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Summary Polyploidization is pervasive in plants, but little is known about the niche divergence of wild allopolyploids (species that harbor polyploid genomes originating from different diploid species) relative to their diploid progenitor species and the gene expression patterns that may underlie such ecological divergence. We conducted a fine‐scale empirical study on habitat and gene expression of an allopolyploid and its diploid progenitors.We quantified soil properties and light availability of habitats of an allotetraploid Cardamine flexuosa and its diploid progenitors Cardamine amara and Cardamine hirsuta in two seasons. We analyzed expression patterns of genes and homeologs (homeologous gene copies in allopolyploids) using RNA sequencing.We detected niche divergence between the allopolyploid and its diploid progenitors along water availability gradient at a fine scale: the diploids in opposite extremes and the allopolyploid in a broader range between diploids, with limited overlap with diploids at both ends. Most of the genes whose homeolog expression ratio changed among habitats in C. flexuosa varied spatially and temporally.These findings provide empirical evidence for niche divergence between an allopolyploid and its diploid progenitor species at a fine scale and suggest that divergent expression patterns of homeologs in an allopolyploid may underlie its persistence in diverse habitats.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Reliable prediction of pro-arrhythmic side effects of novel drug candidates is still a major challenge. Although drug-induced pro-arrhythmia occurs primarily in patients with pre-existing repolarisation disturbances, healthy animals are employed for pro-arrhythmia testing. To improve current safety screening, transgenic long QT (LQTS) rabbit models with impaired repolarisation reserve were generated by overexpressing loss-of-function mutations of human HERG (HERG-G628S, loss of IKr ; LQT2), KCNE1 (KCNE1-G52R, decreased IKs ; LQT5), or both transgenes (LQT2-5) in the heart. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Effects of K+ channel blockers on cardiac repolarisation and arrhythmia susceptibility were assessed in healthy wild-type (WT) and LQTS rabbits using in vivo ECG and ex vivo monophasic action potential and ECG recordings in Langendorff-perfused hearts. KEY RESULTS LQTS models reflect patients with clinically "silent" (LQT5) or "manifest" (LQT2 and LQT2-5) impairment in cardiac repolarisation reserve: they were more sensitive in detecting IKr -blocking (LQT5) or IK1 /IKs -blocking (LQT2 and LQT2-5) properties of drugs compared to healthy WT animals. Impaired QT-shortening capacity at fast heart rates was observed due to disturbed IKs function in LQT5 and LQT2-5. Importantly, LQTS models exhibited higher incidence, longer duration, and more malignant types of ex vivo arrhythmias than WT. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS LQTS models represent patients with reduced repolarisation reserve due to different pathomechanisms. As they demonstrate increased sensitivity to different specific ion channel blockers (IKr blockade in LQT5 and IK1 and IKs blockade in LQT2 and LQT2-5), their combined use could provide more reliable and more thorough prediction of (multichannel-based) pro-arrhythmic potential of novel drug candidates.

Diabetes and metabolic syndrome are associated with the typical American high glycemia diet and result in accumulation of high levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), particularly upon aging. AGEs form when sugars or their metabolites react with proteins. Associated with a myriad of age‐related diseases, AGEs accumulate in many tissues and are cytotoxic. To date, efforts to limit glycation pharmacologically have failed in human trials. Thus, it is crucial to identify systems that remove AGEs, but such research is scanty. Here, we determined if and how AGEs might be cleared by autophagy. Our in vivo mouse and C. elegans models, in which we altered proteolysis or glycative burden, as well as experiments in five types of cells, revealed more than six criteria indicating that p62‐dependent autophagy is a conserved pathway that plays a critical role in the removal of AGEs. Activation of autophagic removal of AGEs requires p62, and blocking this pathway results in accumulation of AGEs and compromised viability. Deficiency of p62 accelerates accumulation of AGEs in soluble and insoluble fractions. p62 itself is subject to glycative inactivation and accumulates as high mass species. Accumulation of p62 in retinal pigment epithelium is reversed by switching to a lower glycemia diet. Since diminution of glycative damage is associated with reduced risk for age‐related diseases, including age‐related macular degeneration, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's, discovery of methods to limit AGEs or enhance p62‐dependent autophagy offers novel potential therapeutic targets to treat AGEs‐related pathologies., AGEs are toxic compounds formed by non‐enzymatic reactions between sugars and proteins. AGEs are prone to aggregate. Insoluble AGEs are efficiently removed via p62‐selective autophagy. The autophagic removal of AGEs is a conserved pathway, and the lack of p62 leads to accumulation of toxic AGEs in mouse and worms. Enhanced autophagy is protective against glycation‐derived damage. p62‐dependent autophagy offers novel potential therapeutic targets to treat AGEs‐related pathologies.

Spider mites are destructive arthropod pests on many crops. The generalist herbivorous mite Tetranychus urticae induces defenses in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and this constrains its fitness. By contrast, the Solanaceae‐specialist Tetranychus evansi maintains a high reproductive performance by suppressing tomato defenses. Tetranychus evansi outcompetes T. urticae when infesting the same plant, but it is unknown whether this is facilitated by the defenses of the plant.We assessed the extent to which a secondary infestation by a competitor affects local plant defense responses (phytohormones and defense genes), mite gene expression and mite performance.We observed that T. evansi switches to hyper‐suppression of defenses after its tomato host is also invaded by its natural competitor T. urticae. Jasmonate (JA) and salicylate (SA) defenses were suppressed more strongly, albeit only locally at the feeding site of T. evansi, upon introduction of T. urticae to the infested leaflet. The hyper‐suppression of defenses coincided with increased expression of T. evansi genes coding for salivary defense‐suppressing effector proteins and was paralleled by an increased reproductive performance.Together, these observations suggest that T. evansi overcompensates its reproduction through hyper‐suppression of plant defenses in response to nearby competitors. We hypothesize that the competitor‐induced overcompensation promotes competitive population growth of T. evansi on tomato.

The new phytologist 213(3), 1346-1362 (2017). doi:10.1111/nph.14220, Published by Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford [u.a.]

The new phytologist 221(2), 881-895 (2019). doi:10.1111/nph.15442, Published by Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford [u.a.]

To obtain insights into the dynamics of nutrient exchange in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, we modelled mathematically the two‐membrane system at the plant–fungus interface and simulated its dynamics. In computational cell biology experiments, the full range of nutrient transport pathways was tested for their ability to exchange phosphorus (P)/carbon (C)/nitrogen (N) sources. As a result, we obtained a thermodynamically justified, independent and comprehensive model of the dynamics of the nutrient exchange at the plant–fungus contact zone. The predicted optimal transporter network coincides with the transporter set independently confirmed in wet‐laboratory experiments previously, indicating that all essential transporter types have been discovered. The thermodynamic analyses suggest that phosphate is released from the fungus via proton‐coupled phosphate transporters rather than anion channels. Optimal transport pathways, such as cation channels or proton‐coupled symporters, shuttle nutrients together with a positive charge across the membranes. Only in exceptional cases does electroneutral transport via diffusion facilitators appear to be plausible. The thermodynamic models presented here can be generalized and adapted to other forms of mycorrhiza and open the door for future studies combining wet‐laboratory experiments with computational simulations to obtain a deeper understanding of the investigated phenomena.

