Search

As interest in natural capital grows and society increasingly recognizes the value of biodiversity, we must discuss how ecosystem observations to detect changes in biodiversity can be sustained through collaboration across regions and sectors. However, there are many barriers to establishing and sustaining large-scale, fine-resolution ecosystem observations. First, comprehensive monitoring data on both biodiversity and possible anthropogenic factors are lacking. Second, some in situ ecosystem observations cannot be systematically established and maintained across locations. Third, equitable solutions across sectors and countries are needed to build a global network. Here, by examining individual cases and emerging frameworks, mainly from (but not limited to) Japan, we illustrate how ecological science relies on long-term data and how neglecting basic monitoring of our home planet further reduces our chances of overcoming the environmental crisis. We also discuss emerging techniques and opportunities, such as environmental DNA and citizen science as well as using the existing and forgotten sites of monitoring, that can help overcome some of the difficulties in establishing and sustaining ecosystem observations at a large scale with fine resolution. Overall, this paper presents a call to action for joint monitoring of biodiversity and anthropogenic factors, the systematic establishment and maintenance of in situ observations, and equitable solutions across sectors and countries to build a global network, beyond cultures, languages, and economic status. We hope that our proposed framework and the examples from Japan can serve as a starting point for further discussions and collaborations among stakeholders across multiple sectors of society. It is time to take the next step in detecting changes in socio-ecological systems, and if monitoring and observation can be made more equitable and feasible, they will play an even more important role in ensuring global sustainability for future generations. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Detecting and attributing the causes of biodiversity change: needs, gaps and solutions’.

We have reported here the case of a 54-year-old woman with intracranial hypertension that presented with the unique features of unilateral papilledema and peripapillary polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Our investigations lead to the diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension and an incidental small right frontal meningioma. The patient was accordingly treated with oral acetazolamide, followed by three consecutive monthly intravitreal injections of bevacizumab, which resulted in the inactivation of the polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, marked reduction of lipid exudation, and complete absorption of the subretinal fluid. This case serves as the first documentation of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy associated with papilledema. It also demonstrates that choroidal vascular abnormalities may occur even when optic disk edema is unilateral, which is an uncommon manifestation of increased intracranial pressure. Prompt recognition of such findings and its appropriate management are essential for adequate treatment and prevention of irreversible visual loss.

The human prolactin antagonist Δ1-11-G129R-hPRL is a 21.9 kDa recombinant protein with 188 amino acids that downregulates the proliferation of a variety of cells expressing prolactin receptors. Periplasmic expression of recombinant proteins in E. coli has been considered an option for obtaining a soluble and correctly folded protein, as an alternative to cytoplasmic production. The aim of this work was, therefore, to synthesize for the first time, the Δ1-11-G129R-hPRL antagonist, testing different activation temperatures and purifying it by classical chromatographic techniques. E. coli BL21(DE3) strain was transformed with a plasmid based on the pET25b(+) vector, DsbA signal sequence and the antagonist cDNA sequence. Different doses of IPTG were added, activating under different temperatures, and extracting the periplasmic fluid via osmotic shock. The best conditions were achieved by activating at 35 °C for 5 h using 0.4 mM IPTG, which gave a specific expression of 0.157±0.015 μg/mL/A600 at a final optical density of 3.43±0.13 A600. Purification was carried out by nickel-affinity chromatography followed by size-exclusion chromatography, quantification being performed via high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). The prolactin antagonist was characterized by SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and MALDI-TOF-MS. The final product presented >95% purity and its antagonistic effects were evaluated in vitro in view of potential clinical applications, including inhibition of the proliferation of cancer cells overexpressing the prolactin receptor and specific antidiabetic properties, taking also advantage of the fact that this antagonist was obtained in a soluble and correctly folded form and without an initial methionine.

