The morphological evolution of galaxies

Many galaxies have taken on their familiar appearance relatively recently. In the distant Universe, galaxy morphology deviates significantly (and systematically) from that of nearby galaxies at redshifts (z) as low as 0.3. This corresponds to a time approximately 3.5 x 10(9) years in the past, which is only approximately 25% of the present age of the Universe. Beyond z = 0.5 (5 x 10(9) years in the past), spiral arms are less well developed and more chaotic, and barred spiral galaxies may become rarer. At z = 1, around 30% of the galaxy population is sufficiently peculiar that classification on Hubble's traditional "tuning fork" system is meaningless. On the other hand, some characteristics of galaxies have not changed much over time. The space density of luminous disk galaxies has not changed significantly since z = 1, indicating that although the general appearance of these galaxies has continuously changed over time, their overall numbers have been conserved.     

Occurrence of Escherichia coli O157 in raw material and food in Czech Republic

The study was carried out to investigate the incidence of Escherichia coli O157 in raw materials, foodstuffs and the agricultural environment. Of a total of 987 samples examined, 22 strains (2.2%) were identified as E. coli O157 and 10 of them as E. coli O157:H7. Cefixime-Tellurite MacConkey sorbitol agar (CT-SMAC) agar and Biosynth culture medium (BCM) E. coli O157:7 medium were used for the isolation. The virulence factors (stx1, stx2, eae, and ehxA genes) were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Most strains were isolated from the mechanically deboned poultry meat (nine), minced meat (six) and raw milk (four). One strain was isolated from beef carcass and two strains from waste water. No strains were were found in mass for sausages, refreshment salads, swabs of pork and poultry carcasses and faeces of cattle and pigs. Ten strains from the 22 identified proved to be positive for all factors of virulence. They were isolated from minced meat (four), raw milk (four), waste water (one) and swab from beef carcass (one). Sensitivity to the antimicrobial drugs ampicillin (AMS), ampicillin-sublactam (SAM), tetracycline (TET), ofloxacine (OFL), cefuroxime (CRX), chloramphenicol (CPM), gentamicine (GEN), colistin (COL), cephalozine (CLZ), cefoxitin (CXT), aztreonam (AZT), and sulphamethoxazole + trimethoprim (COT) was tested using the standard dilution technique and disc diffusion test. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) characteristics (MIC(50), MIC(90), MIC range) and inhibitory zone diameter were determined for each strain. As determined by MICs, the resistance to tested antibiotics in E. coli O157 isolates was found to AMS (90.9%), CLZ (81.8%), CRX (63.6%), CXT (72.7%), CPM (72.7%), TET (81.8%), SAM (59.1%), COT (9.1%), COL (63.61%), AZT (9%) and GEN (4.5%). The similar results were obtained using the disc diffusion method. The differences were found relating to SAM, CXT, CMO and TET. Resistance against one or more antibiotics was found in 95.4% of E. coli O157. Only one strain was susceptible to all tested antibiotics. Most of the strains were resistant to ampicillin and cephalozine. Eight different resistance phenotypes were demonstrated in E. coli O157.     

Safety and efficacy of sFilm-FS,a novel biodegradable fibrin sealant,in Göttingen minipigs

Bleeding during surgical procedures is a common complication. Therefore, hemostatic agents have been developed to control bleeding, and fibrin sealants have several benefits. sFilm-FS is a novel fibrin sealant that comprises a biodegradable co-polymeric film embedded with human fibrinogen and thrombin. Herein, the safety and efficacy of sFilm-FS were compared using a liver and spleen puncture model of Göttingen minipigs with those of the standard hemostatic techniques (control animals) and EVARREST^®, a reference fibrin sealant. Hemostasis and reduced blood loss were more effectively achieved with sFilm-FS than with the standard techniques in the control animals and comparable to those achieved with EVARREST^®. No treatment-related adverse effects were observed in any of the groups. Histopathological evaluation indicated that sFilm-FS was slightly and moderately reactive at the liver puncture site and spleen, respectively, compared with the standard techniques in the control animals. These changes are expected degradation reactions of the co-polymeric film and are not considered as adverse events. No treatment-related abnormalities were noted in the other evaluated organs. Additionally, no evidence of local or systemic thromboses was noted. These results support the use of sFilm-FS for hemostasis in humans.     