Fish oil rich in polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids is extracted in high yield from anchovy filleting waste using d-limonene as green biosolvent in a simple solid-liquid extraction performed by mechanically stirring and maceration followed by limonene removal via evaporation under reduced pressure. As limonene is renewably obtained from waste orange peel, this method closes the materials cycle and establishes a circular economy process to obtain high quality fish oil from biowaste available worldwide in several million t/year amount. Significant economic, social and environmental benefits are anticipated.

The ubiquitin-like modifier (UBL) SUMO (Small Ubiquitin-Like Modifier) regulates protein function. Structural rather than sequence homology typifies UBL families. However, individual UBL types, such as SUMO, show remarkable sequence conservation. Selection pressure also operates at the SUMO gene copy number, as increased SUMO levels activate immunity and alter flowering time in Arabidopsis. We show how, despite this selection pressure, the SUMO family has diversified into eight paralogues in Arabidopsis. Relationships between the paralogues were investigated using genome collinearity and gene tree analysis. We show that palaeopolyploidy followed by tandem duplications allowed expansion and then diversification of the SUMO genes. For example, Arabidopsis SUMO5 evolved from the pan-eudicot palaeohexaploidy event (gamma), which yielded three SUMO copies. Two gamma copies were preserved as archetype SUMOs, suggesting subfunctionalization, whereas the third copy served as a hotspot for SUMO diversification. The Brassicaceae-specific alpha duplication then caused the duplication of one archetype gamma copy, which, by subfunctionalization, allowed the retention of both SUMO1 and SUMO2. The other archetype gamma copy was simultaneously pseudogenized (SUMO4/6). A tandem duplication of SUMO2 subsequently yielded SUMO3 in the Brassicaceae crown group. SUMO3 potentially neofunctionalized in Arabidopsis, but it is lost in many Brassicaceae. Our advanced methodology allows the study of the birth and fixation of other paralogues in plants.

Inbreeding depression is widely hypothesised to drive adaptive evolution of pre-copulatory and post-copulatory mechanisms of inbreeding avoidance, which in turn are hypothesised to affect evolution of polyandry (i.e., female multiple mating). However, surprisingly little theory or modelling critically examines selection for pre-copulatory or post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance, or both strategies, given evolutionary constraints and direct costs, or examines how evolution of inbreeding avoidance strategies might feed back to affect evolution of polyandry. Selection for post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance, but not for pre-copulatory inbreeding avoidance, requires polyandry, while interactions between pre-copulatory and post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance might cause functional redundancy (i.e., ‘degeneracy’) potentially generating complex evolutionary dynamics among inbreeding strategies and polyandry. We used individual-based modelling to quantify evolution of interacting pre-copulatory and post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance and associated polyandry given strong inbreeding depression and different evolutionary constraints and direct costs. We found that evolution of post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance increased selection for initially rare polyandry, and that evolution of a costly inbreeding avoidance strategy became negligible over time given a lower cost alternative strategy. Further, fixed pre-copulatory inbreeding avoidance often completely precluded evolution of polyandry and hence post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance, but fixed post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance did not preclude evolution of pre-copulatory inbreeding avoidance. Evolution of inbreeding avoidance phenotypes and associated polyandry are therefore affected by evolutionary feedbacks and degeneracy. All else being equal, evolution of pre-copulatory inbreeding avoidance and resulting low polyandry is more likely when post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance is precluded or costly, and evolution of post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance greatly facilitates evolution of costly polyandry.

Background: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a potential efficacious and safe treatment option for patients with respiratory, IgE-mediated allergic diseases. A combined tolerability, dose-finding study with a sublingual liquid birch pollen preparation (SB) was conducted.Methods: Two hundred and sixty-nine adults with birch-pollen-induced AR were randomized to placebo, SB: 3333, 10 000, 20 000 or 40 000 AUN/ml. Differences in symptom scores following a titrated nasal provocation test (TNPT) at baseline and after 5 months of treatment were determined. Safety, tolerability, birch-pollen- specific immunoglobulin levels and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) were also measured (all measures determined outside the birch pollen season).Results: In all treatment groups, an improvement in symptom scores after treatment compared to baseline was observed, with an additional stepwise improvement in the active groups compared to placebo, which was significant in high-dose groups (P = 0.008 and P Conclusions: A multicentre trial evaluated the dose-response and tolerability of SB. All active treatment groups showed better responses than placebo for both primary and secondary parameters. The results indicate that, within the studied dose range, SB 40 000 AUN/ml is the most optimal effective and safe dose (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01639768).

Most cancers arise in old individuals, which also accumulate senescent cells. Cellular senescence can be experimentally induced by expression of oncogenes or telomere shortening during serial passage in culture. In vivo, precursor lesions of several cancer types accumulate senescent cells, which are thought to represent a barrier to malignant progression and a response to the aberrant activation of growth signaling pathways by oncogenes (oncogene toxicity). Here, we sought to define gene expression changes associated with cells that bypass senescence induced by oncogenic RAS. In the context of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), oncogenic KRAS induces benign pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PanINs), which exhibit features of oncogene‐induced senescence. We found that the bypass of senescence in PanINs leads to malignant PDAC cells characterized by gene signatures of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition, stem cells, and mitochondria. Stem cell properties were similarly acquired in PanIN cells treated with LPS, and in primary fibroblasts and mammary epithelial cells that bypassed Ras‐induced senescence after reduction of ERK signaling. Intriguingly, maintenance of cells that circumvented senescence and acquired stem cell properties was blocked by metformin, an inhibitor of complex I of the electron transport chain or depletion of STAT3, a protein required for mitochondrial functions and stemness. Thus, our studies link bypass of senescence in premalignant lesions to loss of differentiation, acquisition of stemness features, and increased reliance on mitochondrial functions.

