The history of how Homo sapiens out-survived the Neanderthals is recalled here with the goal of conceiving an edge in our coming competition with a faster, stronger artificial intelligence (AI) who has far greater cap...The history of how Homo sapiens out-survived the Neanderthals is recalled here with the goal of conceiving an edge in our coming competition with a faster, stronger artificial intelligence (AI) who has far greater capacity for information storage. The social and cognitive differences between the two hominid species, Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis, are described. Based on findings from genomics, neuroscience, archaeology, and paleobiology, it appears possible that the capacities of Homo sapiens could outreach those of AIs in some ways. Especially important are human visuospatial, cultural, and, oddly enough, theological capacities, and the interaction of these capacities in group problem-solving. While communication between AIs is fast and can be widespread, the authors ask whether this is the right kind of communication for solving problems of survival. An important question is explored throughout: Is it ethical to withhold from AIs human-like capacities that may become possible to install? Finally, a worrisome question is broached: Is it the best course to create AIs in our own image to safeguard our existence in unknown future interactions with extraterrestrial species, both organic and inorganic?展开更多
Parkinson's disease–A lipidopathy?The histopathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease(PD)and dementia with Lewy bodies are inclusions enriched inα-synuclein(α-syn),known as Lewy bodies,which are not only ...Parkinson's disease–A lipidopathy?The histopathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease(PD)and dementia with Lewy bodies are inclusions enriched inα-synuclein(α-syn),known as Lewy bodies,which are not only composed of proteins,but also a core of lipid species.PD has been thus far principally thought of as a“proteinopathy”caused by the misfolding of α-syn.展开更多
The speed,capacity,and strength of artificial intelligence units(AIs)could pose a selfinflicted danger to humanity’s control of its own civilization.In this analysis,three biologically-based components of sentience t...The speed,capacity,and strength of artificial intelligence units(AIs)could pose a selfinflicted danger to humanity’s control of its own civilization.In this analysis,three biologically-based components of sentience that emerged in the course of human evolution are examined:cultural capacity,moral capacity,and religious capacity.The question is posed as to whether some measure of these capacities can be digitized and installed in AIs and so afford protection from their dominance.Theory on the emergence of moral capacity suggests it is most likely to be amenable to digitization and therefore installation in AIs.If so,transfer of that capacity,in creating commonalities between human and AI,may help to protect humanity from being destroyed.We hypothesize that religious thinking and culturally elaborated theological creativity could,in not being easily transferred,afford even more protection by constructing impenetrable barriers between humans and AIs,along real/counterfactual lines.Difficulties in digitizing and installing the three capacities at the foundation of sentience are examined within current discussions of“superalignment”of superintelligent AIs.Human values articulate differently for the three capacities,with different problems and capacities for supervision of superintelligent AIs.展开更多
BACKGROUND Studies have demonstrated a potential role for fecal biomarkers such as fecal calprotectin(FC)and fecal lactoferrin(FL)in monitoring inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD)-Crohn's disease(CD)and ulcerative co...BACKGROUND Studies have demonstrated a potential role for fecal biomarkers such as fecal calprotectin(FC)and fecal lactoferrin(FL)in monitoring inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD)-Crohn's disease(CD)and ulcerative colitis(UC).However,their correlation to endoscopic scores,disease severity and affected intestinal surface has not been extensively investigated.AIM To correlate FL,and for comparison white blood cell(WBC)and C-reactive protein(CRP),with endoscopic scores,disease extent and location in CD and UC.METHODS Retrospective analysis in 188 patients who had FL,CRP and WBC determined within 30 d of endoscopy.Disease location,disease extent(number of intestinal segments involved),disease severity(determined by endoscopic scores),timing of FL testing in relation to colonoscopy,as well as the use of effective fast acting medications(steroids and biologics)between colonoscopy and FL measurement,were recorded.RESULTS In 131 CD and 57 UC patients,both CRP and FL-but not WBC-distinguished disease