PCR-based detection of gene transfer vectors: application to gene doping surveillance

Athletes who illicitly use drugs to enhance their athletic performance are at risk of being banned from sports competitions. Consequently, some athletes may seek new doping methods that they expect to be capable of circumventing detection. With advances in gene transfer vector design and therapeutic gene transfer, and demonstrations of safety and therapeutic benefit in humans, there is an increased probability of the pursuit of gene doping by athletes. In anticipation of the potential for gene doping, assays have been established to directly detect complementary DNA of genes that are top candidates for use in doping, as well as vector control elements. The development of molecular assays that are capable of exposing gene doping in sports can serve as a deterrent and may also identify athletes who have illicitly used gene transfer for performance enhancement. PCR-based methods to detect foreign DNA with high reliability, sensitivity, and specificity include TaqMan real-time PCR, nested PCR, and internal threshold control PCR.     

The determination of aluminum by atomic absorption spectroscopy

A study of the determination of aluminum by atomic absorption spectroscopy has been made using a solution of aluminum cupferrate in 4-methyl-2-pentanone to feed oxy-acetylene or oxy-hydrogen flames. Investigations were made on the effect of the variables, viz., slit-width, flow rates, flow ratios and flame positions, on the intensity of aluminum absorption. The data were studied to determine the optimum conditions. These investigations brought out the comparative merits of the two flames for the determination of aluminum, and also elucidated the mechanism of aluminum absorption in an oxy-acetylene flame.     

ExplorEnz: a MySQL database of the IUBMB enzyme nomenclature

Background  

We describe the database ExplorEnz, which is the primary repository for EC numbers and enzyme data that are being curated on behalf of the IUBMB. The enzyme nomenclature is incorporated into many other resources, including the ExPASy-ENZYME, BRENDA and KEGG bioinformatics databases.     

Biological Treatment of Shrimp Aquaculture Wastewater Using a Sequencing Batch Reactor

To improve the water quality in the shrimp aquaculture, a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) has been tested for the treatment of shrimp wastewater. A SBR is a variation of the activated sludge biological treatment process. This process uses multiple steps in the same tank to take the place of multiple tanks in a conventional treatment system. The SBR accomplishes equalization, aeration, and clarification in a timed sequence in a single reactor basin. This is achieved in a simple tank, through sequencing stages, which include fill, react, settle, decant, and idle. A laboratory scale SBR and a pilot scale SBR was successfully operated using shrimp aquaculture wastewater. The wastewater contained high concentration of carbon and nitrogen. By operating the reactor sequentially, viz, aerobic and anoxic modes, nitrification and denitrification were achieved as well as removal of carbon in a laboratory scale SBR. To be specific, the initial chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration of 1,593 mg/l was reduced to 44 mg/l within 10 days of reactor operation. Ammonia in the sludge was nitrified within 3 days. The denitrification of nitrate was achieved by the anaerobic process and 99% removal of nitrate was observed. Based on the laboratory study, a pilot scale SBR was designed and operated to remove excess nitrogen in the shrimp wastewater. The results mimicked the laboratory scale SBR.     

Luminescence and Stimulated Emission in Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles,Films, and Crystals

ZnO has attracted attention as a candidate material for ultraviolet light-emitting devices. Its 3.37 -eV band gap is comparable to that of GaN, and single crystal substrates can be grown. Control of p-type conductivity in ZnO is under study in several laboratories including ours. We report streak camera measurements of time-resolved luminescence and stimulated emission excited in single crystal, film, and particle samples under excitation by 300 fs laser pulses at temperatures from 17 K to 295 K. We also describe p-n junctions formed by control of oxygen pressure in reactive sputtering of ZnO films, and results of introducing nitrogen during reactive sputtering.     

Lifetime measurement of the first excited 2+ state in 16C

The lifetime of the 2_+(1) state in 16C has been measured with the recoil distance method using the 9Be(9Be,2p) fusion-evaporation reaction at a beam energy of 40 MeV. The mean lifetime was measured to be 11.7(20) ps corresponding to a B(E2;2_+(1)-->0+) value of 4.15(73)e_2 fm_4 [1.73(30) W.u.], consistent with other even-even closed shell nuclei. Our result does not support an interpretation for "decoupled" valence neutrons.     

Combining agriculture and energy industry waste products to yield recyclable,thermally healable copolymers of elemental sulfur and oleic acid

Sulfur and oleic acid, two components of industrial waste/byproducts, were combined in an effort to prepare more sustainable polymeric materials. Zinc oxide was employed to serve the dual role of compatibilizing immiscible sulfur and oleic acid as well as to suppress evolution of toxic H₂S gas during reaction at high temperature. The reaction of sulfur, oleic acid, and zinc oxide led to a series of composites, ZOS _x (x = wt % sulfur, where x is 8–99). The ZOS _x materials ranged from sticky tars to hard solids at room temperature. The ZOS _x compositions were assessed by ¹H NMR spectrometry, FTIR spectroscopy, and elemental microanalysis. Copolymers ZOS _59‐99 , were further analyzed for thermal and mechanical properties by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and dynamic mechanical analysis. Remarkably, even ZOS ₉₉ , comprising only 1 wt % of zinc oxide/oleic acid (99 wt % S) exhibits at least an eightfold increase in storage modulus compared to sulfur alone. The four solid samples (59–99 wt % S) were thermally healable and readily remeltable with full retention of mechanical durability. These materials represent a valuable proof‐of‐concept for sustainably sourced, recyclable materials from unsaturated fatty acid waste products. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1704–1710