Calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs) and their target proteins, CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs) have emerged as a key Ca2+-mediated signaling network in response to stresses in learn more plants. Bioinformatic analysis was used to identify 43 putative ZmCIPK (Zea mays CIPK) genes in the genome of maize inbred line B73. Based on gene structures,
these ZmCIPKs were divided into intron-rich and intron-poor groups. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the ZmCIPK family had a high evolutionary relationship with the rice CIPK family of 30 members. Microarray data and RT-PCR assay showed that ZmCIPK genes transcriptionally responded to abiotic stresses, and that 24, 31, 20 and 19 ZmCIPK genes were up-regulated by salt, drought, heat and cold stresses, respectively. There were different expression patterns of ZmCIPKs between cold-tolerant inbred line B73 and cold-sensitive inbred line Mo17 under cold stress. Our findings will aid further molecular dissection of biological functions of the CIPKs in maize, and provide new insight into the CBLeCIPK signaling network in plants.”
“The increasing demand for poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) polymer, the simultaneous shortage in landfill disposal spaces, and known problems associated with PET waste specifically (e. g., its nonbiodegradability and huge accumulation) are challenges with which mankind must cope nowadays. In this study, PET postconsumer
MCC950 bottle wastes were cut to very small slides and then subjected to an aminolysis process with ethanol amine as a degradative agent in the presence of one catalyst from three used in
this study. These catalysts were dibutyl tin oxide, sodium acetate, and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide. The reaction was performed in sunlight: a beneficial, clean, cheap, and renewable source of energy. The end product, which was a white precipitate of bis(2-hydroxyethylene) terephthalamide, was subjected to spectrophotometric and thermal analyses. The product was characterized to asses its suitability for use in PFTα cell line pigments in anticorrosive paint formulations. In general, this process was a green, environmentally friendly degradation based on the utilization of solar energy for the aminolysis reaction using simple, cheap, available chemicals as catalysts. The originality of this study was derived from the use of waste materials to yield a product with beneficial applications in the field of corrosion inhibition. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 120: 2842-2855, 2011″
“PURPOSE: To determine the visual and accommodative performance of the OPAL-A focus-shift accommodating intraocular lens (IOL).
SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
METHODS: In this study comprising unilateral phacoemulsification and accommodating IOL implantation, patients were followed for 6 months.