International audience; Investigating the potential benefits of the use of magnetic fields in inertial confinement fusion experiments has given rise to experimental platforms like the Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion approach at the Z-machine (Sandia National Laboratories) or its laser-driven equivalent at OMEGA (Laboratory for Laser Energetics). Implementing these platforms at MegaJoule-scale laser facilities, such as the Laser MegaJoule (LMJ) or the National Ignition Facility (NIF), is crucial to reaching self-sustained nuclear fusion and enlarges the level of magnetization that can be achieved through a higher compression. In this paper, we present a complete design of an experimental platform for magnetized implosions using cylindrical targets at LMJ. A seed magnetic field is generated along the axis of the cylinder using laser-driven coil targets, minimizing debris and increasing diagnostic access compared with pulsed power field generators. We present a comprehensive simulation study of the initial B field generated with these coil targets, as well as two-dimensional extended magnetohydrodynamics simulations showing that a 5 T initial B field is compressed up to 25 kT during the implosion. Under these circumstances, the electrons become magnetized, which severely modifies the plasma conditions at stagnation. In particular, in the hot spot the electron temperature is increased (from 1 keV to 5 keV) while the density is reduced (from 40g/cm3 to 7g/cm3). We discuss how these changes can be diagnosed using x-ray imaging and spectroscopy, and particle diagnostics. We propose the simultaneous use of two dopants in the fuel (Ar and Kr) to act as spectroscopic tracers. We show that this introduces an effective spatial resolution in the plasma which permits an unambiguous observation of the B-field effects. Additionally, we present a plan for future experiments of this kind at LMJ.

Magnetization of inertial confinement implosions is a promising means of improving their performance, owing to the potential reduction of energy losses within the target and mitigation of hydrodynamic instabilities. In particular, cylindrical implosions are useful for studying the influence of a magnetic field, thanks to their axial symmetry. Here, we present experimental results from cylindrical implosions on the OMEGA-60 laser using a 40-beam, 14.5 kJ, 1.5 ns drive and an initial seed magnetic field of B0 = 30 T along the axes of the targets, compared with reference results without an imposed B-field. Implosions were characterized using time-resolved x-ray imaging from two orthogonal lines of sight. We found that the data agree well with magnetohydrodynamic simulations, once radiation transport within the imploding plasma is considered. We show that for a correct interpretation of the data in these types of experiments, explicit radiation transport must be taken into account.

We present results from pulsed-power driven differentially rotating plasma experiments designed to simulate physics relevant to astrophysical disks and jets. In these experiments, angular momentum is injected by the ram pressure of the ablation flows from a wire array Z pinch. In contrast to previous liquid metal and plasma experiments, rotation is not driven by boundary forces. Axial pressure gradients launch a rotating plasma jet upwards, which is confined by a combination of ram, thermal, and magnetic pressure of a surrounding plasma halo. The jet has subsonic rotation, with a maximum rotation velocity $23 \pm 3$ km/s. The rotational velocity profile is quasi-Keplerian with a positive Rayleigh discriminant $\kappa^2 \propto r^{-2.8\pm0.8}$ rad$^2$/s$^2$. The plasma completes $0.5 - 2$ full rotations in the experimental time frame ($\sim 150$ ns)., Comment: 4 figures

AIMS: To compare the circumpapillary and macular vessel density (cpVD/mVD) of eyes with temporal visual field (VF) defect and band atrophy (BA) of the optic nerve and normal controls using OCTA and to verify the association of VD parameters with circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (cpRNFL) thickness, macular ganglion cell complex (mGCC) thickness and VF loss. METHODS: Thirty-three eyes of 26 patients with BA and 42 eyes of 22 age-matched normal controls underwent OCT + OCTA scanning. cpVD and cpRNFL were expressed as average and sector measurements. mVD and mGCC were calculated as averages and in quadrants and hemiretinas. VF loss was estimated using the 24-2 and the 10-2 protocols. Generalized estimated equation models were used for comparisons and area under the receiver operating characteristics (AROC) were calculated. RESULTS: Compared with controls, BA eyes displayed smaller average cpVD and mVD values (p

Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland with innumerable functions, such as lactation, reproduction, osmotic and immune regulation. The present work describes the synthesis of hPRL in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells, transiently transfected with the pcDNA-3.4-TOPO® vector carrying the hPRL cDNA. A concentration of ~ 20 mg/L, including glycosylated (G-hPRL) and non-glycosylated (NG-hPRL) human prolactin, was obtained, with ~ 19% of G-hPRL, which is higher than that observed in CHO-derived hPRL (~ 10%) and falling within the wide range of 5–30% reported for pituitary-derived hPRL. N-Glycoprofiling analysis of G-hPRL provided: (i) identification of each N-glycan structure and relative intensity; (ii) average N-glycan mass; (iii) molecular mass of the whole glycoprotein and relative carbohydrate mass fraction; (iv) mass fraction of each monosaccharide. The data obtained were compared to pituitary- and CHO-derived G-hPRL. The whole MM of HEK-derived G-hPRL, determined via MALDI–TOF-MS, was 25,123 Da, which is 0.88% higher than pit- and 0.61% higher than CHO-derived G-hPRL. The main difference with the latter was due to sialylation, which was ~ sevenfold lower, but slightly higher than that observed in native G-hPRL. The “in vitro” bioactivity of HEK-G-hPRL was ~ fourfold lower than that of native G-hPRL, with which it had in common also the number of N-glycan structures.

The elements Br, Ca, Cl, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, Rb, S, and Zn were investigated in the whole blood samples of Golden Retriever dogs submitted to cell therapy (hASCs). These analyses were performed over 2 years using Neutron Activation Analysis and X-Ray Fluorescence techniques. The results were compared with control and untreated dog's. A significant increase was observed in K blood levels. There was also variation in blood levels of Br, Cr, Fe, Rb, S, and Zn.

Restoring forests has recently received considerable attention in the context of sequestering carbon and supporting biodiversity. Although considering alien species as a tool for natural forest restoration still remains controversial, harnessing alien species when they are already present in an ecosystem might result in overall benefits for nature and society. In this study we evaluated whether the presence of an alien tree species supports or hinders the establishment of naturally regenerating forests in Shiretoko National Park, Japan. In particular, we focused on Larix kaempferi, which is widely present yet non-native to the region, and examined how this alien species affects two factors influencing the success of restoration: wind disturbance and deer herbivory. We examined the following effects of L. kaempferi plantations on natural regeneration: (1) the windbreak function for protecting native tree growth and (2) the nursery function to promote the regeneration of native tree saplings and seedlings under high herbivory pressure. We assessed tree height and regeneration, using large-scale remotely sensed data and terrestrial inventory data in five major vegetation types. We found that L. kaempferi plantations can protect native species from predominant winds. Additionally, L. kaempferi canopy cover promoted abundance and species richness in understory saplings and seedlings compared to other vegetation types such as primary and secondary forests, even under excessive browsing pressure. No regenerating L. kaempferi individuals were observed during the field census, suggesting the species is likely not invasive in our study system. The positive relationship between alien tree species and the regeneration of native tree assemblages emphasizes that existing alien species have the potential to act as nurse plants. Our findings imply that the presence of alien species can contribute to natural forest restoration by improving the local environmental conditions for native species in the short-term. Given the multiple ecological and social needs in our changing world, careful consideration is required to evaluate the long-term consequences of alien species. Especially in ecosystems in which alien species have already established, using their positive functions rather than swiftly eradicating them from the landscape might be beneficial for long-term restoration goals. We conclude that managers need to be aware of the context-dependency of alien species to make restoration more effective.

