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"Lipid raft aging" in nerve cells represents an early event in the development of aging‐related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. Lipid rafts are key elements in synaptic plasticity, and their modification with aging alters interactions and distribution of signaling molecules, such as glutamate receptors and ion channels involved in memory formation, eventually leading to cognitive decline. In the present study, we have analyzed, in vivo, the effects of dietary supplementation of n‐3 LCPUFA on the lipid structure, membrane microviscosity, domain organization, and partitioning of ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors in hippocampal lipid raffs in female mice. The results revealed several lipid signatures of "lipid rafts aging" in old mice fed control diets, consisting in depletion of n‐3 LCPUFA, membrane unsaturation, along with increased levels of saturates, plasmalogens, and sterol esters, as well as altered lipid relevant indexes. These changes were paralleled by increased microviscosity and changes in the raft/non‐raft (R/NR) distribution of AMPA‐R and mGluR5. Administration of the n‐3 LCPUFA diet caused the partial reversion of fatty acid alterations found in aged mice and returned membrane microviscosity to values found in young animals. Paralleling these findings, lipid rafts accumulated mGluR5, NMDA‐R, and ASIC2, and increased their R/NR proportions, which collectively indicate changes in synaptic plasticity. Unexpectedly, this diet also modified the lipidome and dimension of lipid rafts, as well as the domain redistribution of glutamate receptors and acid‐sensing ion channels involved in hippocampal synaptic plasticity, likely modulating functionality of lipid rafts in memory formation and reluctance to age‐associated cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most ecological studies use remote sensing to analyze broad‐scale biodiversity patterns, focusing mainly on taxonomic diversity in natural landscapes. One of the most important effects of high levels of urbanization is species loss (i.e., biotic homogenization). Therefore, cost‐effective and more efficient methods to monitor biological communities' distribution are essential. This study explores whether the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) can predict multifaceted avian diversity, urban tolerance, and specialization in urban landscapes. We sampled bird communities among 15 European cities and extracted Landsat 30‐meter resolution EVI and NDVI values of the pixels within a 50‐m buffer of bird sample points using Google Earth Engine (32‐day Landsat 8 Collection Tier 1). Mixed models were used to find the best associations of EVI and NDVI, predicting multiple avian diversity facets: Taxonomic diversity, functional diversity, phylogenetic diversity, specialization levels, and urban tolerance. A total of 113 bird species across 15 cities from 10 different European countries were detected. EVI mean was the best predictor for foraging substrate specialization. NDVI mean was the best predictor for most avian diversity facets: taxonomic diversity, functional richness and evenness, phylogenetic diversity, phylogenetic species variability, community evolutionary distinctiveness, urban tolerance, diet foraging behavior, and habitat richness specialists. Finally, EVI and NDVI standard deviation were not the best predictors for any avian diversity facets studied. Our findings expand previous knowledge about EVI and NDVI as surrogates of avian diversity at a continental scale. Considering the European Commission's proposal for a Nature Restoration Law calling for expanding green urban space areas by 2050, we propose NDVI as a proxy of multiple facets of avian diversity to efficiently monitor bird community responses to land use changes in the cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has not halted farmland biodiversity loss. The CAP post‐2023 has a new "Green Architecture," including the new "Eco‐scheme" instrument. How can this new Green Architecture help tackle the biodiversity crisis? Through 13 workshops and an online survey, over 300 experts from 23 European Member States addressed this question. From experts' contributions, key principles for success include preserving and restoring (semi)natural elements and extensive grasslands; improving spatial planning and landscape‐scale implementation, including through collective actions; implementing result‐based approaches; and improved knowledge exchange. To maximize the effectiveness of Eco‐scheme for biodiversity, experts highlighted the need to prioritize evidence‐based actions, allocate a sufficient budget for biodiversity, and incentivize management improvements through higher payment levels. Additionally, stronger coherence is needed among CAP instruments. For effective CAP implementation, the European Commission and the Member States should expand investments in biodiversity monitoring, knowledge transfer, and capacity‐building within relevant institutions. The remaining risks in the CAP's ability to reverse the loss of farmland biodiversity still require better design, closer monitoring, greater transparency, and better engagement with farmers. Additionally, greater involvement of scientists is needed to guide the CAP toward restoring farmland biodiversity while accounting for synergies and trade‐offs with other objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactobionic acid (LBA) is a bioactive molecule that has generated keen interest in different industries. However, its future application in the food area is one of the most promising. Chemically, it is a polyhydroxy acid formed by the union of two molecules (galactose and gluconic acid) linked by an ether‐bond, showing many interesting and unusual properties due to its structure and composition, although it is traditionally known in the food industry for its chelating, moisturizing, gelling, and antioxidant properties. There has been much research into the production of LBA, either by microbial fermentation or biocatalytic approaches such as enzymatic synthesis, but its use in foodstuffs, to produce new functional products and to evaluate its antimicrobial activity against food‐borne pathogens, is a relatively new topic that has attracted the interest of the international research community recently. Furthermore, in spite of the potential of LBA, it has been approved only by the US Food and Drug Administration, and for its use as the salt form, but the publication of new comprehensive studies, able to agglutinate all the new food‐related LBA research results, could disseminate knowledge about this compound and have an influence on its current regulation status. The aim of the present review is to describe the most recent advances and research on its antimicrobial potential, as well as summarizing the significant aspects that make LBA a promising bioactive compound for the food sector. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acid whey causes a major disposal problem for the dairy industry due to its low pH and high salt concentration. Lactobionic acid (LBA) production by whey fermentation is an inexpensive process. The goal of this work was to employ acid whey for LBA production. Acid whey was fermented in a bioreactor, adding Pseudomonas taetrolens LMG 2336 at 30°C and 6.5 pH, with 1.5‐Lpm oxygen aeration and 350‐rpm agitation. Three fermentation tests were carried out with a different amount of inoculum (10%, 30% and 10% three times within 24 h). Results indicated that repeatedly adding P. taetrolens inoculum to the acid whey substrate allows a complete lactose conversion into LBA, while the lactose oxidation process was insufficient in the sample where the inoculum was only added at the beginning of the fermentation process (only 29.7% LBA production with 10% inoculum). The physiological heterogeneity of P. taetrolens was determined by multiparametric flow cytometry, and results showed that there was a phenotypic adaptation of the microorganism due to the changes observed in its heterogeneity and physiological state. The results achieved will help to recycle acid whey for value‐added product production such as LBA production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit and vegetable wastes (FVW) are some of the most abundant agro‐industrial wastes. This residual biomass can be used to obtain biofuels such as bioethanol, biomethane, biohydrogen, and biobutanol. Additionally, FVW can also be employed as a raw material for recovering bioactive compounds (antioxidants, enzymes, or antibiotics) and to produce organic acids of industrial interest (citric acid, lactic acid, acetic acid). However, the use of these wastes as a substrate to obtain the mentioned value‐added products usually requires several steps, including different pre‐treatments, microbial biotransformation, and separation and purification processes. The aim of this work is to provide an overview of the different products that can be obtained from FVW, as well as the technologies that can be employed in the revalorization procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Model yolk‐based (10% v/v) gels with different concentrations of κ‐carrageenan (0–2% w/w) were characterised employing rheological measurements, textural analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, the effect of the microstructure of the model gels on the growth rate of Staphylococcus was also evaluated. In all cases, the nature of the gel was dominated by the elastic component, specifically, 1.5, 1.75 and 2% κ‐carrageenan samples can be described as 'true gels' (tan δ < 0.1). Maximum strength of the interactions between rheological units (A) was observed with 1.75% κ‐carrageenan (4.74 ± 0.38 kPa), which indicates that the strength of interactions was determined not only by κ‐carrageenan concentration, but also by the amount of yolk. Finally, an inverse linear correlation was found between the maximum specific growth rate of Staphylococcus and rheological data (R2 > 0.99). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study potential scavenging of hydrogen peroxide by Allyl Methyl Sulfide and Diallyl Sulfide, two garlic components. The antioxidant properties of garlic are attributed to organosulfide compounds, which react with reactive oxygen species preventing the oxidative stress. We used the B3LYP functional for structure analysis and M06‐2X functional for the reactions employing gaseous, aqueous and non‐polar environments. The conformational analysis and Fukui functions allowed the selection of the initial structures and the region of nucleophilic attack by hydrogen peroxide. The scavenging reactions analyzed are: 1) Sulfoxidation; 2) Epoxidation; and 3) Hydrogenation. Through the intrinsic reaction coordinate, the energy profile, the activation energies, the rate constant and its temperature‐dependence were calculated. The results predict that reactions occur slowly and hydrogenation is not a feasible process. Finally, the sulfoxidation of Allyl Methyl Sulfide and Diallyl Sulfide resulted to be more thermodynamically and kinetically favorable than epoxidation (rate constant values, 10−10 s−1, in comparison with 10−18 s−1 from epoxidation), becoming the most probable pathway for hydrogen peroxide scavenging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flight initiation distance (FID), the distance at which individuals take flight when approached by a potential (human) predator, is a tool for understanding predator–prey interactions. Among the factors affecting FID, tests of effects of group size (i.e., number of potential prey) on FID have yielded contrasting results. Group size or flock size could either affect FID negatively (i.e., the dilution effect caused by the presence of many individuals) or positively (i.e., increased vigilance due to more eyes scanning for predators). These effects may be associated with gregarious species, because such species should be better adapted to exploiting information from other individuals in the group than nongregarious species. Sociality may explain why earlier findings on group size versus FID have yielded different conclusions. Here, we analyzed how flock size affected bird FID in eight European countries. A phylogenetic generalized least square regression model was used to investigate changes in escape behavior of bird species in relation to number of individuals in the flock, starting distance, diet, latitude, and type of habitat. Flock size of different bird species influenced how species responded to perceived threats. We found that gregarious birds reacted to a potential predator earlier (longer FID) when aggregated in large flocks. These results support a higher vigilance arising from many eyes scanning in birds, suggesting that sociality may be a key factor in the evolution of antipredator behavior both in urban and rural areas. Finally, future studies comparing FID must pay explicit attention to the number of individuals in flocks of gregarious species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Genetics play a very strong role in the development of pediatric‐onset type 2 diabetes (T2D); however, little information exists about specific common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with T2D in this age group. The aim of the study was to analyze the association and parental transmission of 64 obesity‐related SNPs with pediatric‐onset T2D in Mexican families. Methods: A total of 57 pedigrees containing 171 probands with pediatric‐onset T2D and 119 unrelated controls older than 18 years were included. The participants were genotyped for 64 polymorphisms. Association of each variant with pediatric‐onset T2D was analyzed through a parent‐offspring transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) and in a case‐control comparison by χ2 analysis. Results: Five SNPs exhibited associations with pediatric‐onset T2D in the combined case‐parent trio and case‐control analysis: LINGO/rs10968576 (odds ratio [OR] 1.82, P = 0.003), POC5/rs2112347 (OR 1.96, P = 2.4E‐5), RPS10‐NUDT3/rs206936 (OR 1.40, P = 0.023), GLIS3/rs7034200 (OR 2.34, P = 1.2E‐6), and VEGFA/rs6905288 (OR 1.58, P = 0.015). The first three were also associated with obesity status. The SNPs POC5/rs2112347 and RPS10‐NUDT3/rs206936 were significantly associated through the maternal allele and GLIS3/rs7034200 through the paternal allele (P < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that certain SNPs associated with obesity and other metabolic traits may also be involved in risk of pediatric‐onset T2D in Mexican families. We also identified preferential transmission of parental alleles in some variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As well as its beneficial health properties, the incorporation of the prebiotic lactobionic acid (LBA) in fermented dairy products can provide a technological advantage due to its gelling capacities. This study aimed to develop a new functional dairy product containing LBA synthesised within the process itself by the bacterium Pseudomonas taetrolens. A probiotic Lactobacillus casei strain was introduced through a sequential fermentation system. After incubation, in the case of the most effective experimental procedure, a synbiotic fermented milk with 30 g/L of prebiotic LBA was obtained, together with an active L. casei population of 109 cfu/mL and <1% lactose content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Eggshell contains two layers formed by a dense network of fibrous proteins. These proteins are highly insoluble in a broad variety of solvents, but their composition makes them suitable for a broad range of applications. In this study, in order to extract and solubilise these proteins, the eggshell membranes were treated in an alkali solution. A Box–Behnken design was employed to determine the influence of the treatment variables on the amount of protein solubilised. Furthermore, the effect of ultrasound on the protein recovery yield was also evaluated and compared with the unmodified process. RESULTS: A solubilised protein yield close to 100% of the total eggshell membrane protein was obtained. The optimal conditions could be set at 70 °C in a 1.0 mol L−1 NaOH solution for 60 min. However, when ultrasound was applied, it was possible to decrease the time of reaction by half. In the two processes, the temperature was found to be the most important independent variable evaluated. Finally, the antioxidant properties of the proteins obtained in each case were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound favours the detachment of big clumps of proteins from the eggshell membrane, facilitating the solubilisation of its compounds. The ultrasound had no effect on the protein properties tested in this study. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background There is evidence of associations of single-nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs) with type 2 diabetes ( T2D) and related glycemic traits in adults, but there is a little information about such associations in youths. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations of SNPs in the TCF7L2, SLC16A11, and ABCA1 genes with T2D and related glycemic traits in Mexican children and adolescents. Subjects A total of 99 families with children with T2D (n = 327) and 83 families with children without the disease (n = 212). Methods The associations between SNPs of TCF7L2 (rs7903146 and rs12255372), SLC16A11 (rs13342232), and ABCA1 (rs9282541) with T2D were analyzed. We also evaluated the effects of SNPs on quantitatively related glycemic traits after adjusting for age, sex, and the presence of overweight or obesity. Results The G allele of SLC16A1/rs13342232 was associated with T2D in adults (adjusted odds ratio [ ORadj] = 1.89; 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.18; 3.06) and children ( ORadj = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.25; 3.00). In addition, the combined analysis of case-control and case-parent trio was also significant ( OR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.12; 1.74). After adjusting for known confounding factors, we found a significant association between TCF7L2/rs122555372 and C-peptide ( β = −0.76, P = .005) in patients with diabetes and between fasting glucose ( β = 2.05, P = .039) and homeostatic model assessment of β-cell function ( β = −32.14, P = .025) levels in individuals without diabetes. Conclusions The results suggest that SLC16A1/rs13342232 might be involved in the risk of pediatric-onset T2D in Mexican families. Moreover, TCF7L2/rs122555372 was associated with pancreatic reserve in patients with T2D and with fasting glucose and β-cell function in individuals without diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Besides its properties as an antioxidant, stabilizer, or acidifier, lactobionic acid has emerged as a potential prebiotic compound, raising the possibility of being included together with the probiotic microorganism Lactobacillus casei in novel functional fermented foods with synbiotic characteristics. Their manufacturing strategy could benefit from the recently implemented microbial synthesis of lactobionic acid by the strong producer Pseudomonas taetrolens, employing residual dairy whey as raw material. The phenomenon of amensalism established between Pseudomonas and Lactobacillus makes simultaneous fermentation unfeasible. A novel sequential process has been developed in which L. casei is inoculated in a second step. Its ability to utilize lactobionic acid as a carbon and energy source was previously tested. Experimental results showed the capacity of L. casei to work efficiently on the residual substrate fermented by P. taetrolens, producing lactic acid by degrading the remaining lactose, with a lactic acid yield on substrate and productivity of 0.95 g g−1 and 0.20 g L−1 h−1, respectively. Lactobionic acid was barely consumed in this complex growth medium, thus ensuring its presence in the resulting fermented product. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:1250-1256, 2017 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Tree plantations can have beneficial or detrimental effects on regional biodiversity. Here, we focus on how the contribution of pine plantations to the maintenance of regional bird diversity varies geographically compared to natural pine forests, after controlling for the effects of other factors that are known to influence the regional richness of pine forest dwelling birds. Location Spain. Methods We combined large-scale datasets from diverse sources (i.e. the Spanish Breeding Bird Atlas, the Third Spanish Forest Inventory, land use and forest distribution maps) to analyse the geographical variation of the contribution of pine plantations in relation to their natural counterparts to the maintenance of the regional species richness of pine forest dwelling birds. To do so, we also controlled for the main environmental, land use and forest structure factors using GLM models. Results Differences in bird diversity among planted and natural pine forests varied along latitudinal and longitudinal gradients after accounting for altitude, climate, land uses and vegetation structure of pine forests. Planted pine forests in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula have the lowest bird species richness as compared to natural pine forests, and that difference decreased following a north-west-south-east gradient. Differences also varied among pine species; they were larger for the species with a higher productive vocation ( Pinus sylvestris, Pinus nigra and Pinus pinaster) and not significantly different from zero for species with low commercial interest and mainly used for the restoration of tree cover (i.e. Pinus halepensis). Main conclusions The potential of plantations or natural pine forests to enhance biodiversity is highly dependent on both the pine species and the geographical location. On this basis, we identify the geographical areas (and pine species) where a major naturalization effort of plantations would be needed to increase bird diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New biomaterials prepared from egg yolk and its main fractions (plasma and granules) have been developed for use in tissue engineering. Protein gels obtained via transglutaminase cross-linking were characterized by rheometry, texturometry and scanning electron microscopy. All the gels exhibited suitable physical and mechanical characteristics for use as potential biomaterials in skin regeneration. Specifically, results showed that these materials presented a compact, uniform structure, with granular gel being found to be the most resistant as well as the most elastic material. Accordingly, these gels were subsequently evaluated as scaffolds for murine fibroblast growth. The best results were obtained with granule gels. Not only adhesion and cell growth were detected when using these gels, but also continuous coatings of cells growing on their surface. These findings can be attributed to the higher protein content of this fraction and to the particular structure of its proteins. Thus, granules have proved to be an interesting potential raw material for scaffold development. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:1577-1583, 2016 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in Campeche state, Mexico. Host and parasite factors are involved in the establishment and development of CL. Host factors include immune response and genetic background. NRAMP1 (Natural Resistance Associated Macrophage Protein 1) is important in innate immunity. Polymorphisms in NRAMP1 have been associated with susceptibility or resistance to infectious and autoimmune diseases. To study the association of NRAMP1 mutations with CL in patients from Calakmul, Campeche, samples from 115 CL patients and 69 samples of healthy people from the same area were evaluated. Five regions in NRAMP1 were amplified and digested, looking for mutations in the promoter region (−524G/C), exon 3 (274C/T), exon 8 (823 C7T), and exon 15 (G/A) and deletion of 4 bp in the 3′UTR region. We found a statistical association between polymorphisms in 3′UTR region and exon 8 and CL [χ2=13.26; p<0.05; OR = 17.00; IC of 95% (2.24–128.99)]. Some patients who needed more than 40 doses of Glucantime® to heal injuries presented mutations in exons 3, 8, and 15. Multiple or ear lesions were not associated with NRAMP1 polymorphism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus are the main dispersers of acorns in highly managed Mediterranean holm-oak woodlands. Mice mobilize and cache acorns to store them for winter consumption. They carry acorns away from potential competitors, face predation risks during mobilization, and cache acorns in areas where pilfering risks are low. However, mice can act either as net predators or as moderately efficient dispersers, depending on the way landscape management affects intraspecific competition for acorns and shelter availability. To assess the influence of landscape structure and mouse behavior on acorn dispersal, we developed an agent-based model (ABM) that translates forest management into changes in key environmental factors driving mouse foraging decisions. The model was able to predict accurately acorn dispersal patterns in a wide range of forest management practices based on information on forest habitat availability, stem density and shrub cover. Sensitivity analysis revealed that caching rates emerged from the interplay between intraspecific competition for seeds and predation risk accepted during mobilization. It also showed that intraspecific competition for acorns decreased with increasing habitat loss (due to positive edge effects on acorn production) while landscape resistance to mouse movements increased. As a result, the net benefits of caching declined and acorn predation became the dominant strategy. Finally, we assessed the effects of shrub encroachment as a management practice to enhance dispersal services in savanna-like landscapes (dehesas). The model predicted non-linear responses with a 65% threshold of shrub cover needed to achieve relatively high levels of acorn dispersal. This value may not be compatible with the traditional exploitation of dehesas (livestock rearing). Our study shows that integrated approaches that combine environmental change driven by management with behavioral responses of dispersers improve our understanding of the causes of recruitment bottlenecks, and are useful tools for evaluating conservation strategies aimed at enhancing dispersal services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land-use changes are expected to affect plant-disperser conditional mutualisms through changes in animal behavior. We analyzed the oak-rodent conditional mutualism in Mediterranean fragmented forests at two climatically different locations. We quantified fragmentation effects on seed dispersal effectiveness and assessed if such effects were due to changes in habitat structure and intraspecific competition for acorns in fragmented areas. Fragmentation decreased cover from predators within mouse territories as well as intraspecific competition for acorns. This resulted in lower dispersal effectiveness in small forest fragments. Globally, habitat structure was the main driver in mouse foraging decisions. In small fragments, low shelter availability precluded mouse movements, leading to short mobilization distances and low caching rates. However, as the proportion of cover from predators increased, mice were able to modulate their foraging decisions depending on intraspecific competition for acorns, resulting in higher dispersal quality. In addition to fragmentation effects, delayed breeding in the southern locality caused lower number of rodents during the dispersal season, which reduced acorn mobilization rates. Our study shows that seed dispersal patterns in managed systems can be analyzed as the result of management effects on key environmental factors in dispersers' foraging decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-induced landscape changes are expected to have strong effects on the composition and structure of terrestrial small mammal communities (Orders Rodentia and Soricomorpha). However, testing such expectations is difficult due to low detectability of these animals. We used analyses of barn owl ( Tyto alba) pellets sampled in the same roosting places during 1977-1991 and again in 2011-2014 to (a) document small mammal community changes and (b) relate them to changes in land use. Forest and synanthropic small mammals increased by a 7 % between both periods, whereas open-land species decreased by 13 %. Man-made loss (crops and meadows) and expansion (forest and urban) of relevant habitat types were closely related to these changes. Localities with land use changes opposite to the general trend showed also an opposite trend in small mammal community change. Land use heterogeneity increased and dominance decreased between both sampling periods, and this pattern was paralleled by an increasing trend in diversity and a decreasing trend in dominance in small mammal communities. Decreasing trends of some generalist northern species with restricted ranges may have been due to climate change. Diet monitoring of barn owls are thus valuable tools for both documenting and analyzing fine-grained small mammal responses to global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease where the altered regulation in angiogenesis, inflammation, and proliferation of keratinocytes are the possible causes of the disease, and the transcription factor “hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha” (HIF-1α) is involved in the homeostasis of these three biological phenomena. In this review, the role of HIF-1α in the cross talk between the cytokines and cells of the immunological system involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) is a major constituent of nerve cell membrane phospholipids. Besides a role in membrane architecture, DHA is a pleiotropic molecule involved in multiple facets of neuronal biology and also in neuroprotection. We show here that supplementation with DHA (but not arachidonic acid) to mouse hippocampal HT22 cells modulates the expression of genes encoding for antioxidant proteins associated with thioredoxin/peroxiredoxin and glutathione/glutaredoxin systems. Thus, within the thioredoxin system, DHA increased Txn1-2, Trxrd1-2, Prdx3, and Srxn1 gene expression. Paralleling these changes, DHA increased thioredoxin reductase activity, the main enzyme involved in thioredoxin regeneration. For the glutathione system, the most important change triggered by DHA was the upregulation of Gpx4 gene, encoding for the nuclear, cytosolic and mitochondrial isoforms of phospholipid-hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PH-GPx/GPx4, the main enzyme protecting cell membranes against lipid peroxidation), which was followed by a significant increase in total glutathione peroxidase and GPx4 activities. Noticeably, DHA also upregulated a new Gpx4 splicing variant that retained part of the first intronic region. Finally, we demonstrate that DHA treatment, under the same time course, protects HT22 cells from the oxitoxic exposure to amyloid beta (Aβ25-35) peptide. Altogether, our data pinpoint to a role of DHA as Indirect Antioxidant that modulates neuronal defences in neuroprotection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Should a species be translocated? Uncertainty regarding the necessity and feasibility of many translocations complicates answering this question. Here, we review translocation projects, both published and unpublished. Our results indicate that most projects (1) addressed fewer