Effect of oxygen on the germination and culturability of Bacillus atrophaeus spores

The effect of oxygen on the germination and culturability of aerobic Bacillus atrophaeus spores was investigated in this study. Under oxic or anoxic conditions, various nutritional and non-nutritional germinants were utilized to induce germination. Tb3+-dipicolinic acid fluorescence assay and phase-contrast microscopy were used to track the germination process. The final germination level, germination half time, and germination speed were used to define germination kinetics. Colony-forming unit enumeration was used to assess the culturability of germinated spores germinated with or without oxygen. The results show that in the absence of oxygen, the final germination level was unaffected, germination half time decreased by up to 35.0%, germination speed increased by up to 27.4%, and culturability decreased by up to 95.1%. It is suggested that oxygen affects some germinant receptor-dependent germination pathways, implying that biomolecules engaged in these pathways may be oxygen-sensitive. Furthermore, spores that have completed the germination process in either anoxic or oxic conditions may have different culturability. This research contributed to a better understanding of the fundamental mechanism of germination.

Motives for Decreasing the Curing Time of HTPB-AP Composite Propellants

One of the standard conditions for solidifying composite propellants consist of hydroxyl terminated poly-butadiene as a binder and ammonium perchlorate as oxidizer, is the curing process for certain time in a certain temperature. On this paper, the motives and reasons for the decreasing of this curing time were studied and discussed. The study and discussion include the productivity, cost, delivery, manpower, and maintenance points of view. By experiments and questionnaire work, it was seen that, all the previous points of view were affected positively. Generally, the productivity of the propellant was increased by 100%, the cost of curing process was decreased by 25% of the previous cost, the man power needed for the process of waiting and recording the readings was decreased by 50%, customer delivery process was fasted by 50% of the previous delivery time, and finally the maintenance processes due to equipment depreciation were improved by 50% from the previous. From the whole point of view, it was seen that, the decreasing of the curing time is very useful for the production of the propellant. Finally, it is observed that the decreasing of the curing time to the half time brought the same properties of the standard curing time, and then it is concluded that the deceasing of the curing time can be applied safely and usefully in the casting production line.

SERCA2a gain of function in patient-derived R14Del hiPSC-CMs

Phospholamban (PLN) is the natural inhibitor of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA2a). Heterozygous PLN-R14del mutation is associated with an arrhythmogenic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), whose pathogenesis has been attributed to SERCA2a “superinhibition.” The aim of the project is to test in human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) harvested from a PLN-R14del carrier whether (1) Ca2+ dynamics and protein localization were compatible with SERCA2a superinhibition and (2) functional abnormalities could be reverted by pharmacological SERCA2a activation with PST3093. Ca2+ transients (CaT) were recorded at 36°C in hiPSC-CMs clusters during field stimulation. SERCA2a and PLN were immunolabeled in single hiPSC-CMs. Mutant (MUT) preparations were compared with isogenic WT ones obtained by mutation reversal. WT and MUT differed for the following properties: (1) CaT time to peak (tpeak) and half-time of CaT decay were shorter in MUT, (2) several CaT profiles were identified in WT, whereas “hyperdynamic” ones largely prevailed in MUT, (3) whereas tpeak rate-dependently declined in WT, it was shorter and rate independent in MUT, and (4) diastolic Ca2+ rate-dependently accumulated in WT, but not in MUT. When applied to WT, PST3093 changed all of the above properties to resemble those of MUT; when applied to MUT, PST3093 had no effect. Preferential perinuclear SERCA2a-PLN localization was lost in MUT hiPSC-CMs. In conclusion, functional data converge to argue for PLN-R14del incompetence in inhibiting SERCA2a in the tested case, thus weakening the rationale for therapeutic SERCA2a activation. Mechanisms alternative to SERCA2a superinhibition should be considered in the pathogenesis of DCM, including dysregulation of Ca2+-dependent transcription.

Indikator Ekonomi Subsektor Perikanan Tangkap Indonesia di Masa Pandemi Covid-19 Tahun 2020

Terhambatnya kegiatan perekonomian di masa pandemi Covid-19 menyebabkan subsektor perikanan tangkap Indonesia yang masih didominasi oleh nelayan kecil rentan terhadap kemiskinan. Kajian khusus dibutuhkan untuk melihat daya beli nelayan melalui indeks nilai tukar nelayan (NTN). Fluktuasi NTN dapat dipengaruhi oleh beberapa faktor, diantaranya indeks konsumsi rumah tangga (IKRT), nilai ekspor perikanan tangkap, dan jumlah penambahan kasus aktif Covid-19. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat pengaruh jangka pendek dan jangka panjang faktor-faktor tersebut terhadap NTN Indonesia di masa pandemi Covid-19 serta kecepatan konvergensi NTN provinsi. Analisis yang digunakan adalah regresi data panel dinamis pada data bulanan 2020 dari 34 provinsi seluruh Indonesia. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan nilai ekspor perikanan tangkap berpengaruh jangka pendek terhadap NTN, sedangkan penambahan jumlah kasus aktif Covid-19 berpengaruh jangka pendek dan panjang terhadap NTN. Kesenjangan NTN antar provinsi berkurang 17,21 persen per bulan dan mencapai setengahnya dari kondisi awal (half time convergence) dalam waktu 4 bulan.