Among the most notable emerging hybrid technologies for water treatment are those that combine reverse osmosis (RO) membrane systems with alternative energy sources such as solar photovoltaic (PV). Solar PV modules can enable systems disconnected from the electricity grid, and in some locations can also be used for water heating as photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) units, a process in which water removes heat from the PV module, increasing its electrical generation efficiency. When combined with RO, the higher temperature feed water can increase RO permeate flux, improving recovery but decreasing the rejection of dissolved salts. Although the decrease in efficiency of PV modules at higher temperatures is a well-known issue, this is usually under conditions of uniform temperature. However, the temperature distribution in water-cooled PV modules is usually not uniform and, given the anisotropy of the distribution and electrical connection of the PV cells in the module, this factor has not been the focus of much study. In this context, a PVT unit that focuses on increasing the output water temperature with a high global heat transfer coefficient will not necessarily be the most electrically efficient system. This study experimentally assesses several proposed heat-exchange configurations for PVT systems where the PV modules are cooled by forced convective water flow. A simulation model of PVT performance is then validated and used to predict the productivity of the PVT-RO coupling, both in terms of electrical generation and permeate flux of the hybrid system under different conditions. The results suggest that water-cooled PV modules have several potential applications for off-grid and remote water treatment, as well as water transportation systems.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-12T01:15:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-12-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Commercially available preparations of methionyl-human BMP-2 and CHO-derived hBMP-2, which belongs to the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily, were used for a complete characterization. This protein is an extremely efficient osteoinductor that plays an important role during bone regeneration and embryonic development. Characterization was carried out via SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, followed by reversed-phase HPLC, size-exclusion HPLC and MALDI-TOF-MS. The classical in vitro bioassay, based on the induction of alkaline phosphatase activity in C2C12 cells, confirmed that hBMP-2 biological activity is mostly related to the dimeric form, being ~ 4-fold higher for the CHO-derived glycosylated form when compared with the E. coli counterpart. The E. coli-derived met-hBMP-2 has shown, by MALDI-TOF-MS, a large presence of the bioactive dimer. A more complex molecular mass (MM) distribution was found for the CHO-derived product, whose exact MM has never been reported because of its variable glycosylation. A method based on RP-HPLC was set up, allowing a quantitative and qualitative hBMP-2 determination even directly on ongoing culture media. Considering that hBMP-2 is highly unstable, presenting moreover an extremely high aggregate value, we believe that these data pave the way to a necessary characterization of this important factor when synthesized by DNA recombinant techniques in different types of hosts. Biotechnology Center Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares IPEN-CNEN/SP, Avenida Prof. Lineu Prestes 2242, Cidade Universitária Biosintesis P&D Department of Surgery and Integrated Clinic-Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho-UNESP School of Dentistry Immunopathology Laboratory Instituto Butantan Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology Institute of Biology Universidade Estadual de Campinas-UNICAMP Department of Surgery and Integrated Clinic-Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho-UNESP School of Dentistry FAPESP: 2015/15446-0 FAPESP: 2016/24724-6