severity(inactive,mild,moderate,severe).In patients receiving fastacting(steroids or biologics)treatment in between FL and colonoscopy,FL showed a higher correlation to endoscopic scores when tested before vs after the procedure(r=0.596,P<0.001,vs r=0.285,P=0.15 for the Simple Endoscopic Score for CD;and r=0.402,P=0.01 vs r=0.054 P=0.84 for Disease Activity Index).Finally,FL was significantly correlated with the diseased mucosal surface(colon-ileocolon>small bowel)and the number of inflamed colon segments.CONCLUSION FL and CRP separated disease severity categories with FL showing lower discriminating P-values.FL showed a close correlation with the involved mucosal surface and with disease extent and was more closely correlated to endoscopy when determined before the procedure–this indicating that inflammatory activity changes associated with therapy might be rapidly reflected by FL levels.FL can accurately and timely characterize intestinal inflammation in IBD.展开更多
Prostheses and orthoses are common assistive devices to meet the biomechanical needs of people with physical disabilities.The traditional fabrication approach for prostheses or orthoses is a materialwasting,time-consu...Prostheses and orthoses are common assistive devices to meet the biomechanical needs of people with physical disabilities.The traditional fabrication approach for prostheses or orthoses is a materialwasting,time-consuming,and labor-intensive process.Additive manufacturing(AM)technology has advantages that can solve these problems.Many trials have been conducted in fabricating prostheses and orthoses.However,there is still a gap between the hype and the expected realities of AM in prosthetic and orthotic clinics.One of the key challenges is the lack of a systematic framework of integrated technologies with the AM procedure;another challenge is the need to design a prosthetic or orthotic product that can meet the requirements of both comfort and function.This study reviews the current state of application of AM technologies in prosthesis and orthosis fabrication,and discusses optimal design using computational methods and biomechanical evaluations of product performance.A systematic framework of the AM procedure is proposed,which covers the scanning of affected body parts through to the final designed adaptable product.A cycle of optimal design and biomechanical evaluation of products using finite-element analysis is included in the framework.A mature framework of the AM procedure and sufficient evidence that the resulting products show satisfactory biomechanical performance will promote the application of AM in prosthetic and orthotic clinics.展开更多
Natural regeneration is the interaction of natural processes to restore the forest ecosystem. Its dynamics are influenced by the intensity and extent of a series of abiotic and biotic factors, which may be intrinsic o...Natural regeneration is the interaction of natural processes to restore the forest ecosystem. Its dynamics are influenced by the intensity and extent of a series of abiotic and biotic factors, which may be intrinsic or extrinsic. Knowing the importance of establishing natural regeneration within forest ecosystems, this work aimed to evaluate whether litter depth and trail distance influenced seedling abundance and richness in a forest fragment undergoing natural restoration. The hypothesis tested in this research was that abiotic factors influence the natural regeneration of this forest since they are factors that are directly linked to seed germination and seedling establishment. 30 plots of 1 m2 were randomly analyzed within the forest located on the brown trail. A millimeter ruler was used to diagnose the litter depth and a measuring tape to measure the distance from the plot to the edge. In each plot the seedlings were morpho-specified and each morphospecies had the number of individuals counted. Linear regression tests were performed to assess the relationships between species richness and trail distance and litter depth. The same was done for species abundance. All results showed that there is no relationship pattern between any of the variables. Other factors also influence the regeneration of a forest, such as luminosity and seed bank. Furthermore, litter depth is related to the successional stage of the forest. It was concluded that the abiotic factors tested do not influence the regeneration of the study area.展开更多