Effects of Half-Time Cooling Using a Fan with Skin Wetting on Thermal Response During Intermittent Cycling Exercise in the Heat

The present study investigated the effects of half-time (HT) break cooling using a fan and damp sponge on physiological and perceptual responses during the 2nd half of a repeated-sprint exercise in a hot environment. Eight physically active men performed a familiarization trial and two experimental trials of a 2×30-min intermittent cycling exercise protocol with a 15-min HT break in hot conditions (35°C, 50% relative humidity). Two experimental trials were conducted in random order: skin wetting with a fan (FANwet) and no cooling (CON). During the 2nd half, a repeated-sprint cycling exercise was performed: i. e., 5 s of maximal pedaling (body weight×0.075 kp) every minute, separated by 25 s of unloaded pedaling (80 rpm) and 30 s of rest. Rectal temperature, skin temperature (chest, forearm, thigh, and calf), heart rate, physiological strain index, rating of perceived exertion, thermal sensation, and comfort were significantly improved in the FANwet condition (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the repeated-sprint cycling exercise performance between conditions. The results suggest that skin wetting with a fan during the HT break is a practical and effective cooling strategy for mitigating physiological and perceptual strain during the 2nd half in hot conditions.

Physical Properties and Non-Isothermal Crystallisation Kinetics of Primary Mechanically Recycled Poly(l-lactic acid) and Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)

The physical properties and non-isothermal melt- and cold-crystallisation kinetics of poly (l-lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) biobased polymers reprocessed by mechanical milling of moulded specimens and followed injection moulding with up to seven recycling cycles are investigated. Non-isothermal crystallisation kinetics are evaluated by the half-time of crystallisation and a procedure based on the mathematical treatment of DSC cumulative crystallisation curves at their inflection point (Kratochvil-Kelnar method). Thermomechanical recycling of PLLA raised structural changes that resulted in an increase in melt flow properties by up to six times, a decrease in the thermal stability by up to 80 °C, a reduction in the melt half-time crystallisation by up to about 40%, an increase in the melt crystallisation start temperature, and an increase in the maximum melt crystallisation rate (up to 2.7 times). Furthermore, reprocessing after the first recycling cycle caused the elimination of cold crystallisation when cooling at a slow rate. These structural changes also lowered the cold crystallisation temperature without impacting the maximum cold crystallisation rate. The structural changes of reprocessed PHBV had no significant effect on the non-isothermal crystallisation kinetics of this material. Additionally, the thermomechanical behaviour of reprocessed PHBV indicates that the technological waste of this biopolymer is suitable for recycling as a reusable additive to the virgin polymer matrix. In the case of reprocessed PLLA, on the other hand, a significant decrease in tensile and flexural strength (by 22% and 46%, respectively) was detected, which reflected changes within the biobased polymer structure. Apart from the elastic modulus, all the other thermomechanical properties of PLLA dropped down with an increasing level of recycling.

Acute and prolonged effects of the simulated physical demands of a futsal match on lower limb muscle power and strength, sprint performance and muscle soreness

BACKGROUND: Prolonged fatigue effects may be a concern after futsal matches mainly because of the actions performed by futsal players (e.g., sprinting, jumping) that usually involve the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC). However, there no studies analyzed the prolonged effects of futsal-specific fatigue and how futsal players can recover from performance tasks. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the acute and prolonged effects of a protocol that simulates specific physical demands of futsal on countermovement-jump, sprint performance, muscle strength and muscle soreness. METHODS: Fifteen amateur futsal male athletes (18.3 ± 3.8 years) performed a futsal intermittent running protocol (FIRP) and were assessed for (moment production, sprint and jumping performance and muscle soreness) at pre, during half-time, immediately after, post 24 and 48 hours after the FIRP. Analysis of variance (repeated measures) was used to compare variable means over time. RESULTS: The main results indicated a decrement in the CMJ height (p= 0.03) and an increase of 10 m and 20 m sprint times (p= 0.01–p< 0.01, respectively) during half-time and the post FIRP. There was a decrement in eccentric peak moment of the knee extensors (p= 0.02) and flexors (p< 0.01) until 48h post protocol and a decrement in concentric peak moment of the flexors (p< 0.01) post protocol. Athletes reported muscle soreness in the hamstrings (p= 0.03) post and 24 h after the FIRP. CONCLUSION: FIRP induced acute effects in the jump and sprint performances only. On the other hand, the knee moment production capability (mainly eccentric) suffered acute and also prolonged effects of the FIRP accompanied by delayed muscle soreness in the hamstring muscles.