\n\nResults: Derivation and analysis of the 3D LV shells was

possible in all patients. Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy had significantly smaller curvature values, indicating rounder global LV shape throughout the cardiac cycle. Regional analysis identified a loss of septal and apical curvatures in these patients. Systolic apical mean curvature was well correlated with LV ejection fraction (r = 0.89).\n\nConclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate that regional remodeling measured by regional 3D LV curvature correlates well with LV function. As well, this methodology is independent of the geometric assumptions that limit the predictive value of two-dimensional LDN-193189 in vitro echocardiographic measures of LV remodeling. Overall, this is a novel tool that may have applications in the assessment and Topoisomerase inhibitor prediction of outcomes of different forms of dilated cardiomyopathy. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2012;25:80-8.)”
“To access to the microbial genetic resources of deep-sea sediment by a culture-independent approach, the sediment DNA was extracted and cloned into fosmid vector (pCC1FOS) generating a library of 39,600 clones with inserts of 24-45 kb. The clone fss6 producing red-brown pigment was isolated and characterized. The pigment was identified as melanin according to its physico-chemical characteristics. Subcloning and sequences analyses of fss6 demonstrated

that one open reading frame (ORF2) was responsible for the pigment production. The deduced protein from ORF2 revealed significant amino acid similarity to the 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) from deep-sea bacteria Idiomarina loihiensis. Further study demonstrated that the production of melanin was correlated with homogentistic acid (HGA). The p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate produced by the Escherichia coli host was converted to HGA through the oxidation reaction find more of introduced HPPD. The results demonstrate that expression of DNA extracted directly from the environment might generate applicable microbial gene products. The construction and analysis of the metagenomic

library from deep-sea sediment contributed to our understanding for the reservoir of unexploited deep-sea microorganisms.”
“The apparent bulk electrical conductivity (sigma(a)) of eleven soils from Trinidad tropic region was measured in the field and the laboratory with a portable Field Scout soil water content/electrical conductivity probe. The effect on sigma(a) of compacting three of the soils (a sandy loam, clay loam and clay) to three or four bulk densities (1.1, 1.3 and 1.5 and 1.7 t m(-3)), each with four levels of peat (0, 4%, 8%, and 12% by mass) at four gravimetric water contents (5, 12, 19 and 26%) was further investigated in the laboratory. The sigma(a) measured in the field ranged from 0.09 to 0.75 dS m(-1) and was within 0.