Epiphytes are plants that use the mechanical support provided by a host tree, called phorophytes, without emitting haustorial structures. Constituting an important component of the flora, playing an important role in ...Epiphytes are plants that use the mechanical support provided by a host tree, called phorophytes, without emitting haustorial structures. Constituting an important component of the flora, playing an important role in the maintenance of ecosystems, such as water and nutrient cycling, in addition to providing resources, sometimes unique, such as food and shelter, for the canopy fauna. However, the epiphytic flora may show high beta diversity, even when compared with different phorophytes, possibly as a response to the dendromorphological characteristics of the phorophyte. Thus, this work aims to: 1) compare whether the species richness of epiphytes differs in trees with different morphological characteristics, and 2) compare species composition among three tree species. For this, 10 individuals of three tree species were selected: Guaria guidonia, Ficus sp., and Roystonea oleracea. In each individual, the number of species (richness) of vascular epiphytes was recorded and obtained from the species composition. To test differences in richness values between the three trees, we used analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s test. To understand whether the epiphyte community formed separate groups according to the tree species used, we used the available non-metric multidimensional scaling method (NMDS). Thirty-four species of epiphytes were found in the 30 phorophytes surveyed. The three tree species showed significantly different richness, with the highest found in Guarea guidonea and the lowest in Roystonea oleraceae. The NMDS showed that epiphytes group the three tree species into distinct groups, although Ficus sp individuals present a transitional community between the two other species. Thus, the results suggest that the differences in the richness and composition of the epiphytic flora of the different phorophytes are influenced by their distinct morphological characteristics.展开更多
Bromeliaceae are important in ecological restoration, showing easy adaptation to different environments, and constantly interacting with each other through ecological relationships, whose effects may or may not benefi...Bromeliaceae are important in ecological restoration, showing easy adaptation to different environments, and constantly interacting with each other through ecological relationships, whose effects may or may not benefit the species involved. The hypothesis tested whether the population density of Hohenbergia augusta is higher in areas at a more advanced successional stage (brown trail), since the species is typical of more structured forest environments, occurring especially in the lower strata of the forest. Six plots of 10 meters (6 × 10 m) were installed, parallel to the brown and yellow trails, and with a distance of 5 m from the edge. Plots were allocated alternately between the two sides of the trail, 10 meters apart from each other when on the same side. In each plot, all H. augusta (Vell.) E. Morren bromeliads were sampled, without a minimum inclusion criterion, provided they were epiphytic phorophytes. The logarithm of the value was used for data normalization and later, the data were tested in a student’s t-test. The study pointed out that the highest population density of H. augusta occurred in the brown trail because the area is in a more advanced successional stage.展开更多
The active site motif of proteins belonging to "Histidine Acid Phosphatase" (HAP) contains a hepta-peptide region, RHGXRXP. A close comparison among fungal and yeast HAPs revealed the fourth residue of the h...The active site motif of proteins belonging to "Histidine Acid Phosphatase" (HAP) contains a hepta-peptide region, RHGXRXP. A close comparison among fungal and yeast HAPs revealed the fourth residue of the hepta-peptide to be E instead of A, which is the case with A. niger PhyA phytase. However, another phytase, PhyB, from the same microorganism has a higher turnover number and it shows E in this position. We mutated A69 residue to E in the fungal PhyA phytase. The mutant phytase shows a myriad of new kinetic properties. The pH profile shifted 0.5 pH unit in both 5.0 and 2.5 bi-hump peaks. The optimum temperature shifted down from 58℃ to 55℃. However, the greatest difference was observed in the mutant protein's reaction to GuCl at a concentration of 0.1 to 0.2 M. The activity of the mutant phytase jumped 100% while the wild type protein showed no activity enhancement in the same concentration range of GuCl. The kinetics performed at higher concentration of GuCl also contrasted the difference between the wild type and mutant phytase. While Km was least affected, the Vmax increased for the mutant and decreased for the wild type. The sensitivity towards myo-inositol hexasulfate, a potent inhibitor, was decreased by the mutation. All in all, A69E mutation has affected a multitude of enzymatic properties of the protein even though the residue was thought to be non-critical for phytase's catalytic function notwithstanding its location in the conserved hepta-peptide region of the biocatalyst.展开更多
