[Epidemic situation analysis of Japanese encephalitis in 2005.]

BACKGROUND

To investigate the epidemic situation of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in three provinces, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Hubei in 2005.

METHODS

Information about epidemic situation of JE, mosquitoes specimens were collected and titers of JE virus in hosts in the above three surveillance sites were determined.

RESULTS

The reported cases of JE in Guizhou, Sichuan, and Hubei province accounted for 40.7% of total cases in 2005 in China. The numbers of cases in Guizhou and Sichuan ranked at the first two in China, morbidity exceeded 1/100,000, which was higher than average level in China. Zero to 10 years old children accounted for 90% in reported cases. Most of the cases were children lived at home. Almost all JE cases were presented from June to September, but most cases were reported between July and August. Investigaton of the density of vector showed that the dominant mosquitoes were Culex, especially the Culex tritaeniorhynchus.

CONCLUSION

The epidemic status of JE was similar among the three provinces and the whole country. The number of JEV cases in Guizhou and Sichuan were the highest in China.

Nematode biology and larval development of Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida, Thelaziidae) in the drosophilid intermediate host in Europe and China

Thelazia callipaeda, commonly known as the 'oriental eyeworm', has been recently reported in Italy and other European countries. The insect/s that act as intermediate hosts and details of larval development inside the vector remain unclear. In order to (1) demonstrate the species of fly that may act as vector/s for T. callipaeda in southern Italy (Site A) and China (Site B) and (2) describe the larval development of the nematode in the body of flies, 847 Phortica (Drosophilidae) flies were collected from the above two sites, each with a history of human and/or canine thelaziosis. Flies were identified as Phortica variegata (245 - site A) and Phortica okadai (602 - site B), experimentally infected by 1st-stage larvae (L1), kept at different temperatures and dissected daily until day 180 post-infection (p.i.). Dead flies from site A were subjected to specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to detect T. callipaeda. To demonstrate the role of Phortica as vectors of T. callipaeda, 3rd-stage larvae (L3) recovered from the proboscis of flies were deposited onto the cornea of the eyes of dogs and rabbits. Following dissection, 3 (2.9%) of P. variegata in site A were found to be infected by L3 in the proboscis on days +14, +21 and +53 p.i., compared with 26 (18.4%) of Phortica flies recorded as being positive by PCR. Sequences from positive PCR products were 99% identical to sequences of the corresponding species available in GenBank (AY207464). At site B, 106 (17.6%) of 602 dissected P. okadai were found to be infected by T. callipaeda larvae (different stages) and in total 62 L3 were recovered from the proboscis of 34 (5.6%) flies. The shortest time in which L3 were found was at day +14, +17, +19, and +50 p.i. respectively, depending on the environmental temperatures. Of 30 flies overwintered for 6 months, 6 L3 were detected at day +180 p.i. in 3 flies (10%). The biology of larval development was reconstructed on the basis of the dissection of 602 P. okadai-infected flies and the morphology of larval stages in the insect body described. The present work provides evidence that P. variegata and P. okadai act as vectors for T. callipaeda in southern Europe and in China, respectively. The phenomenon of overwintering is described here for the first time for T. callipaeda and discussed. Finally, the relationship between T. callipaeda and its fly vector is considered in light of disease prophylaxis and to model its dissemination into habitats and environments favourable to Phortica flies.

Musca domestica is not a vector of Thelazia callipaeda in experimental or natural conditions

