Search results for " rods"
showing 10 items of 10 documents
Cofilin and Neurodegeneration: New Functions for an Old but Gold Protein
2021
Cofilin is an actin-binding protein that plays a major role in the regulation of actin dynamics, an essential cellular process. This protein has emerged as a crucial molecule for functions of the nervous system including motility and guidance of the neuronal growth cone, dendritic spine organization, axonal branching, and synaptic signalling. Recently, other important functions in cell biology such as apoptosis or the control of mitochondrial function have been attributed to cofilin. Moreover, novel mechanisms of cofilin function regulation have also been described. The activity of cofilin is controlled by complex regulatory mechanisms, with phosphorylation being the most important, since t…
Safety and immunomodulatory effects of three probiotic strains isolated from the feces of breast-fed infants in healthy adults: SETOPROB study.
2013
We previously described the isolation and characterization of three probiotic strains from the feces of exclusively breast-fed newborn infants: Lactobacillus paracasei CNCM I-4034, Bifidobacterium breve CNCM I-4035 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-4036. These strains were shown to adhere to intestinal mucus in vitro, to be sensitive to antibiotics and to resist biliary salts and low pH. In the present study, a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 100 healthy volunteers in three Spanish cities was carried out to evaluate the tolerance, safety, gut colonization and immunomodulatory effects of these three probiotics. Volunteers underwent a 15-day washout perio…
An improved protocol for electroporation ofOenococcus oeniATCC BAA-1163 using ethanol as immediate membrane fluidizing agent
2008
Aims: To finalize an effective and reproducible electroporation procedure to transform Oenococcus oeni ATCC BAA-1163 strain. Methods and Results: The vector pGID052 was selected to optimize the electroporation procedure. Transformation efficiency was 5·8 × 103 per μg of DNA. Transformation was improved when competent cells were prepared with exponential phase cultures; optimum electroporation parameters were an electric pulse of 12·5 kV cm−1, under a resistance of 200 Ω and the presence of 10% (v/v) ethanol in the electroporation buffer (EPB). Conclusions: An effective protocol to transform O. oeni ATCC BAA-1163 strain by electroporation has been obtained by addition of ethanol to the EP…
Assembly of human contact phase proteins and release of bradykinin at the surface of curli-expressing Escherichia coli.
1996
Previous work has demonstrated that most strains of the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes bind kininogens through M protein, a fibrous surface protein and virulence determinant. Here we find that strains of several other pathogenic bacterial species, both Gram-positive and Gram-negative, isolated from patients with sepsis, also bind kininogens, especially kininogen (HK). The most pronounced interaction was seen between HK and Escherichia coli. Among clinical isolates of E. coli, the majority of the enterohaemorrhagic, enterotoxigenic, and sepsis strains, but none of the enteroinvasive and enteropathogenic strains, bound HK. Binding of HK to E. coli correlated with the expression of curl…
Application of graphene quantum dots in heavy metals and pesticides detection
2020
Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs) were produced using electrochemical oxidation of graphite rods. Obtained GQDs were gamma-irradiated in the presence of the N atoms source, ethylenediamine. Both structural and morphological changes were investigated using UV-Vis, X-ray photoelectron and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy as well as atomic force microscopy. The ability of both types of dots to change PL intensity in the presence of pesticides such as malathion and glyphosate, as well as copper (II) ions was detected. These preliminary results indicated a high potential of produced GQDs to be applied as non-enzymatic PL sensors for the detection of selected pesticides and metal ions. 26th Interna…
O2-sensing and O2-dependent gene regulation in facultatively anaerobic bacteria.
1995
Availability of O2 is one of the most important regulatory signals in facultatively anaerobic bacteria. Various two- or one-component sensor/regulator systems control the expression of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism in response to O2. Most of the sensor proteins contain heme or Fe as cofactors that interact with O2 either by binding or by a redox reaction. The ArcA/ArcB regulator of aerobic metabolism in Escherichia coli may use a different sensory mechanism. In two-component regulators, the sensor is located in the cytoplasmic membrane, whereas one-component regulators are located in the cytoplasm. Under most conditions, O2 can readily reach the cytoplasm and could provide the signal in …
Case of fatal systemic infection with an Aureobacterium sp.: identification of isolate by 16S rRNA gene analysis
1996
The case of a 75-year-old man who succumbed to a disseminated infection most likely caused by a species of the genus Aureobacterium is reported. Identification of the isolate was achieved by comparative 16S rRNA gene analysis. Aureobacteria are commonly found in the environment. However, only recently have they been recognized as a cause of infections including septicemia and soft tissue infections. To our knowledge, this is the first documentation of a fatal infection caused by an Aureobacterium sp.
Collisions and Mechanical Wave Propagation in Elastic Rods
2011
Some results from experiments intended to measure the propagation speed of sound waves produced by collisions between small bodies and metallic rods are analysed. Elementary models of elastic collision and of the reflection and transmission of waves at media boundaries are discussed and tested with experimental data, in the framework of a workshop on mechanical wave propagation that featured at the University of Palermo in a two-year graduate programme for prospective physics teachers and in courses for undergraduate engineering and physics students.
Acoustic Emission Monitoring of Chemically Bonded Anchors
2010
This paper presents a study on the use of acoustic emission (AE) to assess the structural soundness of concrete reinforced with chemically bonded anchors. The results of an experimental work based on six pullout tests monitored using an AE instrumentation suite are reported below. In every test one rebar was embedded in the hardened concrete by means of polyester resin. The AE was adopted to moni- tor the onset and progression of any structural damage. The parametric analysis, the intensity analysis and the moment tensor analysis of AE data were used to discriminate among different sources of damage. The technique shows promise for field application and may contribute to fully understand th…
L’USO DEI DISPOSITIVI DI RINFORZO LIGNEO NELL’ARCHITETTURA SICILIANA IN ETÀ MODERNA
2014
Il saggio studia l’uso dei dispositivi di rinforzo ligneo nelle architetture siciliane d’età moderna ponendo criticamente a confronto documenti di fabbrica, brani tratti dai trattati d’architettura, siciliani e non, e contributi offerti dalla letteratura storica non specialistica. Lo studio evidenzia la persistenza e le peculiarità d’uso di una tecnica che, molto diffusa in area mediterranea, in Sicilia si configura come una “invariante” del repertorio costruttivo tradizionale.