Cocoa bean fermentation is still a spontaneous curing process to facilitate drying of nongerminating cocoa beans by pulp removal as well as to stimulate colour and flavour development of fermented dry cocoa beans. As it is carried out on farm, cocoa bean fermentation is subjected to various agricultural and operational practices and hence fermented dry cocoa beans of variable quality are obtained. Spontaneous cocoa bean fermentations carried out with care for approximate four days are characterized by a succession of particular microbial activities of three groups of micro-organisms, namely yeasts, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and acetic acid bacteria (AAB), which results in well-fermented fully brown cocoa beans. This has been shown through a plethora of studies, often using a multiphasic experimental approach. Selected strains of several of the prevailing microbial species have been tested in appropriate cocoa pulp simulation media to unravel their functional roles and interactions as well as in small plastic vessels containing fresh cocoa pulp-bean mass to evaluate their capacity to dominate the cocoa bean fermentation process. Various starter cultures have been proposed for successful fermentation, encompassing both cocoa-derived and cocoa nonspecific strains of (hybrid) yeasts, LAB and AAB, some of which have been implemented on farms successfully.

Acta crystallographica / D 72(9), 1026 - 1035(2016). doi:10.1107/S2059798316012079, Recent advances in macromolecular crystallography have made it practical to rapidly collect hundreds of sub-data sets consisting of small oscillations of incomplete data. This approach, generally referred to as serial crystallography, has many uses, including an increased effective dose per data set, the collection of data from crystals without harvesting (in situ data collection) and studies of dynamic events such as catalytic reactions. However, selecting which data sets from this type of experiment should be merged can be challenging and new methods are required. Here, it is shown that a genetic algorithm can be used for this purpose, and five case studies are presented in which the merging statistics are significantly improved compared with conventional merging of all data., Published by Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The aggregation of α-synuclein is connected to the pathology of Parkinson's disease and prolyl oligopeptidase (PREP) accelerates the aggregation of α-synuclein in vitro. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a PREP inhibitor, KYP-2047, on α-synuclein aggregation in cell lines overexpressing wild-type or A30P/A53T mutant human α-syn and in the brains of two A30P α-synuclein transgenic mouse strains. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Cells were exposed to oxidative stress and then incubated with the PREP inhibitor during or after the stress. Wild-type or transgenic mice were treated for 5 days with KYP-2047 (2 × 3 mg·kg−1 a day). Besides immunohistochemistry and thioflavin S staining, soluble and insoluble α-synuclein protein levels were measured by Western blot. α-synuclein mRNA levels were quantified by PCR. The colocalization of PREP and α-synuclein,and the effect of KYP-2047 on cell viability were also investigated. KEY RESULTS In cell lines, oxidative stress induced a robust aggregation of α-synuclein,and low concentrations of KYP-2047 significantly reduced the number of cells with α-synuclein inclusions while abolishing the colocalization of α-synuclein and PREP. KYP-2047 significantly reduced the amount of aggregated α-synuclein,and it had beneficial effects on cell viability. In the transgenic mice, a 5-day treatment with the PREP inhibitor reduced the amount of α-synuclein immunoreactivity and soluble α-synuclein protein in the brain. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The results suggest that the PREP may play a role in brain accumulation and aggregation of α-synuclein, while KYP-2047 seems to effectively prevent these processes.

Background and purpose:Although carbon monoxide (CO) can modulate inflammatory processes, the influence of CO on adhesion molecules is less clear. This might be due to the limited amount of CO generated by haem degradation. We therefore tested the ability of a CO releasing molecule (CORM-3), used in supra-physiological concentrations, to modulate the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 and E-selectin on endothelial cells and the mechanism(s) involved.Experimental approach:Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were stimulated with tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in the presence or absence of CORM-3. The influence of CORM-3 on VCAM-1 and E-selectin expression and the nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B pathway was assessed by flow cytometry, Western blotting and electrophoretic mobility shift assay.Key results:CORM-3 inhibited the expression of VCAM-1 and E-selectin on TNF-alpha-stimulated HUVEC. VCAM-1 expression was also inhibited when CORM-3 was added 24 h after TNF-alpha stimulation or when TNF-alpha was removed. This was paralleled by deactivation of NF-kappa B and a reduction in VCAM-1 mRNA. Although TNF-alpha removal was more effective in this regard, VCAM-1 protein was down-regulated more rapidly when CORM-3 was added. CORM-3 induced haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in a dose- and time-dependent manner, mediated by the transcription factor, Nrf2. CORM-3 was still able to down-regulate VCAM-1 expression in HUVEC transfected with siRNA for HO-1 or Nrf2.Conclusions and implications:Down-regulation of VCAM and E-selectin expression induced by CORM-3 was independent of HO-1 up-regulation and was predominantly due to inhibition of sustained NF-kappa B activation.

Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) is an Amazonian tropical fruit with a great economic potential. Pasteurization, by a hot-filling technique, was suggested for the preservation of this fruit pulp at room temperature. The process was implemented with local communities in Brazil. The process was modeled, and a computer program was written in Turbo Pascal. The relative importance among the pasteurization process variables (initial product temperature, heating rate, holding temperature and time, container volume and shape, cooling medium type and temperature) on the microbial target and quality was investigated, by performing simulations according to a screening factorial design. Afterward, simulations of the different processing conditions were carried out. The holding temperature (TF) and time (t hold) affected pasteurization value (P), and the container volume (V) influenced largely the quality parameters. The process was optimized for retail (1 L) and industrial (100 L) size containers, by maximizing volume average quality in terms of color lightness and sensory "fresh notes" and minimizing volume average total color difference and sensory "cooked notes". Equivalent processes were designed and simulated (P 91°C = 4.6 min on Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris spores) and final quality (color, flavor, and aroma attributes) was evaluated. Color was slightly affected by the pasteurization processes, and few differences were observed between the six equivalent treatments designed (TF between 80 and 97°C). TF ≥ 91°C minimized "cooked notes" and maximized "fresh notes" of cupuaçu pulp aroma and flavor for 1 L container. Concerning the 100 L size, the "cooked notes" development can be minimized with TF ≥ 91°C, but overall the quality was greatly degraded as a result of the long cooling times. A more efficient method to speed up the cooling phase was recommended, especially for the industrial size of containers.

Summary Declining populations of bee pollinators are a cause of concern, with major repercussions for biodiversity loss and food security. RNA viruses associated with honeybees represent a potential threat to other insect pollinators, but the extent of this threat is poorly understood. This study aims to attain a detailed understanding of the current and ongoing risk of emerging infectious disease (EID) transmission between managed and wild pollinator species across a wide range of RNA viruses. Within a structured large-scale national survey across 26 independent sites, we quantify the prevalence and pathogen loads of multiple RNA viruses in co-occurring managed honeybee (Apis mellifera) and wild bumblebee (Bombus spp.) populations. We then construct models that compare virus prevalence between wild and managed pollinators. Multiple RNA viruses associated with honeybees are widespread in sympatric wild bumblebee populations. Virus prevalence in honeybees is a significant predictor of virus prevalence in bumblebees, but we remain cautious in speculating over the principle direction of pathogen transmission. We demonstrate species-specific differences in prevalence, indicating significant variation in disease susceptibility or tolerance. Pathogen loads within individual bumblebees may be high and in the case of at least one RNA virus, prevalence is higher in wild bumblebees than in managed honeybee populations. Our findings indicate widespread transmission of RNA viruses between managed and wild bee pollinators, pointing to an interconnected network of potential disease pressures within and among pollinator species. In the context of the biodiversity crisis, our study emphasizes the importance of targeting a wide range of pathogens and defining host associations when considering potential drivers of population decline.