Thelazia callipaeda Railliet and Henry (Spirurida: Thelaziidae), commonly called oriental eyeworm for its widespread presence in the Far East, has been recently found to affect dogs, cats and foxes in northern and southern Italy. Although the biology of T. callipaeda in the definitive hosts has been recently investigated, many doubts still remain about its biology in insect vectors. It has been suggested that more than one species of Diptera, namely Musca domestica Linnaeus (Diptera: Muscidae) and Amiota okadai Maca (Diptera: Drosophilidae), may be involved in the transmission of T. callipaeda in China. The aim of the work described here was to verify the role of M. domestica as a vector of T. callipaeda both in experimental and natural conditions. A total of 310 m. domestica (Group 1) were put in a cage and allowed to feed for 14 days around the eyes of a dog naturally infected by T. callipaeda. Ten flies were collected daily for 14 days. A total of 149 houseflies (Group 2) were fed with T. callipaeda first stage larvae (L1) and dissected at 1, 2 and 7 days post-infection. From June to August 2003, flies were netted (Group 3) in two different sites every 10 days both from the environment and directly from the periocular region of dogs affected by thelaziosis. Musca flies were examined for eyeworms by dissection and visual inspection of house flies (Groups 1 and 2) and using a molecular approach (Groups 1-3) via a specific amplification of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) sequence of T. callipaeda. On the whole, 180 pools of M. domestica flies were processed molecularly and all the experimentally infected flies (Groups 1 and 2) were found to be negative both at the visual dissection and at the molecular assay. Similarly, the 234 M. domestica collected from Group 3 were negative for T. callipaeda. The results clearly suggest that M. domestica is unlikely to act as a vector of T. callipaeda in southern Europe, in contrast with a single previous report.

Reduction of blood pressure with calcium and potassium supplementation in children with salt sensitivity: a 2-year double-blinded placebo-controlled trial

An investigation of the reductive effect of blood pressure and increment of urinary sodium excretion with calcium and potassium supplementation in children with sodium sensitivity is conducted. In total of 261 school children who had completed a 2-year double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial with calcium and potassium supplementation salt sensitivity, with a salt volume expansion and contraction protocol, was determined. The results showed that in children with salt sensitivity, the increase in blood pressure in the supplementary group was lower by 4.3/4.8 mmHg than that in the placebo group (P<0.05), while no significant change was found between the supplementary group and placebo group in children with nonsalt sensitivity. With calcium and potassium supplementation, the night urinary sodium excretion in children with salt sensitivity was significantly increased (P<0.01), and it is negatively correlated with the increase in blood pressure. It was suggested that a moderate increase of calcium and potassium intake in children with salt sensitivity, through interaction with sodium, can promote urinary sodium excretion and may play contribute to the prevention of hypertension.

Glycerol production by microbial fermentation: a review

Microbial production of glycerol has been known for 150 years, and glycerol was produced commercially during World War I. Glycerol production by microbial synthesis subsequently declined since it was unable to compete with chemical synthesis from petrochemical feedstocks due to the low glycerol yields and the difficulty with extraction and purification of glycerol from broth. As the cost of propylene has increased and its availability has decreased especially in developing countries and as glycerol has become an attractive feedstock for production of various chemicals, glycerol production by fermentation has become more attractive as an alternative route. Substantial overproduction of glycerol by yeast from monosaccharides can be obtained by: (1) forming a complex between acetaldehyde and bisulfite ions thereby retarding ethanol production and restoring the redox balance through glycerol synthesis; (2) growing yeast cultures at pH values near 7 or above; or (3) using osmotolerant yeasts. In recent years, significant improvements have been made in the glycerol production using osmotolerant yeasts on a commercial scale in China. The most outstanding achievements include: (1) isolation of novel osmotolerant yeast strains producing up to 130 g/L glycerol with yields up to 63% and the productivities up to 32 g/(L day); (2) glycerol yields, productivities and concentrations in broth up to 58%, 30 g/(L day) and 110-120 g/L, respectively, in an optimized aerobic fermentation process have been attained on a commercial scale; and (3) a carrier distillation technique with a glycerol distillation efficiency greater than 90% has been developed. As glycerol metabolism has become better understood in yeasts, opportunities will arise to construct novel glycerol overproducing microorganisms by metabolic engineering.

Nucleus accumbens oxytocin and dopamine interact to regulate pair bond formation in female prairie voles

Although oxytocin (OT) and dopamine (DA) have been implicated in pair bond formation in monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), the nature of potential interactions between these two neurochemical systems and the brain circuits important for such interactions in the regulation of pair bonding have not been explored. Here, we demonstrated that access to both OT and DA D2-type receptors is necessary for pair bond formation, as blockade of either type of receptor prevented partner preferences induced by OT or a D2-type agonist. We also demonstrated that the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) is a brain area important for such OT-DA interactions. In NAcc, blockade of OT receptors prevented partner preferences induced by a D2-type agonist whereas blockade of D2-type, but not D1-type, DA receptors blocked OT-induced partner preferences. Together, our data suggest that concurrent activation of OT and DA D2-type receptors in NAcc is essential for pair bond formation in female prairie voles.