BackgroundSjogren’s syndrome (SS) is known to coexist with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the prevalence of RA with SS varies widely, from 2.4% to 30%, and some patients with RA without SS also show dryness. The prevalence and clinical demographics of dryness in patients with RA are not well recognized.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to clarify the prevalence, clinical demographics, and related factors of dryness in patients with RA who have not been diagnosed with (SS).MethodsWe enrolled 166 patients with RA (129 females, 37 males; mean age 65.8±14.3 years; disease duration 14.1±10.9 years; DAS28-CRP 2.30±0.92) who were not diagnosed with SS. We analyzed CRP, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), RF, anti-CCP antibody, antinuclear antibody, anti-SS-A antibody (SSA), and disease activity score (DAS) 28-CRP, and identified treatments for RA. We used each question item of the EULAR SS Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI) to clarify dryness, somatic and mental fatigue, and pain. History of smoking, comorbidities, such as interstitial pneumonia, fibromyalgia, and psychiatric disorders, and narcotic and/or psychotropic medication use were determined from the medical records. We defined patients with dryness as greater than or equal to one point, and those with severe dryness as greater than or equal to five points, of the visual analog scale (VAS).ResultsDryness was observed in 93/166 (56.0%) patients and severe dryness was identified in 57/166 (34.4%) patients, and SSA was positive in 23/139 patients(13.9%). We divided our patients into dryness and non-dryness groups and compared their clinical demographics. The dryness group was relatively younger (64.0±14.5 vs. 68.1±13.8 years, p=0.052), had a female predominance (89.2% vs. 63.0%, pConclusionMore than half of the patients with RA had dryness, although only 13.9% of patients were SSA positive. Dryness was related to female predominance and fatigue. Simon et al. reported that SS was found in 2.42% of patients with RA (1). On the other hand, Harrold et al. reported that SS was found in 30% of patients with RA, and the prevalence of SS increased with duration of RA (2). Our data indicate that patients with fatigue, regardless of pain, tend to have dryness, which may be a key factor in diagnosing SS in patients with RA.References[1]Simon TA, Kawabata H, Ray N, et.al. Prevalence of Co-existing Autoimmune Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study. Adv Ther. 2017 Nov;34(11):2481-2490.[2]Harrold LR, Shan Y, Rebello S, et al. Prevalence of Sjögren’s syndrome associated with rheumatoid arthritis in the USA: an observational study from the Corrona registry. Clin Rheumatol. 2020 Jun;39(6):1899-1905.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared

Previous studies have shown that bromocriptine mesylate (Bromo) lowers blood glucose levels in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus; however, the mechanism of action of the antidiabetic effects of Bromo is unclear. As a dopamine receptor agonist, Bromo can alter brain dopamine activity affecting glucose control, but it also suppresses prolactin (Prl) secretion, and Prl levels modulate glucose homeostasis. Thus, the objective of the current study was to investigate whether Bromo improves insulin sensitivity via inhibition of Prl secretion. Male and female ob/ob animals (a mouse model of obesity and insulin resistance) were treated with Bromo and/or Prl. Bromo-treated ob/ob mice exhibited lower serum Prl concentration, improved glucose and insulin tolerance, and increased insulin sensitivity in the liver and skeletal muscle compared with vehicle-treated mice. Prl replacement in Bromo-treated mice normalized serum Prl concentration without inducing hyperprolactinemia. Importantly, Prl replacement partially reversed the improvements in glucose homeostasis caused by Bromo treatment. The effects of the Prl receptor antagonist G129R-hPrl on glucose homeostasis were also investigated. We found that central G129R-hPrl infusion increased insulin tolerance of male ob/ob mice. In summary, our findings indicate that part of Bromo effects on glucose homeostasis are associated with decrease in serum Prl levels. Because G129R-hPrl treatment also improved the insulin sensitivity of ob/ob mice, pharmacological compounds that inhibit Prl signaling may represent a promising therapeutic approach to control blood glucose levels in individuals with insulin resistance.

Natural enemies of agricultural pests, such as parasitoids and predators, often use chemical and visual cues in search of their hosts and prey, and they can learn the association between the cues and the host and prey presence. The braconid, egg-larval endoparasitoid wasp Ascogaster reticulata is a promising biological control agent for tortricid pests, such as Adoxophyes honmai, in tea plantations. Although previous studies revealed that A. reticulata uses contact chemicals released by tea plants in response to tortricid egg oviposition and that it can learn the associated cues, the diurnal wasp is also expected to use visual cues, especially color. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the innate color preference and associative color learning ability of A. reticulata. When a green paper and a paper of a different color (black, blue, red or yellow) was offered together to naive females of the wasp, the females spent less time on a black and blue papers. However, wasps trained to associate black or blue with the presence of a host egg-mass showed increased preference for these colors, whereas red- and yellow-trained wasps did not show changes in preference. Our findings indicate that A. reticulata uses colors, in addition to chemical cues, in host searching behavior and has the ability to learn colors associated with host presence.