Bioconversion of syngas/waste gas components to produce ethanol appears to be a promising alternative compared to the existing chemical techniques. Recently, several laboratory-scale studies have demonstrated the use of acetogens that have the ability to convert various syngas components (CO, CO2, and H2) to multicarbon com- pounds, such as acetate, butyrate, butanol, lactate, and ethanol, in which ethanol is often produced as a minor end- product. This bioconversion process has several advantages, such as its high specifi city, the fact that it does not require a highly specifi c H2/CO ratio, and that biocatalysts are less susceptible to metal poisoning. Furthermore, this process occurs under mild temperature and pressure and does not require any costly pre-treatment of the feed gas or costly metal catalysts, making the process superior over the conventional chemical catalytic conversion process. The main challenge faced for commercializing this technology is the poor aqueous solubility of the gaseous sub- strates (mainly CO and H2). In this paper, a critical review of CO-rich gas fermentation to produce ethanol has been analyzed systematically and published results have been compared. Special emphasis has been given to under- stand the microbial aspects of the conversion process, by highlighting the role of different micro-organisms used, pathways, and parameters affecting the bioconversion. An analysis of the process fundamentals of various bioreac- tors used for the biological conversion of CO-rich gases, mainly syngas to ethanol, has been made and reported in this paper. Various challenges faced by the syngas fermentation process for commercialization and future research requirements are also discussed. © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

The benefi ts of particle size reduction and mechanical densifi cation of biomass feedstock for storage, transportation, and handling must be assessed in relation to the systemic costs and energy consumption incurred due to these operations. The goal of this work was to determine the optimal levels of size reduction and densifi cation through a combination of modeling and experimen- tal studies. Size reduction and densifi cation data for Miscanthus and switchgrass were generated using a two-stage grinding process and the energy requirement and bulk densities for the particle sizes between 1 mm and 25.4 mm were determined. Increase in bulk density through compression by a pressure of 1.2 MPa was also measured. These data were used within BioFeed, a system-level optimization model, to simulate scenarios capturing the possibilities of performing size reduction and densifi cation at various stages of the supply chain. Simulation results assuming size reduction at farms showed that the optimal particle size range for both Miscanthus and switchgrass was 4-6 mm, with the optimal costs of $54.65 Mg -1 and $60.77 Mg -1 for Miscanthus and switchgrass, respectively. Higher hammer mill throughput and lower storage costs strongly impacted the total costs for different particle sizes. Size reduction and densifi cation of biomass at the county-specifi c centralized storage and pre-processing facilities could reduce the costs by as much as $6.34 Mg -1 for Miscanthus and $20.13 Mg -1 for switchgrass over the base case. These differences provided the upper bound on the investments that could be made to set-up and operate such systems. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd Supporting information may be found in the online version of this article.

Changes in 'fresh' and 'cooked-notes' during thermal treatment of cupuacu (Theobroma grandiflorum) pulp were evaluated and modelled. Isothermal experiments in the temperature range of 70-98 °C were carried out and a non-linear regression was performed to all data to estimate kinetic parameters. 'Fresh' and 'cooked-notes' change followed simple first-order (Ea = 78-82 kJ·mol-1 , z = 30-31 °C) and reversible first order (Ea = 80-85 kJ·mol-1 ) kinetics, respectively. Although 'cooked-notes' were linearly correlated with 'fresh-notes' (R2 = 0.99), the former was a better indicator for quality degradation. These results are useful to design pasteurisation processes while minimising sensory changes. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry.

The XendoU family of enzymes includes several proteins displaying high sequence homology. The members characterized so far are endoribonucleases sharing similar biochemical properties and a common architecture in their active sites. Despite their similarities, these proteins are involved in distinct RNA‐processing pathways in different organisms. The amphibian XendoU participates in the biosynthesis of small nucleolar RNAs, the human PP11 is supposed to play specialized roles in placental tissue, and NendoU has critical function in coronavirus replication. Notably, XendoU family members have been implicated in human pathologies such as cancer and respiratory diseases: PP11 is aberrantly expressed in various tumors, while NendoU activity has been associated with respiratory infections by pathogenic coronaviruses. The present study is aimed at identifying small molecules that may selectively interfere with these enzymatic activities. Combining structure‐based virtual screening and experimental approaches, we identified four molecules that specifically inhibited the catalytic activity of XendoU and PP11 in the low micromolar range. Moreover, docking experiments strongly suggested that these compounds might also bind to the active site of NendoU, thus impairing the catalytic activity essential for the coronavirus life cycle. The identified compounds, while allowing deep investigation of the molecular functions of this enzyme family, may also represent leads for the development of new therapeutic tools., Dock, dock, docking! Using a combination of structure‐based and experimental approaches, we identified four inhibitors of the catalytic activity of XendoU RNases, a family of enzymes implicated in a range of diseases. A pharmacophore model is proposed, highlighting the chemical properties potentially required for efficient binding to XendoU.WILEY-VCHThis article is being made freely available through PubMed Central as part of the COVID-19 public health emergency response. It can be used for unrestricted research re-use and analysis in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source, for the duration of the public health emergency.

To ensure effective biomass feedstock provision for large-scale ethanol production, a three-stage supply chain was proposed to include biomass supply sites, centralized storage and pre-processing (CSP) sites, and biorefinery sites. A GIS-enabled biomass supply chain optimization model (BioScope) was developed to minimize annual biomass-ethanol production costs by selectingthe optimal numbers, locations, and capacities of farms, CSPs, and biorefineries as well as identifying the optimal biomass flow pattern from farms to biorefineries. The model was implemented to study the Miscanthus-ethanol supply chain in Illinois. The results of the baseline case, assuming 2% of cropland is allocated for Miscanthus production, showed that unit Miscanthus-ethanol production costs were $220.6 Mg1, or $0.74 L1. Biorefinery-related costs are the largest cost component, accounting for 48% of the total costs, followed by biomass procurement, transportation, and CSP related costs. The unit Miscanthus-ethanol production costs could be reduced to $198 Mg1 using 20% of cropland, primarily due to savings in transportation costs. Sensitivity analyses showed that the optimal supply chain configurations, including the numbers and locations of supply sites, CSP facilities, and biorefineries, changed significantly for different cropland usage rates, biomass demands, transportation means, and pre-processing technologies. A supply chain composed of large biorefineries with the support of distributed CSP facilities was recommended to reduce biofuels production costs. Rail outperformed truck transportation to ship pre-processed biomass. Ground biomass with tapping is the suggested biomass format for the case study in Illinois, while high-density biomass formats are suggested for long distance transportation. (c) 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons,Ltd

