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Blue light plays an important role in the growth and development of fungi. Environmental cues enable plant pathogenic fungi to synchronise essential metabolic pathways to that of their hosts to gain a competitive advantage. Phylogenetic analysis of the LOV domain present in blue light receptors across all three kingdoms suggests that these receptors in fungal lineages have undergone convergent evolution to use the same domain for control and regulation of similar cellular and metabolic processes. In this review, the genetic basis of blue light photoperception in fungi, and the functions it regulates, will be discussed. Furthermore, the evolution of the light sensing domain and its role in pathogenesis is hypothesised concluding with how knowledge of conserved LOV domains may be exploited for fungal disease control in crop plants.

The zinc-finger SWIM domain-containing protein 6 (ZSWIM6) is a protein of unknown function that has been associated with schizophrenia and limited educational attainment by three independent genome-wide association studies. Additionally, a putatively causal point mutation in ZSWIM6 has been identified in several cases of acromelic frontonasal dysostosis with severe intellectual disability. Despite the growing number of studies implicating ZSWIM6 as an important regulator of brain development, its role in this process has never been examined. Here, we report the generation of Zswim6 knockout mice and provide a detailed anatomical and behavioral characterization of the resulting phenotype. We show that Zswim6 is initially expressed widely during embryonic brain development but becomes restricted to the striatum postnatally. Loss of Zswim6 causes a reduction in striatal volume and changes in medium spiny neuron morphology. These changes are associated with alterations in motor control, including hyperactivity, impaired rotarod performance, repetitive movements, and behavioral hyperresponsiveness to amphetamine. Together, our results show that Zswim6 is indispensable to normal brain function and support the notion that Zswim6 might serve as an important contributor to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

The main aim of the study was to assess the relationship between inhalable hexavalent chromium and “total” hexavalent chromium. Air sampling was conducted at steel passivation operation of a steel manufacturer at a stainless steel welding operation and at two hard chrome electroplaters. Air samples were taken side-by-side for “total” dust using closed-face 37-mm diameter cassette samplers and for inhalable dust using Institute of Occupational Medicine inhalable samplers. A total of 40 pairs of total and inhalable dust samples were collected and later analyzed. The range of “total” dust and inhalable dust concentrations in μg/m3 measured were 30–410 and 0.02 to 740 respectively for steel passivation; 260 to 1520 and 477 to 6970 for welding; and 0.01 to 1500 and 204 to 2130 for electroplaters. The range of “total” dust hexavalent chromium and inhalable dust hexavalent chromium concentrations in μg/m3 were 0.02–89 and 0.02 to 150 respectively for steel making; 4.1 to 4.9 and 2.2 to 6.9 for welding and 0.01 to 9.3 and 0.01 to 21 for electroplaters. A linear relationship between inhalable hexavalent chromium and “total” hexavalent chromium was found with a slope of 1.4 (CI:1.3, 1.5) and 0 offset. A ratio of 1.4 can thus be used as a conversion factor to convert previous data of hexavalent chromium taken on “total” dust basis to inhalable hexavalent chromium concentrations.

During the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, it is desirable to modify the surface of powder particles to alter their adhesion characteristics without changing their dissolution rates or their chemical or biological characteristics. In this study, dry silica nanoparticle coatings were applied to spheroidal micron-scale aluminum host particles to alter their surface morphology and adhesion behavior. The host particles were coated with either hydrophobic or hydrophilic fumed nanosilica using a magnetically assisted impact coating technique. The adhesion between polished or unpolished stainless steel and all three particle types, including uncoated aluminum and aluminum coated with either hydrophobic or hydrophilic nanosilica, was examined at 30% relative humidity. On both steel surfaces, the measured adhesion force towards the uncoated aluminum was greater than towards either type of coated aluminum. The uncoated aluminum adhered more strongly to the polished substrate than to the unpolished one. The hydrophobic- and hydrophilic-coated particles adhered to both substrates with roughly the same force, such that there was no effect of either the substrate type or the coating type on the adhesion. To confirm that capillary forces had no influence on the measured adhesion, the adhesion behavior between the uncoated aluminum particles and the steel was measured at 15 and 30% RH, and no change in adhesion force was observed.