than half of the basic criteria established for translo-cations and (2) were either unjustifiable from a conservation perspective or inadequately designed to guarantee success or preclude negative consequences. We propose a hierarchical decision-making system - an explicit method that integrates existing guidelines, thereby covering a key gap in conservation science - to reduce ambi-guity when deciding whether to implement a given translocation project. This method will improve the likeli-hood of success in translocation projects and contribute to the efficient use of the limited resources available for these conservation efforts INSETS: In a nutshell:;Panel 1. Definition of terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double-transgenic amyloid precursor protein/presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) mice express a chimeric mouse/human APP bearing the Swedish mutation (Mo/HuAPP695swe) and a mutant human PS1-dE9 both causative of familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD). Transgenic mice show impaired memory and learning performance from the age of 6 months onwards. Double-transgenic APP/PS1 mice express altered APP and PS1 mRNAs and proteins, reduced β-secretase 1 (BACE1) mRNA and normal BACE1 protein, all of which suggest a particular mechanism of amyloidogenesis when compared with sporadic AD. The first β-amyloid plaques in APP/PS1 mice appear at 3 months, and they increase in number and distribution with disease progression in parallel with increased levels of brain soluble β-amyloid 1-42 and 1-40, but also with reduced 1-42/1-40 ratio with age. Amyloid deposition in plaques is accompanied by altered mitochondria and increased oxidative damage, post-translational modifications and accumulation of altered proteins at the dystrophic neurites surrounding plaques. Degradation pathways are also modified with disease progression including activation of the immunoproteasome together with variable alterations of the different protease activities of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Present observations show modifications in the production of β-amyloid and activation and malfunction of the subcellular degradation pathways that have general implications in the pathogenesis of AD and more particularly in specificities of FAD amyloidogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Ecological theory predicts that the effectiveness of local agri-environmental management to enhance species richness at field scales will be the highest at intermediate levels of landscape complexity because of nonlinear effects of landscape context on field-scale diversity. 2. We examined how landscape complexity determined effectiveness of local agri-environmental management in terms of effects on species richness of birds, plants, spiders and bees in 232 extensive and intensive paired fields (112 arable fields and 120 grasslands) from 18 regions located in six European countries. 3. As predicted, landscape complexity enhanced field-scale species richness in a mostly nonlinear (sigmoidal) way, with earlier species richness increases in extensive than in intensive fields along landscape complexity gradients. Length of semi-natural boundaries (for arable fields) and proportion of unfarmed habitat (for grasslands) were the landscape features influencing species richness. 4. The relationships between effectiveness of local management and landscape complexity for all taxa were best described with hump-shaped curves, indicating the highest effectiveness at intermediate landscape complexities. 5. Synthesis and applications. We used models to investigate how and why effects of local management intensity on species richness vary along wide gradients of landscape complexity. We conclude that landscape-scale management options should take priority over local extensification measures within agri-environmental programmes. These programmes should follow a hierarchical multi-scale approach directed to address landscape-scale constraints on local diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses on farmland biodiversity and factors affecting it's various spatial scales. It states that differences in species contributed to overall plant diversity. Agri-environment schemes benefitted all diversity components only at the field scale. It mentions that landscape factors had strong influences on plant diversity which increased species richness. The agri-environmental policies should incorporate maintenance of seminatural boundaries and nonproductive habitats too.

ABSTRACT Owing to its specific characteristics, eggs are not only widely used in the food industry, but also in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In this work, a new lipid-enriched egg yolk fraction was evaluated as an ingredient in cosmetic cream formulations. Three formulations were prepared in the laboratory; two were formulated with the yolk fraction (fresh and lyophilized) and the other one was a control sample containing no egg yolk lipidic fraction. Rheological characteristics of creams were evaluated, as well as its microstructure and sensorial properties. In addition, color and particle size measurements at different times of storage were carried out to assess cream stability. According to the results, this egg yolk fraction showed to be a suitable ingredient in cosmetic cream formulations, not only without causing any drawback on cream characteristics, but also improving some of its properties and, specifically, supplying cream with higher consistency, stability and resistance to temperature stress. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Each constituent of yolk possesses special physical and chemical characteristics. Thus, yolk represents a major source of active principles usable in medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and biotechnological industries. In this work, an egg yolk fraction was tested as an ingredient in cosmetic cream formulations. Despite its interesting composition and functional properties, no applications have been developed for this fraction until now. According to the results, this lipid-enriched fraction could be a potential ingredient in cosmetic cream manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physicochemical properties of meat products make them susceptible to contamination by several pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes. As reference of L. monocytogenes behaviour, the evolution of Listeria innocua growth was monitored at different positions within a κ-carrageenan synthetic meat and visualised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microbial growth was also determined in a liquid medium, prepared with the same nutrients as the solid phase, and the effect of oxygen concentration, a fundamental parameter in meat preservation, was studied. To simulate microbial behaviour in the solid, results of kinetics in broth were incorporated to a diffusion-reaction model that considers growth kinetics as a function of the local oxygen concentration. Data from the model have been then discussed, taking into account experimental data and SEM observations. This model, useful for food safety purposes, has been shown to provide a reasonably good simulation of experimental data in the structured synthetic meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isolated proteins contained in the blood from slaughterhouses could be recovered and used to improve the functional and nutritional properties of food products. In this work some functional properties, namely solubility, emulsifying capacity, gelling and foaming capacity have been tested for different protein fractions of porcine blood. The blood proteins studied were globins (α, β and γ), albumin and fibrinogen and the whole plasma from the plasmatic fraction, and haemoglobin and globin obtained from the haemoglobin by a chemical method from the cellular fraction. The effect of pH and protein