7 páginas, 5 figuras, 1 tabla -- PAGS nros. 1159-1165, Enzymatic delignification using the high-redox potential thermostable laccase from the fungus Pycnoporus cinnabarinus and a chemical mediator (1-hydroxybenzotriazole) was investigated to improve totally chlorine-free (TCF) bleaching of Eucalyptus globulus kraft pulps. Different points of incorporation of the enzyme treatment into an industrial-type bleaching sequence (consisting of double oxygen, chelation and peroxide stages) were investigated in pressurized laboratory reactors. The best final pulp properties were obtained using an OOLQPoP sequence, where a laccase–mediator stage (L) was incorporated between double oxygen and chelation. The worse results, when the enzymatic and chelation treatments were combined in a unique stage, seemed related to partial inhibition of laccase-mediator activity by the chelator. The new TCF sequence including the laccase stage permitted to improve eucalypt pulp delignification to values around kappa 5 (hexenuronic acid contribution over 50%) compared to kappa 7 using only TCF chemical reagents. In a similar way, the final brightness obtained, over 91% ISO, was 3–4 points higher than that obtained in the chemical sequences. Although technical and economic issues are to be solved, the results obtained show the feasibility of integrating a laccase–mediator treatment into a TCF sequence for bleaching eucalypt kraft pulp. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry, Marcel Asther (INRA, Marseille, France) is acknowledged for the P. cinnabarinus strain, and Beldem (Andenne, Belgium) is acknowledged for the laccase samples (both provided in the frame of the EU project QLK3-99-590). DI and SC thank the Spanish CSIC for an I3P PhD Fellowship and the MEC for a Ramón y Cajal contract, respectively

WOS: 000264796100074 PubMed: 21582104 The title compound, [(AuCl2)-Cl-III(C12H12N2)](2)[(AuCl4)-Cl-III][(AuCl2)-Cl-I], contains three distinct types of Au atom. In the cation, the Au-III atom is four-coordinated in a distorted square-planar arrangement by an N,N'-bidentate 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine ligand and two terminal Cl atoms. In the [AuCl4](-) anion, the centrosymmetric Au-III atom has a square-planar coordination. The centrosymmetric [AuCl2](-) anion is linear. Intra- and intermolecular C-H center dot center dot center dot Cl hydrogen bonds help to establish the conformation and packing. University Research Fund [F.279]; Shahid Beheshti University The authors acknowledge the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Ondokuz Mayis University, Turkey, for the use of the Stoe IPDS-2 diffractometer (purchased under grant F.279 of the University Research Fund). NS, VA and AA are grateful to Shahid Beheshti University for financial support.

The carbazole unit of the title molecule, C13H13NO2, is not planar. The dihedral angle between the benzene ring and the pyrrole ring is 1.69 (6)°. The cyclohexene ring adopts an envelope conformation. Intermolecular C—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds are present in the crystal structure. A C—H...π interaction, involving the benzene ring, is also found in the crystal structure.

Aims: The suitability of genetic fingerprinting to study the microbiological basis of anaerobic bioreactor failure is investigated. Methods and Results: Two laboratory-scale anaerobic expanded granular sludge bed bioreactors, R1 and R2, were used for the mesophilic (37°C) treatment of high-strength [10 g chemical oxygen demand (COD) l−1] synthetic industrial-like wastewater over a 100-day trial period. A successful start up was achieved by both bioreactors with COD removal over 90%. Both reactors were operated under identical parameters; however, increased organic loading during the trial induced a reduction in the COD removal of R1, while R2 maintained satisfactory performance (COD removal >90%) throughout the experiment. Specific methanogenic activity measurements of biomass from both reactors indicated that the main route of methane production was hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) analysis was applied to the characterization of microbial community dynamics within the system during the trial. The principal differences between the two consortia analysed included an increased abundance of Thiovulum- and Methanococcus-like organisms and uncultured Crenarchaeota in R1. Conclusions: The results indicated that there was a microbiological basis for the deviation, in terms of operational performance, of R1 and R2. Significance and Impact of the Study: High-throughput fingerprinting techniques, such as TRFLP, have been demonstrated as practically relevant for biomonitoring of anaerobic reactor communities.

7 pages, 8 figures, 1 table.-- Printed version published Apr 2003., Black liquors from a soda pulping mill were treated with the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor to detoxify and reduce colour, aromatic compounds and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The fungus was used in the form of pellets in aerated reactors (fluidized, stirred and air-pulsed reactors). Reductions in colour and aromatic compounds of 70-80% and in COD of 60% were achieved. During the different experiments, laccase activity was detected but neither lignin peroxidase (LiP) nor manganese peroxidase activities were detected, although T versicolor is able to produce these enzymes. Experiments also showed a LiP activity inhibitory effect produced by lignin. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that there is a relationship between laccase production and toxicity reduction. This correlation responds to the equation Laccase production = 1.57 LN (toxicity reduction) -16.40. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry, Financial support from CICYT in the framework of Project AMB 94-0287 and CIRIT through the Unitat d'Enginyeria Bioquímica of the Centre de Referència en Biotecnología (Generalitat de Catalunya).

Prolactin (PRL) is mitogenic for lymphocytes in vitro, but the responsiveness of lymphocytes depends on the in vivo hormonal status of the rats from which the cells were obtained. Lymphocytes from ovariectomized (OVX) rats, but not from rats in oestrus or from male rats, respond to prolactin; administration of oestradiol to OVX rats diminishes the response. In order to determine if a correlation exists between lymphocyte responsiveness to prolactin and levels of cell surface prolactin receptors (PRL‐R) expression, the percentage of splenocytes and each splenocyte subpopulation expressing surface PRL‐R from rats of various hormonal states (OVX, oestradiol‐injected OVX, oestrus and male) was analysed by single‐colour and dual‐colour flow cytometric analysis. We found that approximately 20% of splenocytes expressed surface PRL‐R regardless of hormonal states (n=16). The majority (85%) of PRL‐R positive splenocytes were B lymphocytes whereas 11.1% and 4.8% of splenocytes expressing the PRL‐R were CD4 positive T‐helper (T(H)) and CD8 positive T‐cytotoxic (T(C)) lymphocytes, respectively. B lymphocytes also stained more brightly than T lymphocytes. This distribution of PRL‐R expression did not show significant alterations on total splenocytes or T(H) and T(C) lymphocytes during various hormonal stages. However, the percentage of PRL‐R‐positive B lymphocytes increased markedly in OVX rats (twofold), compared to rats at oestrus. In summary, no correlation was found between the responsiveness to prolactin as a mitogen and levels of PRL‐R expression by lymphocytes from rats at different hormonal states. This result suggests that sex steroid hormones may control prolactin responsiveness of lymphocytes by affecting the signal transduction pathway through PRL‐R rather than by altering the level of the cell surface receptor expression.