Polymorphism of metabolic genes and susceptibility to occupational chronic manganism

In this study we investigated genetic polymorphisms of five metabolizing genes and their association with occupational chronic manganism. We recruited 49 patients with chronic manganism and 50 unrelated healthy control subjects who were welders and ferromanganese smelters and occupationally exposed to manganese dust and fume in the same workshops from three metallurgical industries. The controls were matched to the cases by sex, age, cigarette and alcohol intake, as well as the manganese exposure duration. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to genotype the cytochrome P450 2D6L gene (CYP2D6L) and the NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase gene (NQO1). Allele-specific PCR was used to detect the cytochrome P450 1A1 gene (CYP1A1), and the glutathione-S-transferase mu and theta genes (GSTM and GSTT). The frequency of polymorphic alleles, a mutation of CYP2D6L, was significantly lower in patients with chronic manganism (16.3%) than in controls (29.0%). Individuals with the homozygote polymorphism (L/L) of CYP2D6 had a 90% decreased risk of chronic manganism compared with the wild-type (Wt/Wt) (odds ratio =0.10, 95% confidence interval = 0.01-0.82). A significant association between the CYP2D6 genotype subgroup and the latency of chronic manganese poisoning was also found. Patients who had homozygous (L/L) or heterozygous (Wt/L) mutant alleles developed manganism an average of 10 years later than those who were homozygous wildtype (Wt/Wt). However, the allele and genotype frequencies of CYP1A1 and NQO1 genes were distributed similarly in cases and controls. In addition, no difference in the frequencies of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes were observed between cases and controls. The results suggest that CYP2D6L gene polymorphism might influence susceptibility to manganese-induced neurotoxicity. However, because of limited sample size, our results should be validated in large-scale studies.

Effects of leukaemia inhibitory factor on endometrial receptivity and its hormonal regulation in rabbits

The effects of hormones on production of leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and the uterine receptivity in rabbits were studied. In ovariectomised rabbits, LIF protein was not detected in control but upregulated by progesterone alone. Oestrogen had a slightly negative effect when the rabbits were treated with both oestrogen and progesterone. Mifepristone (Mi) inhibited the progesterone-stimulated production of LIF in rabbit uterus. The transfer of embryos to LIF-treated recipients significantly increased pregnancy rate (70%) and implantation rate (27%) as compared with control (pregnancy rate=40% and implantation rate=17%). The transfer of embryos to LIF and mifepristone-treated recipients significantly decreased pregnancy rate (30%) and implantation rate (9%). The results indicated that LIF protein had a beneficial effect on uterine receptivity and mifepristone prevented this effect.

Expression of liver cancer associated gene HCCA3

AIM: To study and clone a novel liver cancer related gene, and to explore the molecular basis of liver cancer genesis.

METHODS: Using mRNA differential display polymerase chain reaction (DDPCR), we investigated the difference of mRNA in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and paired surrounding liver tissues, and got a gene probe. By screening a human placenta cDNA library and genomic homologous extend, we obtained a full-length cDNA named HCCA3. We analyzed the expression of this novel gene in 42 pairs of HCC and the surrounding liver tissues, and distribution in human normal tissues by means of Northern blot assay.

RESULTS: A full-length cDNA of liver cancer associated gene HCCA3 has been submitted to the GeneBank nucleotide sequence databases (Accession No. AF276707). The positive expression rate of this gene was 78.6% (33/42) in HCC tissues, and the clinical pathological data showed that the HCCA3 was closely associated with the invasion of tumor capsule (P = 0.023) and adjacant small metastasis satellite nodules lesions (P = 0.041). The HCCA3 was widely distributed in the human normal tissues, which was intensively expressed in lungs, brain and colon tissues, while lowly expressed in the liver tissues.

CONCLUSION: A novel full-length cDNA was cloned and differentiated, which was highly expressed in liver cancer tissues. The high expression was closely related to the tumor invasiveness and metastasis, that may be the late heredited change in HCC genesis.