Despite yeast having its own native phytase, the high levels of phytate found in DDGS, a byproduct of ethanol (ETOH) fermentation, suggest that its activity is diminished in the presence of ETOH. Ethanol, a product of...Despite yeast having its own native phytase, the high levels of phytate found in DDGS, a byproduct of ethanol (ETOH) fermentation, suggest that its activity is diminished in the presence of ETOH. Ethanol, a product of grain fermentation, is known to inactivate several hydrolytic enzymes but its effect on phytases is relatively unknown. In this study, two phytases, Aspergillus niger (PhyA) and Escherichia coli (AppA2), were tested for ETOH tolerance. The E. coli phytase displayed greater ethanol tolerance over fungal phytase in the 5% to 10% range. However, ETOH inactivation was found to be reversible for both the enzymes. These differences in ETOH tolerance do suggest that there is a potential to achieve higher ETOH tolerance in phytases by 'structure-function' studies to lower phytic acid levels in DDGS and for other applications.展开更多
The glycoprotein lactoferrin is found in many body fluids but also in the granules of neutrophilic granulocytes. Fecal lactoferrin levels increase quickly with the influx of leukocytes into the intestinal lumen during...The glycoprotein lactoferrin is found in many body fluids but also in the granules of neutrophilic granulocytes. Fecal lactoferrin levels increase quickly with the influx of leukocytes into the intestinal lumen during inflammation. This biomarker has recently been shown to be a sensitive and specific marker of disease activity in chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Our aim was the determination of fecal lactoferrin as a marker of intestinal inflammation and the rapeutic response following infliximab therapy in pediatric patients with Crohn s disease (CD). A total of five patients (ages 10-15 years) with severe Crohn s disease as defined by the Pediatric Crohn s Disease Activity Index (PCDAI)was enrolled in the study. The fecal lactoferrin levels were determined before and after therapy with infliximab by a quantitative lactoferrin ELISA (IBD-SCAN;TechLab, Inc.). Of the five patients on infliximab therapy,three received a single infusion and the remaining two underwent a regime with three maintenance infusions. All five patients responded to infliximab clinically after the first infusion, and in all patients, fecal lactoferrin levels significantly and rapidly decreased from elevated to near baseline in parallel to clinical assessment and the PCDAI. The reduction in fecal lactoferrin at days 7-10 was 93.43 ± 4.49% ,in comparison with the level before infliximab therapy, and correlated with a mean decrease in the PCDAI from 48.50 to 14.0. For the patients followed during multiple infusions,one remained with mild disease and the other reached remission (subjective and PCDAI). Fecal lactoferrin is a sensitive and specific biomarker representing intestinal inflammation and response to therapy in pediatric patients with Crohn s disease. It may be a helpful noninvasive diagnostic tool for monitoring therapeutic efficiency in pediatric IBD patients. Future studies are needed to further establish the relationship between endoscopic changes and the level of fecal lactoferrin as well as the possible role of lact展开更多
文摘The history of how Homo sapiens out-survived the Neanderthals is recalled here with the goal of conceiving an edge in our coming competition with a faster, stronger artificial intelligence (AI) who has far greater capacity for information storage. The social and cognitive differences between the two hominid species, Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis, are described. Based on findings from genomics, neuroscience, archaeology, and paleobiology, it appears possible that the capacities of Homo sapiens could outreach those of AIs in some ways. Especially important are human visuospatial, cultural, and, oddly enough, theological capacities, and the interaction of these capacities in group problem-solving. While communication between AIs is fast and can be widespread, the authors ask whether this is the right kind of communication for solving problems of survival. An important question is explored throughout: Is it ethical to withhold from AIs human-like capacities that may become possible to install? Finally, a worrisome question is broached: Is it the best course to create AIs in our own image to safeguard our existence in unknown future interactions with extraterrestrial species, both organic and inorganic?
文摘Parkinson's disease–A lipidopathy?The histopathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease(PD)and dementia with Lewy bodies are inclusions enriched inα-synuclein(α-syn),known as Lewy bodies,which are not only composed of proteins,but also a core of lipid species.PD has been thus far principally thought of as a“proteinopathy”caused by the misfolding of α-syn.