In a recent paper, "Environmental DNA: What's behind the term? Clarifying the terminology and recommendations for its future use in biomonitoring," Pawlowski et al. argue that the term eDNA should be used to refer to the pool of DNA isolated from environmental samples, as opposed to only extra-organismal DNA from macro-organisms. We agree with this view. However, we are concerned that their proposed two-level terminology specifying sampling environment and targeted taxa is overly simplistic and might hinder rather than improve clear communication about environmental DNA and its use in biomonitoring. This terminology is based on categories that are often difficult to assign and uninformative, and it overlooks a fundamental distinction within eDNA: the type of DNA (organismal or extra-organismal) from which ecological interpretations are derived., Molecular Ecology, 30 (19), ISSN:0962-1083, ISSN:1365-294X

Leishmaniasis corresponds to a group of neglected tropical diseases caused by flagellated protozoa belonging to the Leishmania genus. This widely spread illness is found in over 90 countries in the tropic and sub-tropic regions and also in southern Europe. As parasites exclusively infect the highly phagocytic cells (macrophages), this aspect can be exploited for targeted delivery making use of nanoparticles. Drug-loaded nanoparticles have been proposed to improve the bioavailability of classical drugs commonly in use as standard leishmania therapy, to overcome parasitic resistance and side effects and improve the treatment efficacy. Infected macrophages are expected to recognize drug-loaded nanoparticles which undergo phagocytosis releasing the drug inside macrophages. This approach can further be exploited for the development of nanovaccines. This paper provides an overview of the current disease status worldwide, its classical pharmacological treatments and how these can be improved by the use of featured nanoparticles specific tailored for such a complex disease. Several types of nanoparticles have been proposed while others have already reached clinical trials. This article is protected by copyright., This research was funded by Banco do Nordeste (grant FUNDECI/2016.0015), Coordenação Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES) and Fundação de Ámparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Sergipe (FAPITEC) (PROCESSO: 88887.159533/2017–2100 extração, encapsulação e caracterização de bioativos para o interesse biotecnologico), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq 301964/2019-0 Chamada 06/2019, and Chamada CNPq no. 01/2019) and the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) project UIDB/04469/2020 (strategic fund)., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-26T06:17:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-04-28 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Center for Scientific Computing (NCC/GridUNESP) of the Sao Paulo State University Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Heptapteridae is composed of 228 valid species allocated in 24 genera, making it the most diverse family within superfamily Pimelodoidea, a clade endemic to the Neotropical freshwaters. Heptapterids are widely distributed from southern Mexico to the Pampas of Argentina and occupy a variety of habitats generally in small- to medium-sized rivers. To evaluate the phylogenetic relationships of Heptapteridae, we used a matrix with 1,319 ultraconserved elements (UCEs) from the genome from 56 specimens spanning 42 species and 24 genera of Heptapteridae and 19 related siluriform taxa. Maximum likelihood, Bayesian and coalescent-based analyses strongly supported the monophyly of Heptapteridae and confirmed previous hypotheses of a sister relationship between Heptapteridae and Conorhynchos conirostris. We provide the evidence to recognize two subfamilies: (1) Rhamdiinae (Goeldiella, Rhamdella, Rhamdia, Brachyrhamdia, Pimelodella) and (2) Heptapterinae; with two tribes: Brachyglaniini new tribe (Gladioglanis, Myoglanis, Brachyglanis and Leptorhamdia) and Heptapterini (Mastiglanis, Chasmocranus, Cetopsorhamdia, Pariolius, Phenacorhamdia, Nemuroglanis, Imparfinis, Taunayia, Rhamdioglanis, Acentronichthys, Rhamdiopsis and Heptapterus). Inside Heptapterini, we recognize five subclades and provide putative morphological synapomorphies. This paper represents the first molecular hypothesis of intergeneric and interspecific relationships helping to better delineate heptapterid taxa. Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Botucatu, SP, Brazil Univ Sao Paulo, Museu Zool, Sao Paulo, Brazil Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Biol, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Preto, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil Univ Sao Paulo, Programa Posgrad Biol Comparada, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Preto, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil Drexel Univ, Dept Ichthyol, Acad Nat Sci, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA Univ Estadual Londrina, Ctr Ciencias Biol, Museu Zool, Londrina, Parana, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Botucatu, SP, Brazil FAPESP: 2015/00691-9 FAPESP: 2016/11313-8 FAPESP: 2016/50375-9 FAPESP: 2016/19075-9 FAPESP: 2014/26508-3 CNPq: 440621/2015-1 CNPq: 312687/2018-4 CNPq: 200159/2020-8 CNPq: 306054/2006-0

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is widespread among prokaryotes driving their evolution. In this paper, we review the potential impact in humans of the HGT between prokaryotes living in close association with humans in two scenarios: horizontal transfer in human microbiomes and transfer between microbes living in human managed environments. Although our vision is focused on the possible impact of these transfers in the propagation of antibiotic resistance genes or pathogenicity determinants, we also discuss possible human physiological adaptations via gene transfer between resident and occasional bacteria in the human microbiome., The authors thank the two anonymous referees for their valuable comments. LB is supported by the grant CGL2016-75262-P of Spain DGI. RP is supported by a postdoctoral contract (Submodality 5.2.A) funded by the Research Plan of the University of Cordoba.

The main question to be dealt with in the papers published in this Special Feature is to which extent plant species richness can be applied as a parameter in restoration projects to qualify the ecosystem's state. Before considering this problem, it should be recognized that this approach illuminates only one side of the coin; the other side is touched by the opposite question, asking which plant species are essential components of an ecosystem. These two approaches towards the relationship between species richness and ecosystem functioning are not mutually exclusive, but should not be confused either. In view of ecosystem functioning certain species may be considered redundant, while in view of evolutionary processes certain ecosystem processes may be considered redundant. Where do the two approaches meet and when should they be separated? This paper touches upon this question by referring to the dual hierarchy of ecological systems.