Unique monoclonal antibody recognizing the third extracellular loop of CXCR4 induces lymphocyte agglutination and enhances human immunodeficiency virus type 1-mediated syncytium formation and productive infection

To increase insight into the structural basis of CXCR4 utilization in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, a new generation of three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was developed in WKA rats. The A80 MAb, which binds an epitope in the third extracellular loop (ECL3) of CXCR4, has unique biologic properties that provide novel insights into CXCR4 function. This agent enhanced syncytium formation in activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) infected with X4 or R5 and CEM cells infected with X4 HIV-1 strains. Exposure to A80 increased the productive infection of activated CD4(+) T cells and CEM cells with R5 and X4 viruses, respectively. This antibody uniquely induced agglutination of PBMC and CEM cells but did not activate calcium mobilization. Agglutination induced by A80 was inhibited by stromal cell-derived factor 1, T22, and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate but was not significantly altered by pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin, wortmannin, or MAbs to LFA-1, ICAM-1, ICAM-2, and ICAM-3. The binding of the A145 and A120 MAbs was mapped to the N-terminal extracellular domain and a conformational epitope involving ECL1 and ECL2, respectively. Both of these MAbs inhibited HIV-1 infection and lacked the novel properties of A80. These results suggest a new role for CXCR4 in homologous lymphocyte adhesion that is ligand independent and in HIV-1 infection.

Differential expression of vasopressin, oxytocin and corticotrophin-releasing hormone messenger RNA in the paraventricular nucleus of the prairie vole brain following stress

Forced swimming, as an effective stressor, has been found to facilitate the development of pair bonds in male but to interfere with this behaviour in female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). In the present study, we found that forced swimming differentially influenced the expression of messenger RNA for vasopressin, oxytocin and corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) in the prairie vole brain. Forced swimming did not alter vasopressin mRNA labelling, but did induce a sustained decrease in oxytocin mRNA labelling and a progressive increase in CRH mRNA labelling in the PVN. The elevated CRH mRNA labelling appeared to be due to an increased number of cells synthesizing CRH mRNA and an enhanced ability of individual cells to produce CRH mRNA. Male and female prairie voles did not differ in the vasopressin, oxytocin or CRH mRNA expression either at the basal levels or in response to swimming stress. Together, these data indicate that the hypothalamic response of vasopressin, oxytocin and CRH messenger RNAs to swimming stress is regulated by distinct transcriptional factors. In addition, it seems unlikely that these changes are involved directly in the sex differences in pair bond formation.

Analysis of the origin of through-space proton NMR deshielding by selected organic functional groups

GIAO-HF and IGLO-DFT computations of isotropic magnetic shieldings were used to map the NMR shielding environments of small molecules exemplifying selected organic functional groups. Two different probes were employed: a methane molecule and NICS (nucleus-independent chemical shifts) based on computed absolute isotropic shieldings. The reason for the different results obtained using these two probes is perturbation of the wave function by the proximity of methane to the pi bond, as analyzed by the localized orbital contributions to the shieldings. [structure: see text]

Molecular anatomy of CCR5 engagement by physiologic and viral chemokines and HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins: differences in primary structural requirements for RANTES, MIP-1 alpha, and vMIP-II Binding

Molecular analysis of CCR5, the cardinal coreceptor for HIV-1 infection, has implicated the N-terminal extracellular domain (N-ter) and regions vicinal to the second extracellular loop (ECL2) in this activity. It was shown that residues in the N-ter are necessary for binding of the physiologic ligands, RANTES (CCL5) and MIP-1 alpha (CCL3). vMIP-II, encoded by the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, is a high affinity CCR5 antagonist, but lacks efficacy as a coreceptor inhibitor. Therefore, we compared the mechanism for engagement by vMIP-II of CCR5 to its interaction with physiologic ligands. RANTES, MIP-1 alpha, and vMIP-II bound CCR5 at high affinity, but demonstrated partial cross-competition. Characterization of 15 CCR5 alanine scanning mutants of charged extracellular amino acids revealed that alteration of acidic residues in the distal N-ter abrogated binding of RANTES, MIP-1 alpha, and vMIP-II. Whereas mutation of residues in ECL2 of CCR5 dramatically reduced the binding of RANTES and MIP-1 alpha and their ability to induce signaling, interaction with vMIP-II was not altered by any mutation in the exoloops of the receptor. Paradoxically, monoclonal antibodies to N-ter epitopes did not block chemokine binding, but those mapped to ECL2 were effective inhibitors. A CCR5 chimera with the distal N-ter residues of CXCR2 bound MIP-1 alpha and vMIP-II with an affinity similar to that of the wild-type receptor. Engagement of CCR5 by vMIP-II, but not RANTES or MIP-1 alpha blocked the binding of monoclonal antibodies to the receptor, providing additional evidence for a distinct mechanism for viral chemokine binding. Analysis of the coreceptor activity of randomly generated mouse-human CCR5 chimeras implicated residues in ECL2 between H173 and V197 in this function. RANTES, but not vMIP-II blocked CCR5 M-tropic coreceptor activity in the fusion assay. The insensitivity of vMIP-II binding to mutations in ECL2 provides a potential rationale to its inefficiency as an antagonist of CCR5 coreceptor activity. These findings suggest that the molecular anatomy of CCR5 binding plays a critical role in antagonism of coreceptor activity.