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) has been used to analyze Interferon α-2 (IFN-α2) as a pure protein or as a pharmaceutical preparation: a method for analyzing periplasmic IFN-α2 directly in osmotic shock extract has, however, never been reported. This work describes an RP-HPLC methodology for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of human IFN-α2a and IFN-α2b directly in bacterial periplasmic extracts or in purified preparations. The analytical method has been set up and validated for accuracy, precision, linearity, sensitivity and specificity. A recovery test indicated an average bias of ∼1%, intra-day and inter-day quantitative determinations presented relative standard deviations always≤5%, while the working sensitivity was of ∼0.3μg of IFN-α2 (RSD=5%). The method proved to be suitable for detecting and quantifying also glycosylated and oxidized forms and N-methionylated IFN-α2 molecules, it was, however, not able to distinguish between IFN-α2a and IFN-α2b. This rapid methodology allows the application of RP-HPLC as a powerful tool to monitor the production yield and quality of IFN-α2 in osmotic shock fluids, right after, or even during the fermentation process.

The aim of the present work was to define a bacterial expression system that is particularly efficient for the synthesis of recombinant human prolactin (hPRL). In previous work, based on experiments that were basically carried out in parallel with the present ones, the synthesis of rec-hPRL by the p1813-hPRL vector in E. coli HB2151 was >500 mg/L, while it was much lower here (2.5–4-fold), in the RB791 and RRI strains. The highest positive influence on rec-hPRL synthesis was due to the transcription-replication co-orientation of hPRL cDNA and the ori /antibiotic resistance gene, responsible for up to a ~ 5–6-fold higher expression yield. In conclusion, this work confirmed that each bacterial strain of E. coli has a genetic background that can allow a different level of heterologous protein synthesis . The individual study of each element indicated that its action critically depends on the reading orientation in which it is located inside the vector: co-directional orientation of replication and transcription, in fact, greatly increased the level of rec-hPRL expression.

1. Habitat loss and fragmentation potentially affect the performance of bees that forage nectar and pollen of plants in their habitats. In forest landscapes, silvicultural conifer plantations often have reduced and fragmented natural broadleaf forests, which seem to provide more floral resources for bees than do the plantations. 2. This study evaluated the effects of forest characteristics (i.e. elevation, area, edge length, and tree size of natural forests) on pollen diets (plant taxa assemblages of pollen grains in provisions) and total provision mass in oviposited chambers in nests made by a standardised number of Osmia cornifrons bees at 14 sites in a forestry area in central Japan. 3. From April to May, the numbers of nests and chambers per nest increased, and the provision mass per chamber decreased. Main pollen sources were Prunus at higher elevations in April and Wisteria at lower elevations in May, foraging on which increased the numbers of nests and chambers per nest. The provision mass per chamber was smaller at higher elevations in more fragmented natural forests. Decreases in the area of natural forests within the foraging range (400‐m radii) of O. cornifrons increased the utilisation of Rubus pollen and decreased the total provision mass. 4. These findings suggest that the loss and fragmentation of natural broadleaf forests change pollen diets and reduce the provision mass of mason bees, which may reduce the number and size of their offspring.

