Gene Discovery in Gelsemium Highlights Conserved Gene Clusters in Monoterpene Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis

Genome mining is a routine technique in microbes for discovering biosynthetic pathways. In plants, however, genomic information is not commonly used to identify novel biosynthesis genes. Here, we present the genome of the medicinal plant and oxindole monoterpene indole alkaloid (MIA) producer Gelsemium sempervirens (Gelsemiaceae). A gene cluster from Catharanthus roseus, which is utilized at least six enzymatic steps downstream from the last common intermediate shared between the two plant alkaloid types, is found in G. sempervirens, although the corresponding enzymes act on entirely different substrates. This study provides insights into the common genomic context of MIA pathways and is an important milestone in the further elucidation of the Gelsemium oxindole alkaloid pathway.     

Characterization of pHEMA-based hydrogels that exhibit light-induced bactericidal effect via release of NO

A light-activated NO donor, [Mn(PaPy₃)(NO)]ClO₄ (1a), has been incorporated into HEMA-based polymer hydrogel and the nitrosyl-polymer conjugate materials 1a_x · HG and 1a_x · HG^MB have been characterized. The NO releasing properties and antibacterial capabilities of these materials in conjunction with growth attenuators such as hydrogen peroxide and methylene blue (MB) are reported. Since the nitrosyl releases NO only upon exposure to light, materials like 1a_x · HG^MB could be used as wound dressings that deliver NO under controlled conditions.     

The therapist's therapist: A replication and extension 20 years later.

How do mental health professionals choose their own psychotherapists? This study replicates and extends a 1987 national survey of psychotherapists regarding the selection criteria and sociodemographic characteristics of their personal therapists; 608 psychologists, counselors, and social workers participated. Therapists' therapists tended to be middle aged and White (94%) but equally female and male. Their most frequent theoretical orientations were integrative, eclectic, cognitive, and psychodynamic (but rarely behavioral or systemic). Psychology was their most prevalent profession, followed by social work, counseling, and psychiatry. Topping the list of therapist selection criteria were competence, warmth, experience, openness, and reputation. The prototypical positive features of personal treatment that therapists repeated with their own patients all concerned cultivation of the therapeutic relationship. The 2007 results are tentatively compared with those obtained in 1987, thus chronicling the evolution of therapists' therapists over the years. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Chitosan nanocomposite films incorporating cellulose nanocrystals and grape pomace extracts

Chitosan nanocomposite films incorporating grape pomace extract (GPE), either Cabernet Franc (CF; a red variety) or Viognier (a white variety), and cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) were prepared using a solvent casting method. Mechanical properties, water vapour permeability, color and opacity, crystalline structure, thermal properties, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity of the films were characterized. Incorporating CNC alone significantly (P < .05) increased tensile strength of the films and decreased their percent elongation at break and water vapour permeability. Grape pomace extract had an opposite effect on mechanical properties by decreasing tensile strength but increasing percent elongation at break. Film color was mainly influenced by the presence and type of GPE. Films containing CF extract exhibited the darkest appearance with increased reddish and bluish hues. Addition of CNC significantly increased film opacity and the alignment of chitosan chains, while the effect of GPE was not significant. Thermal analysis showed that chitosan and CNC were partially miscible and that the addition of CNC did not significantly change decomposition temperature of the films. Incorporation of GPE significantly (P < .05) increase total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Films containing CF had higher DPPH? radical scavenging capacity than their counterparts with Viognier. Film incorporating both CNC and CF shows greater potential for food packaging application because of a combination of improved physical properties and high antioxidant activity.     

A Physically‐Based BSDF for Modeling the Appearance of Paper

We present a novel appearance model for paper. Based on our appearance measurements for matte and glossy paper, we find that paper exhibits a combination of subsurface scattering, specular reflection, retroreflection, and surface sheen. Classic microfacet and simple diffuse reflection models cannot simulate the double‐sided appearance of a thin layer. Our novel BSDF model matches our measurements for paper and accounts for both reflection and transmission properties. At the core of the BSDF model is a method for converting a multi‐layer subsurface scattering model (BSSRDF) into a BSDF, which allows us to retain physically‐based absorption and scattering parameters obtained from the measurements. We also introduce a method for computing the amount of light available for subsurface scattering due to transmission through a rough dielectric surface. Our final model accounts for multiple scattering, single scattering, and surface reflection and is capable of rendering paper with varying levels of roughness and glossiness on both sides.     

Video Relighting Using Infrared Illumination

Inappropriate lighting is often responsible for poor quality video. In most offices and homes, lighting is not designed for video conferencing. This can result in unevenly lit faces, distracting shadows, and unnatural colors. We present a method for relighting faces that reduces the effects of uneven lighting and color. Our setup consists of a compact lighting rig and a camera that is both inexpensive and inconspicuous to the user. We use unperceivable infrared (IR) lights to obtain an illumination bases of the scene. Our algorithm computes an optimally weighted combination of IR bases to minimize lighting inconsistencies in foreground areas and reduce the effects of colored monitor light. However, IR relighting alone results in images with an unnatural ghostly appearance, thus a retargeting technique is presented which removes the unnatural IR effects and produces videos that have substantially more balanced intensity and color than the original video.     

Starch nanocomposite films incorporating grape pomace extract and cellulose nanocrystal

The objectives of this study were to prepare starch nanocomposite films incorporating grape pomace extract (GPE) and cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) using a solvent‐casting method, and to characterize the mechanical properties, color, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), crystalline structure, morphology, thermal stability, phenolic compound release profile and antibacterial activity of the films. Incorporating CNC and GPE significantly (P < 0.05) increased the films’ thickness, mechanical properties, and opacity. Brightness and color were mainly influenced by GPE level, while CNC had a great impact on the reduction of WVTR values of the film. Three characteristic cellulose I crystalline peaks were observed using X‐ray diffraction in CNC‐containing nanocomposite films. However, the effect of CNC levels on thermal stability was not significant. Phenolic compound releases were time and film dependent, and the nanocomposite films incorporating with GPE and CNC exhibited stronger inhibitory effect against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 compared to Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44438.