Expression of the Pib rice-blast-resistance gene family is up-regulated by environmental conditions favouring infection and by chemical signals that trigger secondary plant defences

The rice blast resistance gene Pib is a member of the nucleotide binding site (NBS) and leucine-rich repeat (LRR) class of plant disease resistance (R) genes and belongs to a small gene family. We describe here the isolation and characterization of a Pib homologue (PibH8), and extensive investigation of the expression of the Pib gene family (Pib, PibH8, HPibH8-1, HPibH8-2) under various environmental and chemical treatments. PibH8 shows 42% identity and 60% similarity to Pib and, like Pib, has a duplication of the kinase 1a, 2, and 3a motifs of the NBS region in the N-terminal half of the protein. Interestingly, genes of the Pib family exhibit a diurnal rhythm of expression. RNA gel blot analysis revealed that their expression was regulated dramatically by environmental signals. such as temperature, light and water availability. Their expression was also induced by chemical treatments, such as jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, ethylene and probenazole. Our findings suggest that expression of the Pib gene family is up-regulated by environmental conditions that would favour pathogen infection. This may reflect the evolution of anticipatory control of R gene expression.

The measurement of parasite antigen-specific IgE levels using anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies and biotinylated antigens

We studied and evaluated an ELISA system, using a sandwich method with a monoclonal antibody against the Fc domain of IgE molecules and biotinylated antigens, to detect parasite antigen-specific IgE quantitatively. The specific IgE ELISA titre increases linearly in a dose-dependent manner when the concentration of total IgE in samples is less than 2,000 ng/ml. Sera from IgE-deficient SJA/9 mice infected with Trichinella spiralis failed to give any measurable IgE, suggesting that other classes of immunoglobulins have no effect on this assay. The titre showed a good correlation with PCA titre. A high concentration of the serum from Toxocara canis-infected mice reduced the T. spiralis-specific IgE ELISA titre, suggesting that the ELISA system is influenced by a huge amount of IgE against epitopes different from those of target antigens. This ELISA system can also be applied for detecting other classes or subclasses of antigen-specific immunoglobulins.

Identification and characterization of a novel human hepatocellular carcinoma-associated gene

To investigate liver cancer-associated genes and to explore the molecular basis of liver cancer genesis, we have cloned a novel hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-related gene with a transcript of 2520 base pairs in length named HCCA2 by mRNA differential display polymerase chain reaction (DDPCR) and screening a placenta cDNA library. No significant homologous protein with known genes was found. Western blot analysis showed that HCCA2 could be expressed in transfected 293 cells. Northern hybridization analysis showed that HCCA2 mRNA was expressed in 79% (34/43) patients with HCC, most of whom had significantly high expression in HCC tissues, while not expressed in corresponding noncancerous liver tissues. The clinical pathological data showed that the HCCA2 was significantly associated with the invasion of tumour capsule (P = 0.0007) and the expression of ki-67 protein (P = 0.0022). Immunohistochemical staining confirmed that the HCCA2 protein was localized in cytoplasm of liver cancer tissues. According to amino acid analysis of the protein and its localization, it may play a role in a cascade of intracellular signal transduction because the protein was characterized with two Src homology 3 (SH3) binding-domains and several functional motifs of phosphorylation.