文摘The speed,capacity,and strength of artificial intelligence units(AIs)could pose a selfinflicted danger to humanity’s control of its own civilization.In this analysis,three biologically-based components of sentience that emerged in the course of human evolution are examined:cultural capacity,moral capacity,and religious capacity.The question is posed as to whether some measure of these capacities can be digitized and installed in AIs and so afford protection from their dominance.Theory on the emergence of moral capacity suggests it is most likely to be amenable to digitization and therefore installation in AIs.If so,transfer of that capacity,in creating commonalities between human and AI,may help to protect humanity from being destroyed.We hypothesize that religious thinking and culturally elaborated theological creativity could,in not being easily transferred,afford even more protection by constructing impenetrable barriers between humans and AIs,along real/counterfactual lines.Difficulties in digitizing and installing the three capacities at the foundation of sentience are examined within current discussions of“superalignment”of superintelligent AIs.Human values articulate differently for the three capacities,with different problems and capacities for supervision of superintelligent AIs.
基金Supported by an unrestricted research grant from Tech Lab,Blacksburg,VA,United States
文摘BACKGROUND Studies have demonstrated a potential role for fecal biomarkers such as fecal calprotectin(FC)and fecal lactoferrin(FL)in monitoring inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD)-Crohn's disease(CD)and ulcerative colitis(UC).However,their correlation to endoscopic scores,disease severity and affected intestinal surface has not been extensively investigated.AIM To correlate FL,and for comparison white blood cell(WBC)and C-reactive protein(CRP),with endoscopic scores,disease extent and location in CD and UC.METHODS Retrospective analysis in 188 patients who had FL,CRP and WBC determined within 30 d of endoscopy.Disease location,disease extent(number of intestinal segments involved),disease severity(determined by endoscopic scores),timing of FL testing in relation to colonoscopy,as well as the use of effective fast acting medications(steroids and biologics)between colonoscopy and FL measurement,were recorded.RESULTS In 131 CD and 57 UC patients,both CRP and FL-but not WBC-distinguished disease severity(inactive,mild,moderate,severe).In patients receiving fastacting(steroids or biologics)treatment in between FL and colonoscopy,FL showed a higher correlation to endoscopic scores when tested before vs after the procedure(r=0.596,P<0.001,vs r=0.285,P=0.15 for the Simple Endoscopic Score for CD;and r=0.402,P=0.01 vs r=0.054 P=0.84 for Disease Activity Index).Finally,FL was significantly correlated with the diseased mucosal surface(colon-ileocolon>small bowel)and the number of inflamed colon segments.CONCLUSION FL and CRP separated disease severity categories with FL showing lower discriminating P-values.FL showed a close correlation with the involved mucosal surface and with disease extent and was more closely correlated to endoscopy when determined before the procedure–this indicating that inflammatory activity changes associated with therapy might be rapidly reflected by FL levels.FL can accurately and timely characterize intestinal inflammation in IBD.
基金This study is supported by National Key R&D Program granted by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(2018YFB1107000)the NFSC projects granted by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(11732015 and 11972315)the General Research Fund granted by the Hong Kong Research Grant Council(PolyUl52065/17E).
文摘Prostheses and orthoses are common assistive devices to meet the biomechanical needs of people with physical disabilities.The traditional fabrication approach for prostheses or orthoses is a materialwasting,time-consuming,and labor-intensive process.Additive manufacturing(AM)technology has advantages that can solve these problems.Many trials have been conducted in fabricating prostheses and orthoses.However,there is still a gap between the hype and the expected realities of AM in prosthetic and orthotic clinics.One of the key challenges is the lack of a systematic framework of integrated technologies with the AM procedure;another challenge is the need to design a prosthetic or orthotic product that can meet the requirements of both comfort and function.This study reviews the current state of application of AM technologies in prosthesis and orthosis fabrication,and discusses optimal design using computational methods and biomechanical evaluations of product performance.A systematic framework of the AM procedure is proposed,which covers the scanning of affected body parts through to the final designed adaptable product.A cycle of optimal design and biomechanical evaluation of products using finite-element analysis is included in the framework.A mature framework of the AM procedure and sufficient evidence that the resulting products show satisfactory biomechanical performance will promote the application of AM in prosthetic and orthotic clinics.