Changes in Bull Sperm Kinematics after Single Layer Centrifugation

The objective of this study was to evaluate bull sperm kinematics after centrifugation through a single layer of a colloid [Single Layer Centrifugation (SLC)]. Ejaculates from 20 bulls were extended and stored at 4–6°C for 24 h during transport to the laboratory for SLC through Androcoll‐B, followed by measurement of sperm kinematics in all samples. Total motility (86% and 88% for uncentrifuged and SLC samples, respectively) and progressive motility (84% for both the groups) were similar (p > 0.05). In contrast, straightness (STR) (0.65 vs 0.69), linearity (LIN) (0.32 vs 0.35) and beat cross frequency (BCF) (22.3 vs 23.6 Hz) were significantly higher in the SLC‐selected samples than in the uncentrifuged samples, whereas velocity of the average path (VAP) (95 vs 90 μm/s), curvilinear velocity (VCL) (192 vs 180 μm/s), amplitude of lateral head deviation (ALH) (7 μm vs 6.5 μm) and hypermotility (49% vs 38%) were significantly decreased. The kinematics of the samples with the poorest motility was improved most by SLC. In conclusion, even though SLC had no direct effect on total and progressive motility, it appeared to have a positive influence on several other kinematic parameters that may be important for fertilization after artificial insemination.     

Propolypeptide of von Willebrand factor circulates in blood and is identical to von Willebrand antigen II

The generally mild bleeding disorder of von Willebrand disease is associated with abnormalities of two distinct plasma proteins, the large multimeric von Willebrand factor (vWF), which mediates platelet adhesion, and von Willebrand antigen II (vW AgII), which is of unknown function. The two proteins were found to have a common biosynthetic origin in endothelial cells and megakaryocytes, which explains their simultaneous absence in the severe form of this hereditary disease. Shared amino acid sequences from a 100-kilodalton plasma glycoprotein and from vW AgII are identical to amino acid sequences predicted from a complementary DNA clone encoding the 5' end of vWF. In addition, these proteins have identical molecular weights and immunologic cross reactivities. Monoclonal antibodies prepared against both proteins recognize epitopes on the pro-vWF subunit and on a 100-kilodalton protein that are not present on the mature vWF subunit in endothelial cell lysates. In contrast, polyclonal antibodies against vWF recognize both pro-vWF and vWF subunits. Thus, the 100-kilodalton plasma glycoprotein and vW AgII are identical proteins and represent an extremely large propolypeptide that is first cleaved from pro-vWF during intracellular processing and then released into plasma.     

Collection and Characterisation of Malabar Tamarind [Garcinia cambogia (Gaertn.) Desr.]

A collaborative crop specific exploration and collection mission to collect the germplasm and to study the population size of male and female/hermaphrodite trees of Malabar tamarind [Garcinia cambogia (Gaertn.) Desr.] in the area of its diversity was undertaken during July 2002 in Kerala and Karnataka. A total of 56 accessions of Malabar tamarind were collected. Two collections of Malabar tamarind were found to be very specific because of the uncommon fruit colour, which is pinkish red. All the collected accessions are grown at National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) Regional Station, Thrissur for characterisation and conservation. Extensive range of variability was found in fruit colour, shape, size and nature of branching and canopy of trees. Characterisation of 13 fruit and five seed characters was done for 51 accessions. The variability was found to be maximum for nipple length (74.8%) and minimum for fruit girth (12.8%). Two promising accessions were identified based on mean fruit weight (161 g) in IC 354028 and mean rind thickness (15 mm) and mean rind weight (125 g) in IC 354019.     

Identification of triterpene hydroxycinnamates with in vitro antitumor activity from whole cranberry fruit (Vaccinium macrocarpon)

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of cranberry fruit was used to determine the identity of triterpenoid esters from Vaccinium macrocarpon, which inhibit tumor cell growth and may play a role in cancer prevention. In our previous study, a fraction from whole fruit exhibited tumor cell growth inhibition in vitro. The major components of this fraction were isolated by chromatographic separation of ethyl acetate extracts, purified by semipreparative HPLC, and identified by NMR as cis- (1) and trans- (2) isomers of 3-O-p-hydroxycinnamoyl ursolic acid. These triterpenoid esters have not been previously reported in Vaccinium fruit. Bioassay of the purified triterpene cinnamates in tumor cell lines in vitro showed slightly greater activity of compound 1 in most cell lines, with GI(50) values of approximately 20 microM in MCF-7 breast, ME180 cervical and PC3 prostate tumor cell lines. Quercetin was slightly less active than 1, while cyanidin-3-galactoside exhibited much lower cytotoxicity, with GI(50) greater than 250 microM in all cell lines. Phenylboronic acid (3) was also isolated from the fruit but showed insignificant antitumor activity.