Dissected nucleus-independent chemical shift analysis of pi-aromaticity and antiaromaticity

[structure: see text] Analysis of the basic pi-aromatic (benzene) and antiaromatic (cyclobutadiene) systems by dissected nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS) shows the contrasting diatropic and paratropic effects, but also reveals subtleties and unexpected details.

[Study on expression of ELAM-1 and ICAM-1 mRNA on microvascular endothelial cells during focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion]

AIM

To evaluate the role of ELAM-1 and ICAM-1 in the course of inflammatory reactions during focal brain ischemia/reperfusion.

METHODS

The focal brain ischemia/reperfusion model is carried by occluding middle cerebral artery. The expression of ELAM-1 and ICAM-1 mRNA after ischemia/reperfusion was evaluated with RT-PCR.

RESULTS

No ELAM-1 and ICAM-1 mRNA were detected in the sham-operated cortex and only little in the nonischemic cortex. The expression of ELAM-1 and ICAM-1 mRNA were upregulated at 1 hour, peaked at 6 hour and 3 hour respectively and remained elevated for up to 48 hours after ischemia/reperfusion.

CONCLUSION

ELAM-1 and ICAM-1 participate in brain injury during focal ischemia/reperfusion and both of them play an important role in leukocyte infiltration into the ischemic tissues.

Construction principles of "hyparenes": families of molecules with planar pentacoordinate carbons

Density-functional theory calculations predict that three borocarbon units with planar pentacoordinate carbons -C3B3-, -C2B4-, and -CB5-, can replace the -(CH)3- subunits in aromatic or even in antiaromatic hydrocarbons to construct "hyparenes" (families of molecules with planar pentacoordinate carbons). These borocarbon units contribute two, one, and zero electrons, respectively, to the parent pi system. Depending on the choice of these units, the hyparenes (judging from computed proton and nucleus-independent chemical shifts), can maintain or can interconvert the aromatic or antiaromatic character of the parent compounds. The hyparenes are low-lying local minima with normal carbon-boron, boron-boron, and carbon-carbon bond lengths. The multicenter bonding in the hyparenes involves contributions of partial sigma and partial pi bonds to the planar pentacoordinate carbons; the octet rule is not violated. Borocarbon species, for which there is some mass spectrometric evidence, might be observed and identified, for example, in matrix isolation by vibrational spectroscopy.

(E)-1-(2'-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-2,4-difluoro-5-(2-iodovinyl)benzene

This analysis of the title compound, C13H13F2IO3, establishes the orientation of (E)-5-(CH=CH-I) as antiperiplanar (ap) to the C-C bond (5-6 position) of the 2,4-difluorophenyl ring system, with the (E)-5-(CH=CH-I) H atom located in close proximity (2.17 A) to the F4 atom of the 2,4-difluorophenyl moiety.

Glycerol production by a novel osmotolerant yeast Candida glycerinogenes

Candida glycerinogenes, an osmotolerant yeast isolated from a natural sample in an environment of high osmotic pressure, had a modest sugar-tolerance and an extremely high glycerol productivity. The optimum conditions for glycerol formation by C. glycerinogenes were a temperature of 29-33 degrees C and a pH of 4-6. The optimum medium for glycerol production consisted of 230-250 g glucose/l, 2 g urea/l and 5 ml corn steep liquor/l (55-65 mg phosphates/l); the pH was not adjusted. The highest yield of glycerol was 64.5% (w/w) based on consumed glucose from 240 g glucose/l, and the highest concentration of glycerol was 137 g/l from 260 g glucose/l. These results were obtained by using a 30-l agitated fermentor under optimal fermentation conditions. In ten batch-fermentations carried out in a 50,000-l airlift fermentor, an average yield of glycerol of 50.67% (w/w) and an average glycerol concentration of 121.9 g/l were obtained from an average 240.6 g glucose/l.

A Theoretical Prediction of Potentially Observable Lithium Compounds with Planar Tetracoordinate Carbons

Several potentially experimentally accessible lithiated heterocyclic and heteroatom compounds with planar tetracoordinate carbons (ptC) have been predicted computationally. These utilize the strong electron-donating ability and the bridging proclivity of lithium to achieve the ptC preferences. As the p orbitals on the central carbons are only partially occupied, their electronic structures are similar to those of the related carbenes, e.g. imidazole-2-ylidene, rather than to the other ptC compounds such as dilithiocyclopropane.