concentration on functional properties was determined. Results indicate that blood proteins present good functional properties specially solubility, gellation and emulsifying capacities that could make blood protein useful as food additives in the formulation of food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Question: Insufficient tree regeneration threatens the long-term persistence of biodiverse Mediterranean open oak woodlands. Could shrubs, scarce due to decades of management (clearing and ploughing), facilitate holm oak recruitment at both acorn and seedling stages? Location: Open oak woodlands in Central Spain. Methods: Plots with four acorns were planted: (I) under the canopy of the spiny shrub Genista hirsuta, (2) in a small cage, protecting against ungulates, (3) in a shaded cage, protecting against ungulates and sun, and (4) in open grassland. Sets of these four treatments were spatially grouped according to a randomised block design, with 16 blocks near (< 10 m) and 16 away from (> 20 m) parent trees to test for distance-related survival. Plots were regularly checked for seed removal. After emergence one seedling per plot (97 in total) was selected and its survival monitored. Results: Three months after sowing, 199 of 512 acorns were removed, predominantly by rodents. Acorn removal occurred at each treatment but was highest under shrubs. Eight months after sowing, seedling survival was highest under shrubs (50%), followed by shaded cages (16%), open grassland (4%) and cages (0%). Main mortality cause was drought (90%), killing most seedlings between June and July. No seedlings died from ungulate browsing. Conclusion: Shrubs demonstrated clear net facilitative effects for Quercus ilex recruitment, despite higher seed removal. Shading appears the crucial factor facilitating seedling survival. We therefore propose that lack of shrubs contributes largely to tree recruitment failure in Mediterranean open woodlands; management should aim at conserving shrubs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avian life-history studies are often conducted on populations nesting in nestboxes. However, the type of nestbox used is a potentially confounding variable, as each model shows specific characteristics. In recent decades, a new commercial model of artificial nestbox made of woodcrete, a mixture of sawdust and additives, has become popular owing to its better protection against predators compared with the classic wooden design. We assess the effect of nestbox type on the breeding ecology of Tree Sparrows Passer montanus, focusing on their thermal properties, an influential factor in nestbox selection. Occupancy rates and reproductive parameters of Tree Sparrows were compared between birds breeding in woodcrete and wooden nestboxes over 5 years. Woodcrete nestboxes had a higher occupancy rate and birds breeding in them had earlier clutches, a shorter incubation period and more reproductive attempts per season than birds nesting in wooden boxes. Clutch size and nestling condition did not differ between nestbox types, but reproductive success was higher in woodcrete nestboxes. The higher temperature in woodcrete nestboxes (1.5 °C higher on average) might explain these differences. Such differences may bias results obtained in comparative studies where more than one nestbox type is used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background A feature of psoriasis is the rapid proliferation of keratinocytes, during which apoptosis is blocked and angiogenesis starts. It is known that tumor hypoxic cells produce histone deacetylase-1 (HDAC-1), which up-regulates hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and down-regulates von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) protein by up-regulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. It has been reported recently that the porcine peptide PR39 (homologous to human LL-37) has angiogenic and antiapoptotic activity. Thus, LL-37, induced by insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), could help in the production of VEGF. PR39 also induces the expression of inhibitor of apoptosis protein-2 (IAP-2), which blocks apoptosis. The purpose of this work was to analyze whether these genes and their proteins are expressed in psoriatic biopsies. Methods Using semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and immunohistochemical staining, we studied VHL, IAP-2, and related genes in skin biopsies from psoriatic patients and healthy subjects. Results An over-expression of the mRNA for HDAC-1, HIF-1α, LL-37, and IGF-1 in psoriatic skin, in comparison with skin from healthy subjects, was found. The antiangiogenic VHL mRNA and protein were under-expressed in psoriatic skin and highly expressed in healthy skin. The antiapoptotic IAP-2 was over-expressed in dermal endothelial cells from psoriatic skin. The pro-apoptotic Bax, Fas, and FasL mRNAs were expressed. Conclusions These findings suggest that there could be an association of HDAC-1, HIF-1α, LL-37, VHL, and IAP-2 with angiogenic and apoptotic mechanisms in psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyse the effects of rainfall, temperature, food availability and nest predation on the between-year variation in reproduction of the Canary Islands stonechat Saxicola dacotiae, a bird species endemic of the semiarid island of Fuerteventura (Canary Islands, Spain). We monitored the reproductive performance and output of the species across its whole distribution area during three consecutive breeding periods, also measuring rainfall, temperature and food (arthropod) availability on the ground monthly. Rainfall varied from 27.3 mm in 2000–2001 (dry year) to 124.5 mm and 125.1 mm (average years), respectively, in the 2001–2002 and 2002–2003 breeding seasons. The onset of breeding closely matched variation in the onset of the autumn-winter rains among years. Arthropod availability was strongly and positively related to rainfall one month before. Reproductive investment (number of clutches and clutch size) was correlated to arthropod availability both among years and among sites within years. Stonechat pairs bred once or did not breed at all in the dry year whereas they bred twice in the other two years. Clutch size was smaller in the dry year and larger in the second as compared with the first in the other two years. Reproductive investment largely determined reproductive output (number of fledglings) as there were no significant spatial or temporal variation in hatching success (90% on average) or nest predation (29% on average, mostly due to feral cats Felis catus). Within- and among years variability in temperature or predation did not match variability in the onset, length or reproductive investment and output recorded throughout the study years. These results suggest that variability in annual fecundity in the Canary Islands Stonechat was mainly driven by rainfall through a food-mediated process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aim of this paper is to investigate the causes of the current restricted distribution of a narrow-range endemic bird species, the Canary Islands stonechat, Saxicola dacotiae. Location Eastern islands of the Canary Islands archipelago. Methods We compared climatic patterns (temperature and rainfall), habitat and microhabitat structure, food availability during a full annual cycle, and the abundance of native avian competitors and predators inside and outside the species’ range. Three study areas, located in similar habitats on nearby islands, were studied: northern Fuerteventura, close to the northern border of the species’ range; southern Lanzarote, 22 km from the nearest site occupied by stonechats; and the Lobos islet, 10 km from the nearest occupied site and 2 km from the coast of Fuerteventura. Results The cover of suitable habitats (slopes with high cover of large shrubs, stony fields and ravines) and microhabitats (shrubs and boulders) and the