文摘Natural regeneration is the interaction of natural processes to restore the forest ecosystem. Its dynamics are influenced by the intensity and extent of a series of abiotic and biotic factors, which may be intrinsic or extrinsic. Knowing the importance of establishing natural regeneration within forest ecosystems, this work aimed to evaluate whether litter depth and trail distance influenced seedling abundance and richness in a forest fragment undergoing natural restoration. The hypothesis tested in this research was that abiotic factors influence the natural regeneration of this forest since they are factors that are directly linked to seed germination and seedling establishment. 30 plots of 1 m2 were randomly analyzed within the forest located on the brown trail. A millimeter ruler was used to diagnose the litter depth and a measuring tape to measure the distance from the plot to the edge. In each plot the seedlings were morpho-specified and each morphospecies had the number of individuals counted. Linear regression tests were performed to assess the relationships between species richness and trail distance and litter depth. The same was done for species abundance. All results showed that there is no relationship pattern between any of the variables. Other factors also influence the regeneration of a forest, such as luminosity and seed bank. Furthermore, litter depth is related to the successional stage of the forest. It was concluded that the abiotic factors tested do not influence the regeneration of the study area.
文摘Epiphytes are plants that use the mechanical support provided by a host tree, called phorophytes, without emitting haustorial structures. Constituting an important component of the flora, playing an important role in the maintenance of ecosystems, such as water and nutrient cycling, in addition to providing resources, sometimes unique, such as food and shelter, for the canopy fauna. However, the epiphytic flora may show high beta diversity, even when compared with different phorophytes, possibly as a response to the dendromorphological characteristics of the phorophyte. Thus, this work aims to: 1) compare whether the species richness of epiphytes differs in trees with different morphological characteristics, and 2) compare species composition among three tree species. For this, 10 individuals of three tree species were selected: Guaria guidonia, Ficus sp., and Roystonea oleracea. In each individual, the number of species (richness) of vascular epiphytes was recorded and obtained from the species composition. To test differences in richness values between the three trees, we used analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s test. To understand whether the epiphyte community formed separate groups according to the tree species used, we used the available non-metric multidimensional scaling method (NMDS). Thirty-four species of epiphytes were found in the 30 phorophytes surveyed. The three tree species showed significantly different richness, with the highest found in Guarea guidonea and the lowest in Roystonea oleraceae. The NMDS showed that epiphytes group the three tree species into distinct groups, although Ficus sp individuals present a transitional community between the two other species. Thus, the results suggest that the differences in the richness and composition of the epiphytic flora of the different phorophytes are influenced by their distinct morphological characteristics.
文摘Bromeliaceae are important in ecological restoration, showing easy adaptation to different environments, and constantly interacting with each other through ecological relationships, whose effects may or may not benefit the species involved. The hypothesis tested whether the population density of Hohenbergia augusta is higher in areas at a more advanced successional stage (brown trail), since the species is typical of more structured forest environments, occurring especially in the lower strata of the forest. Six plots of 10 meters (6 × 10 m) were installed, parallel to the brown and yellow trails, and with a distance of 5 m from the edge. Plots were allocated alternately between the two sides of the trail, 10 meters apart from each other when on the same side. In each plot, all H. augusta (Vell.) E. Morren bromeliads were sampled, without a minimum inclusion criterion, provided they were epiphytic phorophytes. The logarithm of the value was used for data normalization and later, the data were tested in a student’s t-test. The study pointed out that the highest population density of H. augusta occurred in the brown trail because the area is in a more advanced successional stage.
