S-Adenosyl-l-Methionine Salvage Impacts Psilocybin Formation in “Magic” Mushrooms

Psychotropic Psilocybe mushrooms biosynthesize their principal natural product psilocybin in five steps, among them a phosphotransfer and two methyltransfer reactions, which consume one equivalent of 5′-adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and two equivalents of S-adenosyl-l -methionine (SAM). This short but co-substrate-intensive pathway requires nucleoside cofactor salvage to maintain high psilocybin production rates. We characterized the adenosine kinase (AdoK) and S-adenosyl-l -homocysteine (SAH) hydrolase (SahH) of Psilocybe cubensis. Both enzymes are directly or indirectly involved in regenerating SAM. qRT-PCR expression analysis revealed an induced expression of the genes in the fungal primordia and carpophores. A one-pot in vitro reaction with the N-methyltransferase PsiM of the psilocybin pathway demonstrates a concerted action with SahH to facilitate biosynthesis by removal of accumulating SAH.     

Incremental forms of Schapery’s model: convergence and inversion to simulate strain controlled ramps

Schapery’s nonlinear viscoelastic model is written in incremental form, and three different approximations of nonlinearity functions in the time increment are systematically analysed with respect to the convergence rate. It is shown that secant slope is the best approximation of the time shift factor, leading to significantly higher convergence rate. This incremental form of the viscoelastic model, Zapas’ model for viscoplasticity, supplemented with terms accounting for damage effect is used to predict inelastic behaviour of material in stress controlled tests. Then the incremental formulation is inverted to simulate stress development in ramps where strain is the input parameter. A comparison with tests shows good ability of the model in inverted form to predict stress–strain response as long as the applied strain is increasing. However, in strain controlled ramps with unloading, the inverted model shows unrealistic hysteresis loops. This is believed to be a proof of the theoretically known incompatibility of the stress and strain controlled formulations for nonlinear materials. It also shows limitations of material models identified in stress controlled tests for use in strain controlled tests.     

Changes in the free amino acids and the biogenic amine contents during lactic acid fermentation of different lupin species

The aim of the work was to evaluate the profile of free amino acids (FAA) as the possible precursors of biogenic amines (BAs) in different varieties and hybrid lines of Lupinus luteus and Lupinus angustifolius and its changes during fermentation. Lupins have high amounts of FAA, and therefore, significant contents of BAs by the action of bacterial amino acid decarboxylases can be formed. In view of this, the effect of three Pediococcus pentosaceus strains KTU05‐8, KTU05‐9 and KTU05‐10 on BA formation during lupin fermentation was studied. The formation of BAs was monitored during 48‐h fermentation at solid‐state conditions and compared with that in samples after submerged fermentation and in the control nonfermented samples. The lupin variety, fermentation conditions and the Pediococcus strain were found to have the significant effect on the FAA profile and BA contents in fermented lupin; the interaction between analysed factors was F(5.989) = 1755.321 (P < 0.0001) and F(5.660) = 130.736 (P < 0.0001), respectively. A weak correlation was found between amino acid His and histamine (r = 0.3709; P = 0.0005) and between Phe and phenylethylamine (r = 0.3914, P = 0.0002) in lupin samples, but the significant correlations between amino acid Tyr and tyramine and between Lys and cadaverine were not found. By optimising the fermentation technology, it is possible to increase the nutritional value and functionality of lupin.     

External cost of electricity generation in Baltic States

This article deals with external cost of electricity generation in Baltic States. The costs of electricity generation and distribution are the most important criteria shaping decisions within the electricity system. However, the external cost due to air pollution should also be adequately taken into account seeking to promote new and clean technologies for electricity generation. External costs of electricity generation in the main power plants burning fossil fuel were calculated based on ExternE methodology for Baltic States during EU Framework 6 project CASES. The article presents the first results of external cost of electricity generation in Baltic States.     

