A study on some efficient parameters in batch fermentation of ethanol using Saccharomyces cerevesiae SC1 extracted from fermented siahe sardasht pomace

Siahe sardasht grape is famous variety of grape in Iran that is used for red grape juice concentrate. The pomace of this grape (as byproduct of fruit juice concentrate industry) is a favorable medium for growth of all type of yeasts. The ethanol production using Saccharomyces cerevesiae SC1 extracted fromfermented siahe sardasht grape pomace was studied in batch fermentation. The best ethanol production rates are observed at pH 4.5, temperature 32°C and sugar concentration equal to 100 g/L. According to the results, KH2PO4 is a better phosphorous source in comparison with K2HPO4, and (NH4)2SO4 is the best nitrogen source

Helminth-Associated Systemic Immune Activation and HIV Co-receptor Expression: Response to Albendazole/Praziquantel Treatment

Background: It has been hypothesized that helminth infections increase HIV susceptibility by enhancing systemic immune activation and hence contribute to elevated HIV-1 transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. Objective: To study systemic immune activation and HIV-1 co-receptor expression in relation to different helminth infections and in response to helminth treatment. Methods: HIV-negative adults with (n = 189) or without (n = 57) different helminth infections, as diagnosed by Kato-Katz, were enrolled in Mbeya, Tanzania. Blinded to helminth infection status, T cell differentiation (CD45RO, CD27),activation (HLA-DR, CD38) and CCR5 expression was determined at baseline and 3 months after Albendazole/Praziquantel treatment. Plasma cytokine levels were compared using a cytometric bead array. Results: Trichuris and Ascaris infections were linked to increased frequencies of "activated'' CD4 and/or CD8 T cells (p< 0.05),whereas Hookworm infection was associated with a trend towards decreased HLA-DR+ CD8 T cell frequencies (p = 0.222). In Trichuris infected subjects, there was a linear correlation between HLA-DR+ CD4 T cell frequencies and the cytokines IL-1 beta and IL-10 (p<0.05). Helminth treatment with Albendazole and Praziquantel significantly decreased eosinophilia for S. mansoni and Hookworm infections (p<0.005) but not for Trichuris infection and only moderately modulated T cell activation. CCR5 surface density on memory CD4 T cells was increased by 1.2-fold during Trichuris infection (p-value: 0.053) and reduced after treatment (p = 0.003). Conclusions: Increased expression of T cell activation markers was associated with Trichuris and Ascaris infections with relatively little effect of helminth treatment

The Schnitzler syndrome

The Schnitzler syndrome is a rare and underdiagnosed entity which is considered today as being a paradigm of an acquired/late onset auto-inflammatory disease. It associates a chronic urticarial skin rash, corresponding from the clinico-pathological viewpoint to a neutrophilic urticarial dermatosis, a monoclonal IgM component and at least 2 of the following signs: fever, joint and/or bone pain, enlarged lymph nodes, spleen and/or liver, increased ESR, increased neutrophil count, abnormal bone imaging findings. It is a chronic disease with only one known case of spontaneous remission. Except of the severe alteration of quality of life related mainly to the rash, fever and pain, complications include severe inflammatory anemia and AA amyloidosis. About 20% of patients will develop a lymphoproliferative disorder, mainly Waldenström disease and lymphoma, a percentage close to other patients with IgM MGUS. It was exceedingly difficult to treat patients with this syndrome until the IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra became available. Anakinra allows a complete control of all signs within hours after the first injection, but patients need continuous treatment with daily injections

Business groups and corporate responsibility for the public good

This paper analyses the relationship between Business Groups as a distinct way of organizing economic activities and their relation to the public good. We first analyze the phenomenon of Business Groups and discuss some of their core features. Subsequently, the paper moves to analyzing the existing literature on Business Groups and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as the most common label for the topic of this Special Issue. Subsequently, specific peculiarities of Business Groups in the context of CSR and their contribution to the public good are fleshed out. Based on this analysis, the paper delineates some implications for the field of CSR and the wider debate on the nature of the firm. We close with some perspectives for future research

Synthesis and pro-apoptotic effects of new sulfonamide derivatives via activating p38/ERK phosphorylation in cancer cells

Herein, the compounds bearing sulfonamide fragment such as N-(2-amino-5-benzoylphenyl)-4-nitrobenzene sulfonamide hydrochloride (1), N-(quinolin-8-yl)-4-nitro-benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride (2), N-(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)-4-nitro-benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride (3) were synthesized by the reaction of 3,4-diaminobenzophenone, 8-aminoquinoline or 2-picoylamine and 4-nitrobenzensulfonyl chloride, respectively. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were elucidated on the basis of elemental and spectral analyses. All the prepared compounds were evaluated for their in vitro anti-cancer activity against various cancer cell lines and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in this process. In vitro cytotoxic activities of the compounds were screened against human hepatocellular (HepG2), breast (MCF-7) and colon (Colo-205) cancer cell lines by MTT assay, mRNA expression of genes with qPCR and phosphorylation of p38 and ERK1/2 with Western blot. Tested compounds could significantly reduce cell proliferation and induced mRNA expression of pro-apoptotic genes; caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9. Activation of these apoptotic genes probably is mediated by activation of p38