BACKGROUND Alpha amylase hydrolyzes α-bonds of polysaccharides such as starch and produces malto-oligosaccharides. Its starch saccharification applications make it an essential enzyme in the textile, food and brewing industries. Commercially available α-amylase is mostly produced from Bacillus or Aspergillus. A hyper-thermostable and Ca 2++ independent α-amylase from Pyrococcus furiosus (PFA) e...

The prevention of phosphate retention in chronic renal disease may reduce both renal osteodystrophy and disease progression. We evaluated the expression of the sodium-dependent phosphate transporter, NaPi-2, and the response to phosphonoformic acid (PFA) in rats with 5/6 nephrectomy-induced renal failure. Partial nephrectomy resulted in a significant proteinuria and reduced renal function. In a...

The objective of this year's work was to confirm the role of pollen in pistillate flower abscission (PFA) of Serr walnut. Pistillate flower abscission was evaluated in individual trees along transects, beginning close to po11enizers and extending up to 640 feet away, in 12 orchards. It was also evaluated in controlled pollinations of bagged and unbagged Serr flowers with varying levels of Serr ...

We investigated the possibility of applying performic acid (PFA) and peracetic acid (PAA) for disinfection of combined sewer overflow (CSO) in existing CSO management infrastructures. The disinfection power of PFA and PAA towards Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Enterococcus was studied in batch-scale and pre-field experiments. In the batch-scale experiment, 2.5 mg L(-1) PAA removed approximately...

The organization of the prefrontal cortex can hold important clues to understanding its functioning. The Cebus apella present cerebral particularities and behavioral and cognitive flexibility, possessing abilities that demonstrate an overlap with those of big primates. Objectives To provide evidence of correlations between anatomical particularities of the brain areas analyzed and some cognit...

OBJECTIVE Laboratory tests including optical platelet aggregometry (OPA), platelet function analyser (PFA-100), and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) metabolite levels have been used to define aspirin resistance. This study characterised the prevalence of aspirin resistance in patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and investigated the concordance and repeatability of these tests. DESIGN, SETTING AN...

Receptor clustering is known to trigger signalling events that contribute to critical changes in cellular functions. Faithful imaging of such clusters by means of fluorescence microscopy relies on the application of adequate cell fixation methods prior to immunolabelling in order to avoid artefactual redistribution by the antibodies themselves. Previous work has highlighted the inadequacy of fi...

Background: PFA-100 is a point-of-care assay that evaluates platelet reactivity in high-shear-stress conditions by measuring the closure time (CT) of a membrane aperture. When determined with a collagen/epinephrine cartridge (CEPI), the CT is usually prolonged by aspirin. Studies of the predictive value of a short PFA-100CTCEPI for ischemic events in aspirin-treated patients have given variable...

The pyrophosphate (PPi) analogue phosphonoformic acid (PFA or foscarnet) inhibits the reverse transcriptase (RT) of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1); however, the mechanisms of drug action and resistance remain elusive. Here we studied the effects of the translocational status of HIV-1 RT on drug binding and inhibition of DNA synthesis. We identified "hot spots" for inhibition du...

Objectives. Preswallow pharyngeal bolus presence is evident in patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia. Pressure flow analysis (PFA) using high resolution manometry with impedance (HRMI) with AIMplot software is a method for objective interpretation of pharyngeal and upper esophageal sphincter (UES) pressures and bolus flow patterns during swallowing. This study aimed to observe alterations in PF...