Chemical communication plays an essential role in several social and reproductive behaviors of many animals. In lizards, the main sources of semiochemicals are femoral or pre-anal gland secretions and feces. In male lizards Psammodromus algirus, there are age-related differences in the chemical composition of femoral gland secretions and in the reproductive strategies, with older males defending territories and females, while younger males adopting sneak-mating strategies. Females flee more often from mating advances of young males than from those of old males, which are more successful in obtaining matings. This suggests that age discrimination of males may be important for females. We tested here whether females showed differential chemosensory responses to chemical cues (femoral gland secretion and feces) of males of two age classes, and whether females use information from substrate scent marks of males of different ages to select where to stay. We found that females elicited more tongue-flicks to the secretion and feces of old males than to control or secretion and feces of young males. Also, the time spent by females on a scented paper depended on the treatment, suggesting that females tended to spend more time on scent marks made with femoral secretions of old males. Adult females seemed capable to discriminate between young and old males based on chemical cues alone and showed more interest in scents of old males. However, substrate scent marks did not seem to entirely determine site selection by females, suggesting that females might need additional cues to perform the choice. These results can be explained by the different age-dependent reproductive strategies of males, which can affect differentially to females., Financial support was provided by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP 2017/19640‐0) and by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad project MINECO CGL2014‐53523‐P.

This paper presents insights from qualitative research into organised crime (OC) in Glasgow, Scotland. Interviews were conducted with a sample of 42 current and former offenders with a history of group offending in an attempt to understand variation in the onset, maintenance, and cessation of OC careers. Offending narratives revealed different OC trajectories. Drug dealing was the primary modus operandi of OC groups, but some offenders exhibited versatility and progression to wider criminal activity or a mix of illegitimate activity and legitimate business. Implications for future policing strategies and suggested additional research are outlined in response to these findings.

Made available in DSpace on 2019-10-04T12:36:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2019-01-01 Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Guyana Environmental Protection Agency Agencia Nacional de Promocion Cientifica y Tecnologica (ANPCyT) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen Belgian Directorate-General for Development Cooperation King Leopold III Fund for Nature Exploration and Conservation National Science Foundation National Geographic The non-monophyly of both the genus Myersiohyla and the Boana punctata group has been recovered in a number of published phylogenetic analyses. In this paper we report on the analysis of sequences of Boana liliae, a species originally assigned to the B. punctata group, in a dataset of Cophomantini that recovered novel phylogenetic relationships for this hylid tribe. Our results reveal Myersiohyla to be paraphyletic with respect to B. liliae. Support for the placement of Myersiohyla kanaima is poor, but this taxon is recovered as the sister taxon of the other Cophomantini genera (excluding Myersiohyla) or as the sister taxon of the remaining species of Myersiohyla (including B. liliae). These results lead us to propose two taxonomic changes in order to remedy the paraphyly of Myersiohyla: (1) a new genus is described for M. kanaima, and (2) Boana liliae is transferred to Myersiohyla. We further provide notes on the natural history and vocalizations of the new monotypic genus, a new diagnosis of the former B. liliae in the context of Myersiohyla, and discuss the evolution of tadpole morphology and biogeography of the earlier diverging clades of Cophomantini. Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Zool, Lab Herpetol, Av 24A 1515, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Ctr Aquicultura, Av 24A 1515, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Vrije Univ Brussel, Biol Dept, Amphibian Evolut Lab, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium Univ Mississippi, Box 1848, University, MS 38677 USA Coastal Plains Inst & Land Conservancy, 1313 Milton St, Tallahassee, FL 32303 USA Florida State Univ, Dept Biol Sci, Tallahassee, FL 32306 USA Consejo Nacl Invest Cient & Tecn, Museo Argentino Ciencias Nat Bernardino Rivadavia, Div Herpetol, Angel Gallardo 470,C1405DJR, Buenos Aires, DF, Argentina Univ Buenos Aires, Fac Ciencias Exactas & Nat, Dept Biodiversidad & Biol Expt, Buenos Aires, DF, Argentina Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Zool, Lab Herpetol, Av 24A 1515, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Ctr Aquicultura, Av 24A 1515, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil CNPq: 158681/2013-4 Guyana Environmental Protection Agency: 100703BR009 Guyana Environmental Protection Agency: 011206BR065 Guyana Environmental Protection Agency: 120707BR075 Guyana Environmental Protection Agency: 061212BR020 Agencia Nacional de Promocion Cientifica y Tecnologica (ANPCyT): PICT 2013-404, 2015-820 FAPESP: 2012/10000-5 FAPESP: 2013/50741-7 Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen: FWO12A7614N/FWO12A7617N National Science Foundation: DEB-0206562 National Geographic: 7509-03

Aim: In this study, we conduct a quantitative meta-analysis to investigate broad patterns of genetic variation throughout large geographic regions in order to elucidate concordant geographical patterns across species and identify common historical processes to better inform the ‘cryptic refugia’ vs. the traditional ‘southern refugia’ hypothesis debate. Location: Europe Time period: Late Pleistocene to present day. Major taxa studied: small mammals (Rodentia, Eulipotyphla) Methods: A meta-analysis was performed on large scale patterns of genetic diversity for 19 species from 59 papers. For each species, haplotype and nucleotide diversity were calculated using the mitochondrial D-loop and compared to the species range. Results: No consistent patterns were observed between mtDNA diversity indices (nucleotide and haplotype diversity) and any of the indicators of distribution examined (latitude and longitude (max, min, centre, range)). The patterns of genetic diversity observed in all the 19 species studied appear to be species-specific. Main conclusion: In contrast to the traditional southern refugial hypotheses, we found no evidence for a consistent south-north post-glacial expansion. Instead individual species appear to respond to climate oscillations in niche-specific ways. This individual nature of each species’ phylogeographical history indicates a complex web of postglacial recolonisation dynamics across Europe.

CHARMM (Chemistry at HARvard Molecular Mechanics) is a highly versatile and widely used molecular simulation program. It has been developed over the last three decades with a primary focus on molecules of biological interest, including proteins, peptides, lipids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and small molecule ligands, as they occur in solution, crystals, and membrane environments. For the study of such systems, the program provides a large suite of computational tools that include numerous conformational and path sampling methods, free energy estimators, molecular minimization, dynamics, and analysis techniques, and model-building capabilities. In addition, the CHARMM program is applicable to problems involving a much broader class of many-particle systems. Calculations with CHARMM can be performed using a number of different energy functions and models, from mixed quantum mechanical-molecular mechanical force fields, to all-atom classical potential energy functions with explicit solvent and various boundary conditions, to implicit solvent and membrane models. The program has been ported to numerous platforms in both serial and parallel architectures. This paper provides an overview of the program as it exists today with an emphasis on developments since the publication of the original CHARMM paper in 1983.

Given the growing complexities in the environments of organizations and societies, the concept of viability has become ever more important as an orientator for those in charge. The Systems Approach has bred powerful theories of viability, which can help actors in the socio-technical domain to cope with complexity. The two main manifestations of the Theory of Viability are Living Systems Theory (LST) by Jim & Jessie Miller on one hand and the Viable System Model (VSM) by Stafford Beer on the other. In this paper, both are analysed and compared in terms of their relevance and potential with respect to social systems. Also, a brief overview of the state of pertinent applications is given. The paper comes to an unexpected conclusion: LST and VSM are not competititors, but most probably complementary.