Investigation of the thermal and structural properties of single-molecule magnet/polymer nanocomposite films

The inclusion of manganese-based single-molecule magnets (SMMs) into solvent cast films of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or polycarbonate (PC) was found to influence the thermal stability of these polymers. Examination of the thermal decomposition profiles of PMMA films by thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) established that increasing weight % of SMM results in both enhancement of the rate of decomposition initiated at “head-to-head” linkages along with suppression of the rate of decomposition initiated at vinylidene chain ends. In the case of PC films, the temperature at which the primary thermal decomposition occurs decreases with increasing weight % of SMM. The extent of these decomposition trends is correlated to the degree of SMM dispersal, as studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Favourable interactions between the ligands coordinated to the SMMs and the polymer or solvent used in film preparation dictated the degree of SMM dispersal, with the ligand–polymer interactions being dominant on the nano-length scale (1–100 nm) and ligand–solvent interactions being dominant on the micro-length scale (>100 nm).     

The use and effectiveness of analogical instruction in diverse secondary content classrooms.

The purpose of these studies was to explore the use of analogies while teaching important concepts in secondary content classrooms containing students of diverse abilities. Various research methodologies were used to determine the effects of an analogically based routine on student learning and the effects of training on teacher use of the routine. Measures included students' knowledge of concepts, the numbers and types of analogies teachers used, teacher use of elements of the instructional routine, and teacher and student satisfaction. Teacher use of the routine led to increased student retention and expression of information. In addition, teachers easily learned the routine and used considerably more analogies to instruct concepts after they became familiar with the routine. Teachers indicated that they were satisfied with the routine; students were less satisfied with the routine than were the teachers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Optimal allocation for estimating the mean of a bivariate polynomial

Suppose we wish to estimate the mean of some polynomial function of random variables from two independent Bernoulli populations, the parameters of which. rhemselves, are modeled as independent beta random variables. It. is assumed that the t.otal sample size for the experiment is fixed, but that the number of experimental units observed from each population may be random. This problem arises, ior example, when estimating the fault tolerance of a system by testing its compomentc individually. Using a decision theorebic approach, we seek to minimize the Bayes risk that arises from using a squared error loss function The Bayes estimator can lw detrmined in a straightforwardmanner, so the problem of optimal estimation rcduces. therefore, to a problem of optimallocatton of the samples between the two populatiorls. This can be solved via dynamic programming. Similar programming techniques are utilized to evaluate properties of a number of ad hoc allocation strategies that might also be collsidered for use in this problem.Two sample polynomials are analyzed along with a number of examples indicating the effects of different prior parameter settings. The effects of differences between prior pararueters used in the design and analysis stages of the experiment are also examined. For the polynomials considered, the adaptive strategies are found to be especially robust. We discuss computational techniques that facilitate such analyses by permitting rapid re-evaluation of strategies. Capabilities of this sort enrouragepeople to explorr designs more fully and to consider them from a number of different viewpuillts.     

Biodiversity offsetting and net positive design

Biodiversity offsetting is used in both urban development and regional resource consent processes to compensate for unavoidable environmental impacts. Using North American, Australian and New Zealand examples, the limitations, opportunities and contradictions of the conventional approach in biodiversity offsetting schemes relevant to the built urban environment were reviewed. It was found that there is not adequate accounting for incremental and cumulative effects over time and space, especially given ecological uncertainty. Benchmarking against current conditions has sanctioned a gradual loss of ecological carrying capacity and biodiversity. Net biodiversity gains are possible, but this will require shifts in frameworks for assessing both buildings and biodiversity offsets towards net positive planning and design.     

Executive control in set switching: Residual switch cost and task-set inhibition.

Executive processes necessary for flexible switching between different tasks were studied using a set switching paradigm that requires Ss to rapidly switch between different tasks across consecutive trials. Switch cost reflects poorer performance for task-switch trials than for consecutive same-task trials. 34 Ss (aged 18–48 yrs) participated in the study. Significant switch cost was observed even with considerable preparation time before a task-switch, an effect known as residual switch cost. The study tested the hypothesis that one process underlying residual switch cost is inhibition of the previous task-set. The authors used semantic categorization tasks to compare switch cost between alternating task series (ABA) and nonalternating series (ABC) in order to test the generality of a task-set inhibition effect previously observed with perceptual judgment tasks. The results yielded significant switch cost only for alternating tasks, in both response times and errors resulting from performance of the wrong task. Thus, resolving inhibition associated with previously abandoned task-sets may be the main process underlying residual switch costs, suggesting that task-set inhibition is an important executive control process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)