abundance of arthropods during the breeding period of Canary Islands stonechats were lower outside than inside the species’ range. Temperature, rainfall and the abundance of competitors and predators inside and outside the species’ range did not differ significantly. Main conclusions Ecological requirements explaining the distribution of the Canary Islands stonechat within its range seem to be the main factor hindering its settlement on nearby islands. Geological and palaeoclimatic processes, as well as past and current human impact, could also have constrained the distribution of this narrow-range endemic bird species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypothalamic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone neurons (LHRH) form the final pathway for the central control of reproduction through the release of LHRH into the pituitary-hypothalamic system. We previously found that LHRH-producing GT1-7 cells respond to acetylcholine (ACh) with an increase in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) through activation of muscarinic receptors. This effect is acutely modulated by 17β-estradiol in a manner compatible with specific membrane binding sites. Because increasing evidence suggests that second messengers are involved in the rapid action of estradiol, the aim of the present study was to identify the pathway underlying estrogen actions on ACh-induced Ca2+ signals. 8-Bromoguanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (10 µ m) and C-type natriuretic peptide (10 µ m) mimicked the effect of estradiol. On the contrary, neither dibutyryl cAMP (100 µ m), forskolin (100 n m or 10 µ m), or sodium nitroprusside (10 µ m) induced any modification of [Ca2+]i in response to ACh. The effect of estradiol on calcium transients was totally blocked by two different cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibitors. In addition, phosphorylation of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) receptor was rapidly induced by estradiol but totally blocked when the cells were pretreated with a PKG inhibitor. We conclude that physiological concentrations of estradiol reduce ACh-induced Ca2+ transients via a mechanism involving a membrane-associated guanylate cyclase, which finally induces a PKG-dependent IP3 receptor phosphorylation that modifies calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background We have previously found that psoriatic patients have lgG autoantibodies that recognize lesions but not autologous normal skin. The reactivity of the autoantibodies can be adsorbed with streptococcal antigens. Methods lgG antibodies were determined by immunoblot and ELISA to streptococcal antigens and by ELISA to the recombinants HSP60Sp, HSP70Sp, HSP60Ec and HSP60Hu, in plaque (PP) and guttate (GP) psoriasis patients, in healthy subjects (HC) and in individuals with streptococcal throat infections and high ASO titers, but without history of dermatological disease (ISp), Results We found by immunoblot that the lgG response to 71-, 60-, and 14-kDa protein fractions of Streptococcus pyogenes is important in psoriasis. We also found by ELISA that the response to the rHSP60Sp in PP was higher than in all the other three groups studied (P < 0.05) with an odds ratio of 11.11 (CI95% of 4.33-28.49).The PP infected with S. pyogenes had higher titers of the antirHSP6OSp, high ASO, and high PASI. The PP patients did not significantly recognize the HSP6OEc or the HSP6OHu. The GP patients had a higher response to the rHSP60Sp than the healthy controls or ISP patients (P < 0.05) but showed no association with the disease. The response of the ISp patients to the HSP60Sp was similar to the healthy controls. The response to the rHSP70Sp was similar in the PP patients and the healthy controls. Conclusion Results suggest that a high response to the HSP60Sp could be associated with the chronic form of psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estrogen regulation of the female reproductive axis involves the rapid inhibition (< 30 min) of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) secretion from hypothalamic neurons. This fast time-course suggests interactions with potential plasma membrane binding sites that could result in short-term effects on LHRH neurons. Because LHRH release is calcium dependent, we have studied the acute effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) and estradiol-peroxidase (E-HRP) on the elevations of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) induced by acetylcholine (ACh) in LHRH-producing GT1-7 cells. Exposure to ACh (1–100 µ m) induced transient increases of [Ca2+]i, whereas pretreatment with E2 or E-HRP (10 n m) for 2 min reduced this response by 50–60%. The effect was specific for E2 as neither 17α-estradiol (1 µ m) nor the synthetic antiestrogens ICI182 780 (1 µ m) or tamoxifen (1 µ m) elicited any change on the ACh-induced Ca2+ signal. Both the latency of the effect and the response to the membrane impermeant conjugate suggested a membrane-mediated mechanism. Such membrane binding sites for E2 in GT1-7 cells were demonstrated by visualizing the binding of E-HRP and estradiol-BSA-fluorescein isothiocyanate (E-BSA-FITC) conjugates. Competition studies showed that E-HRP binding was blocked by preincubation with E2, but not with 17α-E2, ICI182 780, tamoxifen or progesterone, indicating that the plasma membrane binding site is highly specific for E2 and exhibits a pharmacological profile different from classical estrogen receptors. We conclude that ACh-induced increase in [Ca2+]i in GT1-7 cells is modulated acutely by physiological E2 concentrations in a manner which is compatible with the existence of an estrogen-specific membrane binding site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determined the individual and population responses to food availability of wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus wintering in small forest woodlots by means of a food addition experiment. The allocation of the extra provided energy to the maintenance of body condition and reproduction was expected to vary between sexes due to their different energy investment in reproduction and to the different indirect costs of reproduction associated with different hormone-mediated susceptibilities to parasite infections. There were no effects of food supplementation on the density of adult males or on the overall density of mice. However, adult females were marginally more abundant and the sex ratio was more balanced in supplemented woodlots. Body condition (as estimated by body mass, body mass relative to body size, and amount of fat reserves), did not differ among treatments for either adult males or females. The prevalence and intensity of endoparasites of short life cycle (oxyurid nematodes) were lower in food-supplemented woodlots than in controls and lower in females than in males. No differences were found for endoparasites with long life cycles (telacid nematodes and cestodes). Males with intermediate parasite loads were in better body condition than either nonparasitized or highly parasitized individuals, and the body condition of each group of males was better in food-supplemented woodlots than in controls. This nonlinear relationship between parasite loads and body condition was apparently due to indirect costs of reproduction in control woodlots, where there was a direct relationship between male reproductive effort (relative testis size) and parasite loads. This relationship was not found in supplemented. woodlots. Most individuals were breeding actively at the end of winter. Males had larger testicles, and females showed an advanced breeding, and probably enhanced survival and larger litter sizes, in supplemented woodlots. Individual mice wintering in Mediterranean fragmented forests are thus food limited, and directed most of the extra provided food resources to reproduction without losing body condition or antiparasite abilities. This