IgE and not IgG is usually associated with allergy. IgE lodged on mast cells in skin or gut and basophils in the blood allows for the prolonged duration of allergy through the persistent expression of high affinity IgE receptors. However, many allergic reactions are not dependent on IgE and are generated in the absence of allergen specific and even total IgE. Instead, IgG plasma cells are involved in induction of, and for much of the pathogenesis of, allergic diseases. The pattern of IgG producing plasma cells in atopic children and the tendency for direct or further class switching to IgE are the principle factors responsible for long‐lasting sensitization of mast cells in allergic children. Indirect class switching from IgG producing plasma cells has been shown to be the predominant pathway for production of IgE while a Th2 microenvironment, genetic predisposition, and the concentration and nature of allergens together act on IgG plasma cells in the atopic tendency to undergo further immunoglobulin gene recombination. The seminal involvement of IgG in allergy is further indicated by the principal role of IgG4 in the natural resolution of allergy and as the favourable immunological response to immunotherapy. This paper will look at allergy through the role of different antibodies than IgE and give current knowledge of the nature and role of IgG antibodies in the start, maintenance and resolution of allergy.

26 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables.-- Online version published Feb. 2007., This paper reports the study of the oxidation of resveratrol catalyzed by polyphenol oxidase (PPO) as -well as the effect of PPO, laccase and peroxidase on the antiradical capacity of resveratrol (measured as capacity to scavenge 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline - 6 - sulfonic acid) radicals (ARTS')). Monophenolase activity of mushroom PPO in the presence of resveratrol showed the characteristic lag period (τ) prior the attainment of the steady state rate (Vss). The Michaelis constant (Km) for the oxidation of resveratrol catalyzed by PPO was 45 ± 2 μM at pH 6.8 and it decreased with pH. However, the maximum steady state rate (Vmax) remained constant with pH. Both τ and Vss depended on pH in a sigmoid way. Kinetic and NMR assays confirmed that this compound is a substrate which fulfilled both kinetic and structural reaction mechanisms of PPO. Neither laccase, nor PPO modified the antiradical capacity of resveratrol. However, resveratrol, in the presence of peroxidase, lost its antiradical capacity. A possible correlation between antiradical capacity of resveratrol and its oxidation status is proposed. This paper tries to increase the knowledge about this promising health-beneficial molecule and to demonstrate that PPO could be involved in the oxidation pathway of resveratrol., Dr. Juan Carlos Espin is holder of a “Marie Curie” contract HPMF-CT- 1999-00023 from the European Commission under the framework of the program: “Improving the Human Research Potential and the Socio-Economic knowledge Base”.

In a recent contribution to this journal, Wilmé et al. (2016) proposed that the giant tortoises of the islands of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO: Aldabra, the Mascarenes, and the Granitic Seychelles) might have originated from translocation by early Austronesian sailors. Prompted by this paper we review recent literature and show that natural overseas dispersal was remarkably widespread in the colonization history of terrestrial reptiles in the WIO region. Almost 90% of the successful colonization events are supported by prevailing marine surface currents. However, these currents may change over geological (and evolutionary) time-scales, and eddies and counter-currents may facilitate transport against the main current direction. We review the cases of the extant and extinct WIO giant tortoises and suggest that the current distribution of all lineages can be convincingly explained by overseas dispersal.

One hundred and fifty years since Nikolaus Friedreich's first description of the degenerative ataxic syndrome which bears his name, his description remains at the core of the classical clinical phenotype of gait and limb ataxia, poor balance and coordination, leg weakness, sensory loss, areflexia, impaired walking, dysarthria, dysphagia, eye movement abnormalities, scoliosis, foot deformities, cardiomyopathy and diabetes. Onset is typically around puberty with slow progression and shortened life-span often related to cardiac complications. Inheritance is autosomal recessive with the vast majority of cases showing an unstable intronic GAA expansion in both alleles of the frataxin gene on chromosome 9q13. A small number of cases are caused by a compound heterozygous expansion with a point mutation or deletion. Understanding of the underlying molecular biology has enabled identification of atypical phenotypes with late onset, or atypical features such as retained reflexes. Late-onset cases tend to have slower progression and are associated with smaller GAA expansions. Early-onset cases tend to have more rapid progression and a higher frequency of non-neurological features such as diabetes, cardiomyopathy, scoliosis and pes cavus. Compound heterozygotes, including those with large deletions, often have atypical features. In this paper, we review the classical and atypical clinical phenotypes of Friedreich's ataxia.

Salmonella, a genus within Enterobacteriaceae, remains as an important human pathogen and it has been reported to be the most common food‐borne bacterial disease in the world. Although majority of the Salmonella cases are sporadic, outbreaks occur frequently. Salmonella can be associated with many kinds of foods and the presence of Salmonella in ready‐to‐eat foods is considered significant regardless of the level of the contamination. Therefore isolation is carried out by enrichment culture of a defined weight or volume of the food (normally 25 g). The traditional and time‐consuming detection and isolation of Salmonella spp. from food and feed utilizes a multistep protocol with nonselective pre‐enrichment, followed by a selective enrichment step, isolation on selective agar media and a preliminary biochemical and serological confirmation. Several rapid methods have been developed to speed up the detection of Salmonella. This paper aims to give an overview of the occurrence and current status of Salmonella detection and surveillance methods.

Aim: To evaluate oral environmental changes in cannabis users.Material and Methods: The MEDLINE and Cochrane Central register of controlled trails (CENTRAL) were searched up to April 2007 to identify appropriate studies.Results: Independent screening of 982 titles and abstracts (MEDLINE-Pubmed) and (Cochrane) papers resulted in seven eligible publications.Conclusion: Based on the limited data, it seems justified to conclude that with increasing prevalence of cannabis use, oral health care providers should be aware of cannabis-associated oral side effects, such as xerostemia, leukoedema and an increased prevalence and density of Candida albicans.

Aspartic acid racemization has been found to be an accurate measure of age at death for recent forensic material. This paper examines the practicality of using acid etching of the tooth surface to extract amino acids from the enamel for racemization analysis. By serial etching of the tooth and contamination of the teeth with bovine serum albumin prior to etching, the ability of etching to remove contamination was assessed. The destructiveness of the method was visualized and quantified using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). By bleaching the teeth and by deeper etching it was possible to obtain more consistent values. While etching had little effect on the enamel at the macroscale, it did have an impact at the microscale. The quantities of enamel removed varied depending upon the tooth morphology, but were not large. Acid etching of enamel thus appears to be a promising new method for extracting proteins for amino acid racemization age estimation noninvasively. © 2008 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.