Colloidal Stabilization of Sodium Dilauraminocystine for Selective Nanoparticle-Nanoparticle Interactions: Their Screening and Extraction by Iron Oxide Magnetic Nanoparticles.

Nanoparticle-nanoparticle (NP-NP) interactions between Au and Ag NPs were studied by using sodium dilauraminocystine (SDLC)- and Gemini surfactant-stabilized NPs to demonstrate the unique NP surface adsorption behavior of SDLC in controlling and mimicking such interactions in complex mixtures. They were significantly affected by the spacer as well as the polymeric nature of the head group of Gemini surfactants. A longer spacer impeded while a polymeric head group facilitated the interactions. The Au-Ag NPs interactions in an aqueous phase were also controlled by placing surface-active magnetic NPs at an aqueous-air interface, which interacted with either or both kinds of interacting NPs in an aqueous phase and reduced their ability to interact with each other. On the other hand, water-soluble zwitterionic magnetic NPs proved to be excellent extractants of both Au and Ag NPs from the aqueous phase. Extraction efficiency depended on the strength of interactions between the water-soluble magnetic NPs and aqueous-solubilized Au and/or Ag NPs.

PACAP intraperitoneal treatment suppresses appetite and food intake via PAC1 receptor in mice by inhibiting ghrelin and increasing GLP-1 and leptin.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) is expressed within the gastroenteric system, where it has profound physiological effects. PACAP was shown to regulate food intake and thermogenesis centrally; however, PACAP peripheral regulation of appetite and feeding behavior is unknown. Therefore, we studied PACAP's effect on appetite and food intake control by analyzing feeding behavior and metabolic hormones in PAC1-deficient (PAC1-/-) and age-matched wild-type (WT) mice intraperitoneally injected with PACAP1-38 or PACAP1-27 before the dark phase of feeding. Food intake and feeding behavior were analyzed using the BioDAQ system. Active ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), leptin, peptide YY, pancreatic polypeptide, and insulin were measured following PACAP1-38 administration in fasted WT mice. PACAP1-38/PACAP1-27 injected into WT mice significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner cumulative food intake and reduced bout and meal feeding parameters. Conversely, PACAP1-38 injected into PAC1-/- mice failed to significantly change food intake. Importantly, PACAP1-38 reduced plasma levels of active ghrelin compared with vehicle in WT mice. In PAC1-/- mice, fasting levels of active ghrelin, GLP-1, insulin, and leptin and postprandial levels of active ghrelin and insulin were significantly altered compared with levels in WT mice. Therefore, PAC1 is a novel regulator of appetite/satiety. PACAP1-38/PACAP1-27 significantly reduced appetite and food intake through PAC1. In PAC1-/- mice, the regulation of anorexigenic/orexigenic hormones was abolished, whereas active ghrelin remained elevated even postprandially. PACAP significantly reduced active ghrelin in fasting conditions. These results establish a role for PACAP via PAC1 in the peripheral regulation of appetite/satiety and suggest future studies to explore a therapeutic use of PACAP or PAC1 agonists for obesity treatment.

Optimization of planting dates of Jalapeno pepper (Capsicum annuum 'Jalapeño' L.) and cantaloupe (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis Ser.) relay cropped with strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne).

Florida strawberry growers frequently relay-crop (RC) vegetables with strawberry to offset high input costs. Relay-cropping consists of planting two crops at different times on the same raised bed which helps growers' lower risk due to diversification and maximize economic returns. Four separate experiments on relay cropping strawberry with jalapeño pepper and cantaloupe were conducted at Balm, Florida, in 2016-17 and 2017-18. The objective was to a) determine the effects of relay-cropping on crop yields, b) optimize pepper and cantaloupe planting date, and c) optimize the strawberry termination date when relay cropping with vegetables. Strawberry yields were unaffected by the presence of vegetables. Pepper yields were unaffected by the presence of strawberries, but cantaloupes yields were significantly (p = 0.0250) lower when planted with strawberry. Early January to early-February were the optimum dates to transplant pepper with strawberries transplanted in October but date of planting did not affect cantaloupe yield. Early January to early-February transplant dates for pepper resulted in net profits of around $23000-38000/ha in 2016-17 compared to the baseline treatment (strawberries alone). However, in 2017-18 all of the planting dates of pepper with strawberry except January 4 resulted in losses of $2000-18000/ha. In 2016-17, cantaloupes planted in late January and early February resulted in profits of $2986.3 and 2705.1/ha, respectively. All other planting dates resulted in loses compared to baseline treatment. In 2017-18, all the planting dates resulted in net profits of around $6700-14500/ha. In conclusion, cantaloupe and jalapeño pepper can be relay cropped with strawberry with no negative effects on strawberry yield. However, early planting dates tend to maximize economic return.

Mechanism of sperm immobilization by Escherichia coli.

AIM: To explore the influence of Escherichia coli on the motility of human spermatozoa and its possible mechanism. METHODS: Highly motile preparations of spermatozoa from normozoospermic patients were coincubated with Escherichia coli for 4 hours. At 1, 2 and 4 hours of incubation, sperm motility was determined. The factor responsible for sperm immobilization without agglutination was isolated and purified from filtrates. RESULTS: This report confirms the immobilization of spermatozoa by E. coli and demonstrates sperm immobilization factor (SIF) excreted by E. coli. Further this factor was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel permeation chromatography, and ion-exchange chromatography. Purified SIF (56 kDa) caused instant immobilization without agglutination of human spermatozoa at 800 microg/mL and death at 2.1 mg/mL. Spermatozoa incubated with SIF revealed multiple and profound alterations involving all superficial structures of spermatozoa as observed by scanning electron microscopy. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, these results have shown immobilization of spermatozoa by E. coli and demonstrate a factor (SIF) produced and secreted by E. coli which causes variable structural damage as probable morphological correlates of immobilization.