Metal affinity chromatography using polyhistidine tags is a standard laboratory technique for the general purification of proteins from cellular systems, but there have been no attempts to explore whether the surface character of a protein may be engineered to similar affinity. We present the Arg160His mutation of Haemophilus influenzae carbonic anhydrase (HICA), which mimics the endogenous metal affinity of Escherichia coli carbonic anhydrase (ECCA). The purity and activity of the mutant are reported, and the purification is discussed. This is the first step toward developing a general method to engineer surface metal affinity for use in purification and metal labeling techniques.

More than 25 studies have employed land use regression (LUR) models to estimate nitrogen oxides and to a lesser extent particulate matter indicators, but these methods have been less commonly applied to ambient concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Some VOCs have high plausibility as sources of health effects and others are specific indicators of motor vehicle exhaust. We used LUR models to estimate spatial variability of VOCs in Toronto, Canada. Benzene, n-hexane and total hydrocarbons (THC) were measured from July 25 to August 9, 2006 at 50 locations using the TraceAir organic vapor monitors. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was also sampled to assess its spatial pattern agreement with VOC exposures. Buffers for land use, population density, traffic density, physical geography, and remote sensing measures of greenness and surface brightness were also tested. The remote sensing measures have the highest correlations with VOCs and NO2 levels (i.e., explains >36% of the variance). Our regression models explain 66–68% of the variance in the spatial distribution of VOCs, compared to 81% for the NO2 model. The ranks of agreement between various VOCs range from 48 to 63% and increases substantially – up to 75% – for the top and bottom quartile groups. Agreements between NO2 and VOCs are much smaller with an average rank of 36%. Future epidemiologic studies may therefore benefit from using VOCs as potential toxic agents for traffic-related pollutants.

Background Three case–control studies each nested within a cohort of petroleum workers assessed exposure to benzene in relation to risk of haematopoietic cancers. These studies have each been updated and the cases will be pooled to derive a more powerful study. The benzene exposure of new leukemia cases and controls was estimated in accordance with each respective study's original methods. An essential component of the process of pooling the data was comparison and rationalisation of the exposure estimates to ensure accuracy and consistency of approach. This paper describes this process and presents comparative estimates before and after appropriate revision took place. The original petroleum industry studies, in Canada, the UK and Australia, were conducted at different points in time by different study teams, but the industry used similar technology in similar eras in each of these countries. Methods A job history for each subject giving job title, dates of starting and leaving the job and location of work, was assembled. For each job or task, the average benzene exposure (Base Estimate (BE) in ppm) was derived from measurements collected at applicable worksites. Estimates of exposure intensity (workplace exposure estimates (WE)) were then calculated for each line of work history by adjusting the BEs for site- and era-specific exposure-related variables such as loading technology and percentage benzene in the product. To ensure that the exposure estimates were comparable among the studies, the WEs were allocated to generic Job Categories, e.g. Tanker Driver (by technology used e.g. bottom loading), Motor Mechanic. The WEs were stratified into eras, reflecting technological changes in the industry. The arithmetic mean (AM), geometric mean (GM) and range of the stratified WEs were calculated, by study, for each generic Job Category. These were then compared. The AMs of the WEs were regarded as substantially similar if they were within 20% in all three studies in one era or for at least two studies in two eras. If the AM of the WE group differed by more than 20%, the data were examined to see whether the difference was justified by differences in local exposure conditions, such as an enclosure versus open work area. Estimates were adjusted in the absence of justification for the difference. Results Reconciliation of differences resulted in changes to a small number of underlying BEs, particularly the background values, also the BEs attributed to some individuals and changes to the allocation of jobs between Job Categories. Although the studies covered some differing sectors of the industry and different time periods, for 22 Job Categories there was sufficient overlap, particularly in the downstream distribution sector, to make comparisons possible. After adjustment 12 Job Categories were judged to be similar and 10 were judged to be justifiably different. Job-based peak and skin exposure estimates were applied in a uniform way across the studies and a single approach to scoring the certainty of the exposure estimates was identified. Conclusions The revised exposure estimates will be used in the pooled analysis to examine the risk of haematopoietic cancers and benzene exposure. This exercise provided an important quality control check on the exposure estimates and identified similarly exposed Job Categories that could be grouped for risk assessment analyses.