文摘The active site motif of proteins belonging to "Histidine Acid Phosphatase" (HAP) contains a hepta-peptide region, RHGXRXP. A close comparison among fungal and yeast HAPs revealed the fourth residue of the hepta-peptide to be E instead of A, which is the case with A. niger PhyA phytase. However, another phytase, PhyB, from the same microorganism has a higher turnover number and it shows E in this position. We mutated A69 residue to E in the fungal PhyA phytase. The mutant phytase shows a myriad of new kinetic properties. The pH profile shifted 0.5 pH unit in both 5.0 and 2.5 bi-hump peaks. The optimum temperature shifted down from 58℃ to 55℃. However, the greatest difference was observed in the mutant protein's reaction to GuCl at a concentration of 0.1 to 0.2 M. The activity of the mutant phytase jumped 100% while the wild type protein showed no activity enhancement in the same concentration range of GuCl. The kinetics performed at higher concentration of GuCl also contrasted the difference between the wild type and mutant phytase. While Km was least affected, the Vmax increased for the mutant and decreased for the wild type. The sensitivity towards myo-inositol hexasulfate, a potent inhibitor, was decreased by the mutation. All in all, A69E mutation has affected a multitude of enzymatic properties of the protein even though the residue was thought to be non-critical for phytase's catalytic function notwithstanding its location in the conserved hepta-peptide region of the biocatalyst.
文摘Despite yeast having its own native phytase, the high levels of phytate found in DDGS, a byproduct of ethanol (ETOH) fermentation, suggest that its activity is diminished in the presence of ETOH. Ethanol, a product of grain fermentation, is known to inactivate several hydrolytic enzymes but its effect on phytases is relatively unknown. In this study, two phytases, Aspergillus niger (PhyA) and Escherichia coli (AppA2), were tested for ETOH tolerance. The E. coli phytase displayed greater ethanol tolerance over fungal phytase in the 5% to 10% range. However, ETOH inactivation was found to be reversible for both the enzymes. These differences in ETOH tolerance do suggest that there is a potential to achieve higher ETOH tolerance in phytases by 'structure-function' studies to lower phytic acid levels in DDGS and for other applications.
文摘The glycoprotein lactoferrin is found in many body fluids but also in the granules of neutrophilic granulocytes. Fecal lactoferrin levels increase quickly with the influx of leukocytes into the intestinal lumen during inflammation. This biomarker has recently been shown to be a sensitive and specific marker of disease activity in chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Our aim was the determination of fecal lactoferrin as a marker of intestinal inflammation and the rapeutic response following infliximab therapy in pediatric patients with Crohn s disease (CD). A total of five patients (ages 10-15 years) with severe Crohn s disease as defined by the Pediatric Crohn s Disease Activity Index (PCDAI)was enrolled in the study. The fecal lactoferrin levels were determined before and after therapy with infliximab by a quantitative lactoferrin ELISA (IBD-SCAN;TechLab, Inc.). Of the five patients on infliximab therapy,three received a single infusion and the remaining two underwent a regime with three maintenance infusions. All five patients responded to infliximab clinically after the first infusion, and in all patients, fecal lactoferrin levels significantly and rapidly decreased from elevated to near baseline in parallel to clinical assessment and the PCDAI. The reduction in fecal lactoferrin at days 7-10 was 93.43 ± 4.49% ,in comparison with the level before infliximab therapy, and correlated with a mean decrease in the PCDAI from 48.50 to 14.0. For the patients followed during multiple infusions,one remained with mild disease and the other reached remission (subjective and PCDAI). Fecal lactoferrin is a sensitive and specific biomarker representing intestinal inflammation and response to therapy in pediatric patients with Crohn s disease. It may be a helpful noninvasive diagnostic tool for monitoring therapeutic efficiency in pediatric IBD patients. Future studies are needed to further establish the relationship between endoscopic changes and the level of fecal lactoferrin as well as the possible role of lact
