We examine the occurrence of UV-absorbing, mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) in four sympatric species of sea anemones in the genus Anthopleura, all collected from intertidal habitats on the ...Pacific Coast of temperate North America. We compare patterns of MAAs in A. elegantissima of several types: specimens having predominately zooxanthellae (dinoflagellates comprising at least two species) or zoochlorellae as symbionts; those containing algal endosymbionts of both kinds, and naturally occurring aposymbiotic specimens that lack the endosymbionts typically found in most specimens. We also compare MAAs in zooxanthellate specimens of A. sola and A. xanthogrammica, and specimens from the asymbiotic species A. artemisia. Our findings indicate that the complements of the four major MAAs in these species of Anthopleura (mycosporine-taurine, shinorine, porphyra-334, and mycosporine-2 glycine) broadly reflect phylogenetic differences among the anemones rather than the taxon of endosymbionts, presence or absence of symbionts, or environmental factors. An exception, however, occurs in A. elegantissima, where mycosporine-2 glycine increases in concentration with the density of zooxanthellae. Our evidence also shows that A. elegantissima can accumulate MAAs from its food, which may explain the occasional occurrence of minor MAAs in some individuals.
Focusing attention on the doctrine of Justification, the article seeks to compare and evaluate the ‘New’ (NP) and ‘Old’ (OP) perspectives on Paul. In view of problems encountered in both, a proposed ...solution to the impasse is derived and argued for from the generally-misperceived stance of Calvin and his legitimate successors among the theologians of Heidelberg and Saumur. In the course of the discussion (in which the little-known insights of the German divines and the long-discredited French academy are rehabilitated), the assumption that recent Anglo-American expositions of the OP accurately perpetuate Calvin’s stance is challenged. Significant differences between Calvin and later Calvinists are exposed during an investigation of the following issues: (1) the precise meaning of ‘justification’, (2) imputed righteousness, (3) the time of justification, (4) the place of good works in the ordo salutis and (5) the status of the sola fide principle. Avoiding the ambiguities of Luther’s version of sola fide, the article concludes on biblical grounds that the authentic ‘Calvin’ (CP) perspective relieves completely the other views of their perplexities.
N-Methyltryptophan oxidase (MTOX) is a flavoenzyme that catalyzes the oxidative demethylation of N-methyl-L-tryptophan and other N-methyl amino acids, including sarcosine, which is a poor substrate. ...The Escherichia coli gene encoding MTOX (solA) was isolated on the basis of its sequence homology with monomeric sarcosine oxidase, a sarcosine-inducible enzyme found in many bacteria. These studies show that MTOX is expressed as a constitutive enzyme in a wild-type E. coli K-12 strain, providing the first evidence that solA is a functional gene. MTOX expression is enhanced 3-fold by growth on minimal media but not induced by N-methyl-L-tryptophan, L-tryptophan, or 3-indoleacrylate. MTOX forms an anionic flavin semiquinone and a reversible, covalent flavin-sulfite complex (K(d) = 1.7 mM), properties characteristic of flavoprotein oxidases. Rates of formation (k(on) = 5.4 x 10(-3) M(-1) s(-1)) and dissociation (k(off) = 1.3 x 10(-5) s(-1)) of the MTOX-sulfite complex are orders of magnitude slower than observed with most other flavoprotein oxidases. The pK(a) for ionization of oxidized FAD at N(3)H in MTOX (8.36) is two pH units lower than that observed for free FAD. The MTOX active site was probed by characterization of various substrate analogues that act as competitive inhibitors with respect to N-methyl-L-tryptophan. Qualitatively similar perturbations of the MTOX visible absorption spectrum are observed for complexes formed with various aromatic carboxylates, including benzoate, 3-indole-(CH(2))(n)-CO(2)(-) and 2-indole-CO(2)(-). The most stable complex with 3-indole-(CH(2))(n)-CO(2)(-) is formed with 3-indolepropionate (K(d) = 0.79 mM), a derivative with the same side chain length as N-methyl-L-tryptophan. Benzoate binding is enhanced upon protonation of a group in the enzyme-benzoate complex (pK(EL) = 6.87) but blocked by ionization of a group in the free enzyme (pK(E) = 8.41), which is attributed to N(3)H of FAD. Difference spectra observed for the aromatic carboxylate complexes are virtually mirror images of those observed with sarcosine analogues (N,N'-dimethylglycine, N-benzylglycine). Charge-transfer complexes are formed with 3-indoleacrylate, pyrrole-2-carboxylate, and CH(3)XCH(2)CO(2)(-) (X = S, Se, Te).
Does Spinoza think the Bible is sacred? One does well at first to notice the obvious, that it is Spinoza himself who asks the question in what sense the terms "sacred" and "divine" should "be applied ...to Scripture and to any inanimate thing." Yet his reply is considerably less obvious. Readers of Spinoza know that he contests God's authorship of the Bible, seems to find indifferent much of its contents, disparages rabbinic and medieval Jewish philosophical interpretations, relegates biblical commandments to the ancient world, and locates the Bible among things inanimate. Yet he also argues that the Bible is divine, grounding this judgment in the hermeneutical principle that "nothing is sacred or profane or impure in an absolute sense apart from the mind, but only in relation to the mind." My paper considers the structure and implications of Spinoza's argument relating the divinity of a text, of this text, to the mind, taking seriously the multiple stakes involved in his day and in ours, as well as the sheer complexity of and tensions in Spinoza's view. While there are many dimensions to Spinoza's attitude towards Judaism, Jewish thought, religion, and the politics of religion, I claim that there is something fundamental about his concept of the Bible and his question concerning the sacred that grounds all of these regions of interest and that renders the Theologico-Political Treatise a single, complexly balanced work, albeit one whose measure we are still assessing.