Objectives This study addresses three objectives: (1) to assess the correlation of NO2 to other ambient pollutants measured with passive samplers; (2) to explore peak traffic particulate matter air pollution correlations with passively measured NO2; and (3) to pilot an advanced mobile air pollution laboratory to supply supplementary information on correlations between NO2 and other air pollutants. Methods Active and passive monitoring was conducted at two transects perpendicular to an expressway with nearly 400,000 vehicles per day. NO2, NOx, O3, VOCs, fine-particles and ultrafine particles were measured at increasing distance away from the expressway. The measurement equipment included Ogawa, TraceAir and 3 M organic vapor monitors (OVM-3500) passive samplers, and an array of active measurement equipment: Dust-Trak and P-Trak monitors, chemoluminescent analyzer, aethalometer, tapered element oscillating microbalance, Grimm condensation particle counter, and an Ionicon analytik proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer. Results Levels of NO2 were observed to decay with increasing distance from the expressway, declining to background levels by 300 m. Moderate to high correlations were observed between passive NO2 measurements and passive NOx, O3 (r∼0.60–0.86). The correlations with active PM measurements made with Dust-Trak and P-Trak monitors were in the range 0.64–0.78; correlations between NO2 and VOCs were more variable. Active measurements of NO2 and PM2.5, ultrafine particles, O3 and black carbon, had high correlations (r∼0.7–0.96). Discussion The variability of many traffic-related pollutants around an expressway is characterized well by passive measurements of NO2. Further research is needed to assess whether these relationships hold in different traffic and land-use environments.

Outer membrane proteins of Brucella have been classified as group 1 (94 or 88 kDa), group 2 (36–38 kDa), and group 3 (31–34 and 25–27 kDa). Two proteins of 25 and 31 kDa with only 34% of identity are included in group 3 and they are coded for by the omp25 and omp31 genes. Proposed study planned to detect antibodies to Brucella melitensis Omp31 in farm goats having history of B. melitensis induced abortions, in B. melitensis-infected goats and sheep. By enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using recombinant Omp31 as antigen, of 872 farm goats antibodies to Omp31 were detected in 112 (12.8%) cases. Out of 14 naturally infected goats infected with B. melitensis 12 (85.7%) showed anti Omp31 antibodies. Out of 10 naturally infected sheep with Brucella ovis, antibodies to Omp31 were detected only in 6 (60%) cases and in 18 (81.8%) out of 22 cases infected with B. melitensis. Obtained results were also compared with the rose Bengal plate test (RBPT). In controlled experiments, sensitivity and specificity of recombinant Omp31 (rOmp31) ELISA and RBPT were also evaluated and it was found that former test is 100% specific though RBPT has slightly higher sensitivity. In this study, we found a significant difference between the two groups (B. melitensis and B. ovis infected) in terms of the percentage of positive reactions or signal level by an ELISA. The reactivity of the positive sera against the purified rOmp31 was also tested by Western blotting. Sera from B. melitensis-infected animals showed a strong reactivity in comparison to sera from B. ovis-infected animals. The potential diagnostic usefulness of this antigen in combination with other recombinant proteins from B. melitensis would be of great importance in future in eradication of brucellosis.

Cryopreservation of semen collected from dead fishes showed that it is possible to use it for fish production. We humanely killed individuals of the Indian major carp rohu, Labeo rohita and stored at different temperature regimes of 31 °C, 0 °C, − 10 °C and − 30 °C till 8 h. At every one hour interval semen from these fishes were collected by Pasteur pipette and evaluated for sperm yield/kg body weight, motility, pH, spermatocrit (%) and sperm count. The semen having suitable characteristics such as; 70% spermatocrit or above and motility index of 4 or above was cryopreserved by following a specific protocol. The cryopreserved semen of the dead fishes was stored for 7 days and then thawed in a water bath at 37 °C for 50 s. It was found that up to 8 h, spermatozoa of rohu were viable when stored at 0 °C or − 10 °C. Sperm collected after 8 h of fish death and maintained at 0 °C was the best stored condition that showed 30% larval survival. The spermatozoa collected 8 h after fish death was mostly normal as observed under scanning electron microscope and the total length of rohu spermatozoa was 25–30 μm. The hatchlings produced with this cryopreserved semen grew normally and juvenile fishes of rohu could be produced. This study suggests that germ cells such as spermatozoa of dead fishes can be cryopreserved and utilized for restoration of a species. It has the potential use in cryo-conservation of endangered fishes, restoration of animals through fertilization and genetic manipulation studies.