enhanced reproduction, rather than improved body condition, may translate into larger population densities and recruitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Although oestrogen [17β-estradiol (E2)]-related neuroprotection has been demonstrated in different models, the involvement of non-classical oestrogen receptors (ERs) remains unexplored. Using the SN56 cholinergic cell line, we present evidence indicating that an ER associated with the plasma membrane participates in oestrogen-dependent inhibition of cell death induced by amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) toxicity. Similarly to E2 alone, a 15-min exposure to estradiol-horseradish peroxidase (E-HRP) significantly reduced Aβ-induced cell death. This effect was decreased by the ER antagonist ICI 182,780 as well as by MC-20 antibody directed to a region neighbouring the ligand-binding domain of ERα. Using confocal microscopy on unpermeabilized SN56 cells exposed to MC-20 antibody, we identified a protein at the plasma membrane level. Western blot analysis of purified SN56 cell membrane fractions using MC-20 antibody revealed the presence of one band with the same electrophoretic mobility as intracellular ERα. Using conjugated forms of the steroid, E-HRP and E2 conjugated to bovine serum albumin-FITC, we demonstrated by confocal microscopy that SN56 cells contain surface binding sites for E2. Binding of both conjugates was blocked by pre-incubation with E2 and decreased by either ICI 182,780 or MC-20 antibody in a concentration-dependent manner. Thus, a membrane-related ER that shares some structural homologies with ERα may participate in oestrogen-mediated neuroprotection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analysed the foraging behaviour of free-ranging Blue Tits Parus caeruleus in open holm oak Quercus ilex woodlands of western Spain during winter. Such woodlands are patchy for foraging tits because of the scattered distribution of trees and the patterns of abundance of canopy arthropods within and among trees. Results were compared with those obtained in spring of the same year, when we found that the foraging behaviour and spatial distribution of Blue Tits were largely unaffected by food availability (Pulido and Diaz 1997). Patch (tree) residence time was highly variable both within and among individual birds and it was uncorrelated with either previous travel time or patch quality. Contrary to a priori expectations, the behaviour of tits did not conform to short-term energy maximizing rules in winter in spite of a 2.5-fold decrease in food supply from spring to winter and likely 2-fold increase in bird requirements. Instead, birds tended to fly towards patches that were further away than locally available. Overall, we conclude that energy intake rate was not the fitness-related currency that birds were trying to maximize while foraging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analysed whether patterns of microhabitat use by Blue Tits Parus caeruleus, Great Tits Parus major and Crested Tits Parus cristatus inhabiting a mixed forest consistently matched the patterns of food availability experienced by foraging birds during spring-summer. The use of five microhabitats by each bird species (the foliage of three tree species, shrubs and ground) and the availability of food in trees during the prebreeding, breeding and post-breeding periods of the birds' annual cycle were measured. All three tit species foraged mainly in the outer part of tree canopies (small branches and leaves or needles). Tit distributions between tree species matched food resource distributions irrespective of overall food resource levels, which varied four-fold between the study periods, and tit species. Tits also exploited secondary microhabitats (shrubs and ground) in periods of low food availability; Blue Tits tended to use shrubs, whereas Great and Crested Tits foraged on the ground. Between-trees distributions fitted that expected from an ideal free distribution, suggesting that food availability and intraspecific exploitative competition were the main factors governing tree use by tits. In contrast, patterns of use of secondary microhabitats (shrubs and ground) seemed to indicate a role for the species-specific morphological configurations of each tit species since Blue Tits are better adapted to hang and tended to forage in shubs, whereas Great and Crested Tits are better adapted to feed on horizontal surfaces and tended to forage on the ground. No evidence of interspecific interactions was observed. Overall, the results pointed to an independent exploitation of Mediterranean mixed forest by each bird species, food availability and food accessibility being the main factors affecting microhabitat use by foraging tits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of the biological removal of carbon and nitrogen from leachates is determined by the activity of microbial populations present in biological reactors. In this work, a complete characterization of bacterial communities revealed by personal genome machine sequencing (PGM) has been carried out from different points of a nitrification–denitrification process operated in an urban landfill. The leachate fed to the treatment is a mixture of young leachate, old leachate, and effluent from an anaerobic digestion process, in a volume ratio of 1:0.9:0.12, respectively. The anoxic and oxic reactors are followed by an ultrafiltration step. Samples are taken from different points of the process. Results reveal the microbial diversity of the samples, which include detection of minority populations that are difficult to explore by other methods. Bacteria belonging to Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria are dominant in all the samples analyzed. Proteobacteria represents more than 50% of the total population in all cases. Samples taken after the biological treatment show a significant reduction in the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Tenericutes, and Lentisphaerae phyla in comparation with the initial leachate. The relative abundance of the classes is also studied and the most abundant in the samples are β‐Proteobacteria and Flavobacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypothalamic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone neurons (LHRH) form the final pathway for the central control of reproduction through the release of LHRH into the pituitary-hypothalamic system. We previously found that LHRH-producing GT1-7 cells respond to acetylcholine (ACh) with an increase in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) through activation of muscarinic receptors. This effect is acutely modulated by 17beta-estradiol in a manner compatible with specific membrane binding sites. Because increasing evidence suggests that second messengers are involved in the rapid action of estradiol, the aim of the present study was to identify the pathway underlying estrogen actions on ACh-induced Ca2+ signals. 8-Bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (10 microm) and C-type natriuretic peptide (10 microm) mimicked the effect of estradiol. On the contrary, neither dibutyryl cAMP (100 microm), forskolin (100 nm or 10 microm), or sodium nitroprusside (10 microm) induced any modification of [Ca2+]i in response to ACh. The effect of estradiol on calcium transients was totally blocked by two different cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibitors. In addition, phosphorylation of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) receptor was rapidly induced by estradiol but totally blocked when the cells were pretreated with a PKG inhibitor. We conclude that physiological concentrations of estradiol reduce ACh-induced Ca2+ transients via a mechanism involving a membrane-associated guanylate cyclase, which finally induces a PKG-dependent IP3 receptor phosphorylation that modifies calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum.