1–F5). Androstenedione and estradiol output was measured in incubation media from 100,000 theca cells and progesterone content was determined in the incubation media of 10,000 granulosa cells. All incubations were conducted in 1 ml of Medium 199 at 37°. Steroid output was quantitated by radioimmunoassay of incubation media. Potency estimates were derived by calculation of a peak stimulation index. The standard reference preparation was bLH (NIAMDD-LH-B4). Steroidogenesis was stimulated by three avian LH preparations. PRC AE1-1 was the most potent, with IRC-2 and B150A showing approximately 50% of the biological activity of PRC AE1-1 in most tissues. Turkey LH HS-5-18 was generally not potent. The presence of multiple isohormones of LH was implied, as various LH preparations exhibited different potency estimates in different tissues. The effects of FSH on steroidogenesis were not significant in most cases. Although the addition of cFSH AGCQSQ113445C failed to significantly increase output of estradiol from small follicles, potency estimates of this preparation were 0.15, 0.20, and 0.13 relative to NIAMDD-LH-B4 for SWF, LWF, and SYF, respectively. However, estrogen production by these follicles was more highly stimulated by LH than by FSH, and thus it would seem that FSH does not play a significant role in steroidogenesis in the hen's ovary. The results of this study suggest that steroid biosynthesis in the hen's ovary may be regulated by multiple forms of LH.

Inhibin bioactivity and pituitary cell mitogenic activity from cultured chicken ovarian granulosa and thecal/stromal cells.

A sensitive bioassay for inhibin based on the suppression of FSH release from cultured sheep anterior pituitary cells was used to determine whether inhibin is present in the preovulatory follicle in the domestic hen. Granulosa and thecal/stromal layers were separated from the five largest (F1-F5) yellow yolky follicles in the ovary and incubated in culture medium for 18 h. Inhibin was found predominantly in the media in which granulosa layers had been incubated. There was a progressive increase in the amount of inhibin produced per mg granulosa layer protein during the 5-6 days before ovulation. The ovary was observed to contain a growth factor which stimulated the proliferation of ovine pituitary cells. Thecal/stromal layer-conditioned medium (ThCM) but not granulosa layer-conditioned medium had a dose- and time-dependent mitogenic effect on cultured sheep pituitary cells. The maximal mitogenic effect achieved for ThCM was four to fivefold greater than control media and was significantly higher than the maximal mitogenic effects of epidermal growth factor (250 ng/ml; 1.5 x control) and transforming growth factor-beta (500 ng/ml; 1.2 x control). It is concluded that inhibin is produced by the granulosa layers in the large yellow yolky preovulatory ovarian follicles of the domestic hen. The thecal/stromal layers in these follicles produce a potent mitogenic factor, not produced by the granulosa layers, which stimulates the division of ovine anterior pituitary cells in vitro.

Patterns of cytochrome oxidase activity in the frontal agranular cortex of the macaque monkey

The laminar pattern of cytochrome oxidase activity was studied in the agranular frontal cortex (area 4–6 complex) of the macaque monkey. The cortex, stained with this method, showed 6 stripes of different enzymatic activity. On the basis of their characteristics and of the presence of highly active cells, the agranular frontal cortex could be parcellated in 5 areas (F1–F5). F1 very likely corresponds to area FA of von Bonin and Bailey. Rostral to F1 two large regions could be distinguished, one located medial to the spur of the arcuate sulcus and its imaginary caudal extension, the other laterally. The superior region was formed by areas F2 and F3. The first was located on the dorsomedial cortical surface, the other on the mesial surface. F3 possibly corresponds to the supplementary motor area. The inferior region was formed by areas F4 and F5. The rostral area (F5) showed transition characteristics that rendered it somehow similar to the prefrontal areas. It may correspond to the cytoarchitectonic area FCBm. The cytocrome oxidase technique is a useful means of parcellating the agranular frontal cortex and may greatly help in physiological and behavioral experiments.

Comparison of the response in Vivo to luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone of the granulosa of six follicles from the ovarian hierarchy in the chicken ( Gallus domesticus)

A function test was used to compare the response of the granulosa from the six largest preovulatory follicles, F1–F6, of laying hens to ovine LH (40 μg), ovine FSH (1200 μg), and PMSG (800 μg). The progesterone content of these granulosa which were dissected out exactly 45 min after the injection, was measured by radioimmunoassay. With each of the three gonadotropin preparations, the amount of progesterone accumulating in the F1–F3 granulosa always exceeded that of F4 and F5. The values were two to six times greater than those obtained in tissue from control hens injected with 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA). The levels in the smallest F6 granulosa did not differ from those of BSA-treated controls. LH had the greatest stimulatory effect on the granulosa response. The results indicate that the production of progesterone by the granulosa of the F1–F5 follicles in vivo may be controlled mainly by LH, rather than FSH. The observed changes induced by the FSH and PMSG preparations could be attributed to their LH content. The granulosa of the F1 and F2 follicles are the major contributors to the circulating progesterone in the blood plasma of the laying hen.

Laboratory colonization of the human onchocerciasis vector Simulium damnosum complex (Diptera: Simuliidae), using an enclosed, gravity-trough rearing system.

The onchocerciasis vector Simulium damnosum s. lat. was colonized for almost 6 generations using an inexpensive, enclosed, gravity-trough rearing system designed to flood itself during power failure. Egg-to-adult survival for F1–F5 was 74.3, 85.5, 25.8, 17.6, and 0%, respectively. Maximum egg-to-adult survival and developmental synchrony were obtained with F2's reared at 25–26 °C. Insemination of females was estimated at 0.4, 6, 7, 6, and 2% for the parental–F4 generations, respectively. Behavioral observations suggested female refractoriness prevented higher insemination rates. The male: female ratio was 1:1, 1.1:1, 0.7:1, 0.5:1, and 0.07:1 for the parental–F4 generations, respectively. The altered sex ratios and decreased larval survival of later generations are unexplained but may indicate inbreeding depression. Sixty-six percent of emerged females (total females emerged = 4768) survived to day 2 and an average of 92.5% of these blood-fed on humans. Egg development required 72 h at 27–28 °C. An average of 65.2% of engorged females survived to day 4 and 94.6% of surviving females oviposited on cork substrates under simulated twilight conditions. Fecundity of F2 and F4 females was 450.50 ± 145 ( n = 40, range = 200–811) and 502.79 ± 180.02 ( n = 30, range = 80–836), respectively. The difference in fecundity between F2 and F4 females was not significant. Eleven percent of fertile eggs stored 18–20 days at 0.5–1 °C hatched.

Structural and metamorphic development of migmatites in the Svecokarelides, near Tampere, Finland

ABSTRACTFive generations of structures (F1–F5), excluding faults, can be recognised in granitoid and trondhjemitoid migmatites with quartzofeldspathic neosome development associated with F1–F4 structures. Areal variation in metamorphic grade is shown by the zonal development of muscovite-sillimanite, potassium feldspar-sillimanite and potassium feldspar-cordierite assemblages in the palaeosomes. The climactic metamorphism, associated with MS2–MP2 mineral growth, occurred at between 675°C, 4 kb and 825°C, 6·5 kb. These pressure-temperature conditions are consistent with at least some neosome development having resulted from partial melting. The occurrence of a relatively shallow metamorphic geotherm and the resultant products are assessed in relation to metamorphic conditions known from elsewhere in the Svecokarelides.

Ovipositional Behavior of Wild-Type and Laboratory-Adapted Strains of Screwworm Flies 1 , 2

When female screwworm flies, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), were allowed continuous opportunity to oviposit on artificial medium, more than 32% of a population of wild-type (wound-reared F1–F5. progeny of native flies) females failed to oviposit, but only 3% of a population of laboratory-adapted females (progeny of strains reared on artificial medium > 150 generations) laid less than 1 egg mass. Also, peak oviposition of the 1st egg mass occurred about 4 days earlier with the laboratoryadapted females than with the wild-type females, and there was a highly significant difference ( P < 0.01) between the 2 groups in the mean number of egg masses per female. Oviposition by virgin wild-type females occurred rarely (about 4%), but there were almost no virgin females among laboratory-adapted populations by the time the flies reached sexual maturity.