The energy crisis affects all countries in the world. Considering the price scenarios, many countries in Africa have begun to explore various energy resources. Ethiopia is one of the countries that ...depend upon imported petroleum products. To overcome this problem, geological studies suggest a significant occurrence of oil shale deposits in Ethiopia. The Inter-Trappean oil shale-bearing sediments are widely distributed on the South-Western Plateau of Ethiopia in the Delbi-Moye, Lalo-Sapo, Sola, Gojeb-Chida and Yayu Basins. The oil shale-bearing sediments were deposited in fluviatile and lacustrine environments.
The oil shales contain mixtures of algal, herbaceous and higher plant taxa. They are dominated by algal-derived liptinite with minor amounts of vitrinite and inertinite. The algal remains belong to
Botryococcus and
Pediastrum. Laboratory results confirm that the Ethiopian oil shales are dominated by long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbons and have a low sulphur content. Type-II and Type-I kerogen dominated the studied oil shales. Type-II and Type-I are good source rocks for oil and gas generation. Hydrogen index versus
T
max value plots indicated that most of the oil shale samples fall within the immature-early mature stage for hydrocarbon generation, consistent with the Ro values that range from 0.3% to 0.64%. Pyrolysis data of the oil shales
sensu stricto indicate excellent source rocks with up to 61.2% TOC values. Calorific value ranges from 400 to 6165
cal/g. Palynological studies confirmed that the oil shale-bearing sediments of Ethiopia range from Eocene to Miocene in age. A total of about 253,000,000
ton of oil shale is registered in the country. Oil shale deposits in Ethiopia can be used for production of oil and gas.
Claw lameness can be associated to biomechanical factors caused by unbalanced pressure distribution under the hooves when cows are confined in modern dairy operations with hard concrete flooring. In ...the present study, an original claw subdivision4 was slightly modified to differentiate between the anterior (typical sole lesion spot) and posterior portions of the medial sole, and to emphasize the maximum pressures applied only on the area of contact without including the total area within these regions during midstance. The results, obtained showed significance (p < 0.044) for the interaction among Group, Leg and region (G*L*R). It was observed that the rear portion of the claws (heels) on the hind limb of untrimmed cows, are more stressed than the heel region on trimmed cows (23 % versus 16.72% of total pressure applied on the claw for untrimmed and trimmed respectively). The typical sole lesion spot pressures were increased slightly on trimmed cows as compared to untrimmed (20.20% versus 15.9%). The front feet presented differences in pressure concentration on the lateral sole between both groups (29% versus 23.25% for untrimmed versus trimmed respectively). It was concluded that, although the differences were small (5%) changes in pressure concentration, untrimmed cows stress more the sole lateral as compared to trimmed on the front feet, and on the rear feet, they stress more the heel region whereas trimmed cows tend to have a slight better balance among regions. Conversely, when cows are trimmed, the typical sole lesion spot concentrates more pressure than the heel itself (20.20% versus 16.72% respectively) and may favor the occurrence of sole ulcers.
Laminite (manqueira) pode ser associado a fatores mecânicos, causados por falta de balanceamento na distribuição de pressão na sola dos cascos de vacas confinadas em instalações modernas, que utilizam pisos de concreto. No presente estudo, a subdivisão original dos cascos de vacas leiteiras foi modificada para diferenciar-se entre a porção anterior (local típico de lesão) e posterior da sola medial dos cascos, e para enfatizar as pressões máximas aplicadas somente na área de contato não levando em consideração a área total da sola. Os resultados mostraram significância estatística (p < 0.044) para a interação entre Grupo, Pata e Região (G*L*R). Foi observado que a porção posterior (calcanhar) das patas traseiras de vacas não-casqueadas foram estressadas mais intensamente que de vacas casqueadas (23 % versus 16.72% da pressão total aplicada nas patas em não-casqueadas e casqueadas respectivamente). As pressões na região do local típico de lesão aumentaram em animais casqueados comparado com não-casqueados (20.20% versus 15.9%). As patas da frente apresentaram diferenças na concentração de pressão da sola lateral (29% versus 23.25% em não-casqueadas versus casqueadas, respectivamente). Foi concluído que, apesar das diferenças serem pequenas (5%) mudanças nas concentrações de pressão, vacas não-casqueadas estressaram mais a porção da sola lateral, comparado a vacas casqueadas nas patas da frente, enquanto nas traseiras elas estressam mais a região do calcanhar, e as vacas casqueadas tendem a ter uma distribuição melhor de pressão entre as regiões. No entanto, quando as vacas são casqueads, a região típica de lesão tende a concentrar mais pressão do que o próprio calcanhar (20.20% versus 16.72% respectivamente) podendo favorecer a incidência de úlcera de sola.
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