Pedersenfink8938

The Megalopolis of Mexico is one of the largest cities in the world and presents substantial problems of metal pollution. Insectivorous bats that inhabit this city are potentially exposed to metals and could therefore serve as a good biomonitor. We collected 70 adult male individuals of Tadarida brasiliensis (Chiroptera Molossidae) from two areas inside the Megalopolis (Cuautitlán and Xochimilco) and two rural environments in Central Mexico (Tequixquiac and Tlalcozotitlán). We analyzed livers to determine the total concentrations of ten metals by the ICP-MS technique, compared concentrations among study sites to provide evidence of metal exposure, and explored the associations between metals and their accumulation patterns in bats. The hepatic metal concentrations we recorded were generally consistent with those of similar studies in insectivorous bats. Higher concentrations of Cu and Zn in Cuautitlán and Xochimilco bats were associated with vehicular traffic. Higher concentrations of V, Cr, and Co in Tequixquiac bats and Cd in Tlalcozotitlán bats were linked with industrial, agricultural, or sewage sources. Selleckchem Apcin Variations in Fe and Mn concentrations were related to geogenic sources or local conditions. Similar Ni and Pb concentrations were linked with strong homeostatic controls or historical pollution. Accumulation patterns showed that all urban bats belonged to a single population with similar degrees of metal exposure, while rural bats belonged to two different populations exposed to different metals. Our results highlight the need to monitor the emissions generated by particular sources in each study site. O-Glycopeptides derived from natural bioresources are an attractive material for a variety of purposes. Whey protein products are used as a human dietary supplement and in animal feed and are a readily available resource for the preparation of O-glycopeptides. The protein composition of bovine milk is well-studied, and many glycoproteins carrying N-glycans and O-glycans have been found in commercial whey protein products. In particular, κ-casein glycomacropeptide and lactophorin, which have several O-glycans, are known to exist in whey protein. Here, we report an isolation method of O-glycopeptides bearing disialyl core 1 type and core 2 type glycan moieties from commercially available whey protein products using proteose peptone extraction, enzymatic digestion (with trypsin or thermolysin), and sequential high-performance liquid chromatography purification. We were able to isolate several kinds of O-glycopeptides from lactophorin and κ-casein six peptide sequences and five kinds of O-glycans. The O-glycopeptides were detected and identified by flow injection analysis combined with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry using collision-induced dissociation and electron transfer dissociation. O-Glycopeptides bearing a variety of O-glycans could be used as a substrate for endo-α-N-acetyl galactosaminidase, and their various O-glycan structures were useful for the investigation of enzyme activities. The stereospecific syntheses of methyl 2-amino-2,4-dideoxy-4-C-propyl-α-d-glucopyranoside and of methyl 2-amino-2,4-dideoxy-α-D-xylo-hexopyranoside and of their 6S-deuterioisotopomers are described as models for ring I of the aminoglycoside antibiotics propylamycin and 4'-deoxyparomomycin, respectively. Analysis of the 1H NMR spectra of these compounds and of methyl 2-amino-2-deoxy-α-d-glucopyranoside, a model for paromomycin itself, reveals that neither deoxygenation at the 4-position, nor substitution of the C-O bond at the 4-postion by a C-C bond significantly changes the distribution of the side chain population between the three possible staggered conformations. From this it is concluded that the beneficial effect on antiribosomal and antibacterial activity of the propyl group in propylamycin does not derive from a change in side chain conformation. Rather, enhanced basicity of the ring oxygen and increased hydrophobicity and/or solvation effects are implicated. A novel GH36 α-galactosidase gene (LrAgal36A) from Lichtheimia ramosa was synthesized and highly expressed in Pichia pastoris. The enzyme titer and protein yield for high-density fermentation in a 5 L fermentor were up to 953.6 U mL-1 and 4.36 g L-1. Purified recombinant LrAgal36A showed the maximum activity at pH 6.0 and 65 °C and was thermostable with a half-life of 70 min at 60 °C. LrAgal36A displayed the highest specific activity (353.17 ± 4.19 U mg-1) toward p-nitrophenyl-α-d-galactopyranoside (pNPGal) followed by galacto-oligosaccharides and could act slightly on galactomannans. The Km and catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) of LrAgal36A for pNPGal were 0.33 mM and 1569.50 mM-1 s-1, respectively. LrAgal36A and GH5 β-mannanase from L. ramosa showed a significant synergistic effect on the degradation of locust bean gum (LBG), resulting in release more reducing sugars (1.56 folds) and galactose (7.6 folds) by simultaneous or sequential reactions. Due to its hydrolysis properties, LrAgal36A might have potential applications in the area of pulp biobleaching, feed and food processing. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of fear of childbirth (FOC) using a sample of gravida women in Kenya, a developing country where it is not fully acknowledged. MATERIALS AND METHODS This were a cross-sectional study on gravida women visiting health facilities to receive routine antenatal care. The study applied multistage sampling to enrol eligible expectant women. A researcher-developed questionnaire was used alongside Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (version A) to collect respondents' demographic characteristics and to measure their fear of childbirth levels, respectively. RESULTS Approximately 29.5% had low, 40.4% moderate, 22.1% high, and 8% recorded severe FOC levels. Comparing by parity, the prevalence of severe FOC was higher on primigravida at 13.8% than multigravida, 8.0%. The results revealed a significant relationship between marital status (p = 0.045), parity (p = 0.000), literacy status (p = 0.000), regular check-up of pregnancy at health facilities (p = 0.