Functional supramolecular polymers

Supramolecular polymers can be random and entangled coils with the mechanical properties of plastics and elastomers, but with great capacity for processability, recycling, and self-healing due to their reversible monomer-to-polymer transitions. At the other extreme, supramolecular polymers can be formed by self-assembly among designed subunits to yield shape-persistent and highly ordered filaments. The use of strong and directional interactions among molecular subunits can achieve not only rich dynamic behavior but also high degrees of internal order that are not known in ordinary polymers. They can resemble, for example, the ordered and dynamic one-dimensional supramolecular assemblies of the cell cytoskeleton and possess useful biological and electronic functions.     

The CPRO Cannabis germplasm collection

Summary A collection of more than a 150 Cannabis accessions is being established as a source for evaluation and breeding experiments. Origin of the accessions and maintenance of the collection are described.     

Titanium carbide nanocrystals in circumstellar environments

Meteorites contain micrometer-sized graphite grains with embedded titanium carbide grains. Although isotopic analysis identifies asymptotic giant branch stars as the birth sites of these grains, there is no direct observational identification of these grains in astronomical sources. We report that infrared wavelength spectra of gas-phase titanium carbide nanocrystals derived in the laboratory show a prominent feature at a wavelength of 20.1 micrometers, which compares well to a similar feature in observed spectra of postasymptotic giant branch stars. It is concluded that titanium carbide forms during a short (approximately 100 years) phase of catastrophic mass loss (>0.001 solar masses per year) in dying, low-mass stars.     

Sex Pheromones of Summer Fruit Tortrix Moth Adoxophyes orana: Two Synergistic Isomers

Both cis-9-and cis-11-tetradecenyl acetate were isolated from 2500 virgin females of the summer fruit tortrix moth Adoxophyes orana (F.v.R.) by gel permeation, column chromatography on silica gel, and gas chromatography. Their chemical, physical, and biological properties were identical to those of the synthetic compounds. In contrast to the single compounds, mixtures of these pheromones were highly active in laboratory and field tests. Catches, in traps, with the pheromone mixture were comparable to those obtained when live females were used as bait. This is the first example of a member of the lepidoptera in which the presence of two isomers is an absolute requirement for activity in laboratory and in field experiments.     

Relationship between milk production and somatic cell count in dairy cows in East Gippsland

SUMMARY The analysis of records for 75 821 herd tests on 23 700 cows in the Macalister Irrigation District of East Gippsland, using a model that also included stage of lactation, herd and cow effects, found a strong relationship between somatic cell count and milk production. Unit increases in the natural logarithm of the somatic cell count were associated with decreases in production of up to 2.6% in the range 54 598 to 403 429 cells per mL. This is equivalent to a decrease of 1.9% for a doubling of cell count from 100 000 to 200 000 cells per mL. Subclinical mastitis was assessed to be a significant source of loss in milk production in the study area.     

阴外动脉灌注氨基酸、葡萄糖混合物对奶山羊血浆总蛋白、白蛋白及相关激素受体mRNA表达量的影响

本试验旨在研究阴外动脉乳成分前体物浓度的变化对奶山羊乳腺吸收及相关激素受体mRNA表达量的影响.选用2～3岁,体重、产奶量相近、安装有阴外动脉和腹部皮下静脉血插管的关中奶山羊3只,由阴外动脉灌注氨基酸和葡萄糖混合物,在灌注前后分别采集动静脉血浆、乳腺组织,测定动静脉血浆中总蛋白、白蛋白的含量及乳腺组织β-酪蛋白、催乳素受体、生长激素受体和类胰岛素生长因子Ⅰ的mRNA表达量。结果表明,与灌注前相比,乳成分前体物含量及乳腺对其的摄取量均提高(P<0.05).乳腺组织中β-酪蛋白、生长激素受体和类胰岛素生长因子Ⅰ的mRNA表达量显著提高(P<0.05),催乳素受体的mRNA表达量极显著提高(P<0.01),说明阴外动脉灌注氨基酸、葡萄糖混合物可以显著地提高乳成分前体物的浓度,有效地刺激血液中激素发生变化,提高乳腺组织中相关受体mRNA的表达.     

A preliminary map of epitopes on envelope glycoprotein E1 of HCV strain Brescia.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against envelope glycoprotein E1 (gp51-54) of hog cholera virus (HCV) strain Brescia have been shown to recognize four different antigenic domains A, B, C and D. Epitopes of within domain A have mainly been found conserved among HCV strains, whereas epitopes within domains B, C and D are not conserved. We used transiently expressed hybrid E1 genes of HCV strains Brescia and "C" to map the non-conserved epitopes on E1. Epitopes in domains B and C are located within the ultimate N-terminal 104 amino acids. The non-conserved subdomain A3 is most probably located between domains B/C and a hydrophobic region, which is highly conserved between HCV strains Brescia and "C". The conserved subdomains A1 and A2 are probably located in the vicinity and C-terminally of this conserved, hydrophobic region, which is near the centre of the E1 amino acid sequence.     

Patent ductus arteriosus in the dog: a retrospective study of clinical presentation, diagnostics and comparison of interventional techniques in 102 dogs (2003-2011)

A left-to-right shunting patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common congenital heart defect in dogs. If it is left uncorrected, life expectancy in most cases is decreased due to the development of left-sided congestive heart failure. The aim of this study was to describe the dogs diagnosed with PDA in the Utrecht University Companion Animal Clinic from 2003 to 2011. The medical records of 102 patients were retrieved, and the clinical presentation and outcome of PDA closure by surgical ligation or transarterial catheter occlusion (TCO) were reviewed. In the TCO group, the result of coiling was compared with the placement of an Amplatz Canine Duct Occluder (ACDO). A predisposition to PDA was found in the German Brak, Stabyhoun, and Schapendoes. Dogs treated with surgical ligation were significantly older and heavier than those treated with TCO; within the TCO group, dogs treated with ACDO were significantly older and heavier The initial success rate (complete disappearance of the audible murmur in a patient that survived the procedure) was not significantly different between the different treatment modalities. Major complications were more common with surgical ligation, but the incidence of minor complications was not significantly different. There was no diference in survival between dogs treated with surgical ligation and dogs treated with TCO. This study shows a previously unreported predisposition to PDA in certain breeds. Both surgical ligation and TCO are suitable techniques for PDA closure, although major complications were more common with surgical ligation. ACDO appears to be the method with the least complications and thus can be considered the safest method.