The diving behaviour of 15 dugongs (Dugong dugon) was documented using time–depth recorders (TDRs), which logged a total of 39,507 dives. The TDRs were deployed on dugongs caught at three study sites in northern Australia: Shark Bay, the Gulf of Carpentaria and Shoalwater Bay. The average time for which the dive data were collected per dugong was 10.4±1.1 (S.E.) days. Overall, these dugongs spent 47% of their daily activities within 1.5 m of the sea surface and 72% less than 3 m from the sea surface. Their mean maximum dive depth was 4.8±0.4 m (S.E.), mean dive duration was 2.7±0.17 min and the number of dives per hour averaged 11.8±1.2. The maximum dive depth recorded was 20.5 m; the maximum dive time in water >1.5 m deep was 12.3 min. The effects of dugong sex, location (study site), time of day and tidal cycle on diving rates (dives per hour), mean maximum dive depths, durations of dives, and time spent ≤1.5 m from the surface were investigated using weighted split-plot analysis of variance. The dugongs exhibited substantial interindividual variation in all dive parameters. The interaction between location and time of day was significant for diving rates, mean maximum dive depths and time spent within 1.5 m of the surface. In all these cases, there was substantial variation among individuals within locations among times of day. Thus, it was the variation among individuals that dominated all other effects. Dives were categorised into five types based on the shape of the time–depth profile. Of these, 67% of dives were interpreted as feeding dives (square and U-shaped), 8% as exploratory dives (V-shaped), 22% as travelling dives (shallow-erratic) and 3% as shallow resting dives. There was systematic variation in the distribution of dive types among the factors examined. Most of this variation was among individuals, but this differed across both time of day and tidal state. Not surprisingly, there was a positive relationship between dive duration and depth and a negative relationship between the number of dives per hour and the time spent within 1.5 m of the surface after a dive.

Seven international silica (alpha-quartz) standards were examined for relative purity to the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Material (SRM) 1878 Respirable alpha-quartz by Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectrophotometry (FT-IR). The standards examined have been used in North America, the UK, Australia and Germany. The 189 samples analyzed included NIST-SRM 1878, Min-U-Sil 5, Ottawa Silica Sand, Sikron F-600, A9950 (AUST 1), DQ12-Robock, DQ12-Bergbau. Size distributions of the standards were determined by Coulter Counter to be broadly similar with equivalent spherical volume median diameter ranging between 1.2 and 3 microm. The results showed the standards to differ by as much as 30% in relative purity. Consequently, an internationally agreed upon calibration standard is urgently needed. Min-U-Sil 5 based NIST-SRM 1878 or Sikron F-600 are the two most likely candidates. Any agreed standard must have a well characterized size distribution and closely match the respirable dust criteria. It should also be studied by both infrared spectrophotometry and X-ray diffraction techniques.

Piezoelectric composites comprising dispersions of free-flowing calcium-modified lead titanate powders in a poly(vinyiidene fluoride) matrix have been developed and characterized as materials for hydrophone applications. We find that these composites provide highly desirable properties: (1) high figures of merit, g h d h =50(±5) × 10 −13 m 2 N −1 , and a relatively low dielectric loss tangent, less than 0.018; (2) convenient melt processibility; (3) no significant sensitivity changes in going to high pressures (14 MPa or 2 kpsi); (4) thermal stability of the poled state for months at 100 °C; and (5) easy fabrication. This performance results from material choices and from special ceramic powder processing and composite preparation methods that optimize the achievable degree of ceramic poling, the remanent polarization, and the transfer of mechanical energy to the dispersed ceramic. Materials design concepts, composite processing, and device construction and evaluation are described.

An investigation was carried out to assess the variability in the elemental composition of asbestos fibres as determined using an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) attached to an analytical transmission electron microscope. UICC reference standards of chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite asbestos were analysed at five locations along the length of each fibre to observe within-and between-fibre variability. A total of 355 analyses were carried out on 71 fibres. No statistically-significant differences were found among the results obtained at the various locations along each fibre.