The human growth hormone receptor antagonist G120R-hGH precludes dimerization of GH and prolactin receptors and consequently JAK/STAT signaling. Some modifications in this antagonist resulted in a drug specific for the GH receptor, called Pegvisomant (Somavert®). However, the original G120R-hGH is usually synthesized in bacterial cytoplasm as inclusion bodies, not being a commercial product. The present work describes the synthesis and characterization of G120R-hGH secreted into bacterial periplasm and obtained with a vector based on a constitutive lambda-PL promoter. This antagonist can be useful for studies aiming at investigating the effects of a simultaneous inhibition of GH and prolactin signaling, as a potential anti-tumoral or anti-diabetic compound. G120R-hGH, synthesized using the W3110 E. coli strain, showed a yield of 1.34 ± 0.24 μg/ml/A600 (∼0.79 mg G120R-hGH/g of wet weight cells) after cultivation at 30 °C up to 3 A600 units and induction at 37 °C, for 6 h, with final 4.3 ± 0.3 A600. A laboratory scale purification was carried out using three chromatographic steps with a total yield of 32%, reaching 98% purity. The obtained protein was characterized by SDS-PAGE, Western Blotting, Mass spectrometry, RP-HPLC, HPSEC and in vitro proliferation bioassay. The proliferation assay, based on Ba/F3-LLP cells, shows that G120R-hGH (100 ng/ml) significantly inhibited (64%) the proliferative action of hGH (1 ng/ml). This is the first time that G120R-hGH is synthesized in bacterial periplasmic space and therefore correctly folded, without the initial methionine. The reasons for a divergent efficacy for antagonizing hGH versus hPRL is currently unknown and deserves further investigation.

The changes in fungicide resistance frequency and population structure of the rice blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae were monitored after the discontinuance of melanin biosynthesis inhibitor targeting scytalone dehydratase (MBI-D) fungicides use in Saga Prefecture, Japan. After discontinuance in 2003, the frequency of resistant isolates decreased from 71.8% in 2002 to 25% in 2003, and became undetectable in 2007. The initial marked decrease was due to a decline of isolates possessing the predominant haplotype, although the haplotypic diversity among resistant isolates remained high from 2003 to 2005. These results revealed that resistant isolates were less fit in comparison with sensitive isolates in the absence of MBI-D fungicide pressure under field conditions. Pairwise FST values indicated that the change in population structure after MBI-D discontinuance was explainable by a rapid change in the proportions of resistant and sensitive subpopulations. Depending upon the existence of fitness cost and rapid changes in population structure, it may be possible to reintroduce MBI-D fungicides in areas where resistance has already developed, although we speculate that fitness cost related to MBI-D resistance may be small based on our present results and previous findings.

Some flowering plants signal the abundance of their rewards by changing their flower colour, scent or other floral traits as rewards are depleted. These floral trait changes can be regarded as honest signals of reward states for pollinators. Previous studies have hypothesized that these signals are used to maintain plant-level attractiveness to pollinators, but the evolutionary conditions leading to the development of honest signals have not been well investigated from a theoretical basis. We examined conditions leading to the evolution of honest reward signals in flowers by applying a theoretical model that included pollinator response and signal accuracy. We assumed that pollinators learn floral traits and plant locations in association with reward states and use this information to decide which flowers to visit. While manipulating the level of associative learning, we investigated optimal flower longevity, the proportion of reward and rewardless flowers, and honest- and dishonest-signalling strategies. We found that honest signals are evolutionarily stable only when flowers are visited by pollinators with both high and low learning abilities. These findings imply that behavioural variation in learning within a pollinator community can lead to the evolution of an honest signal even when there is no contribution of rewardless flowers to pollinator attractiveness.

Iron has an important role in blood as an indicator of a great number of anomalies. Anemia due to iron-deficiency in the world is a public health problem in all ages and socioeconomic levels. Nowadays, Brazil’s pharmaceutical companies are testing iron compounds to reduce the costs of those new drugs. In this study, Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Technique was applied to determine Fe concentrations in blood samples of different mice strains using a Portable XRF Spectrometer. These data may help researchers choose the convenient mice strain that best meets its medical investigation, reducing costs and optimizing their researches.

Infrared confocal scanning laser photography of a patient with long-standing optic tract lesion revealed a homonymous hemianopic hyporeflective image contralateral to the visual field defect. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography showed thinning of the retinal nerve fiber and retinal ganglion cell layer and thickening of the inner nuclear layer (with microcystic degeneration) in the macular area, matching the infrared image. Hyporeflective image on infrared laser photography is associated with retinal degeneration secondary to anterior visual pathway disease and, when located in homonymous hemianopic retinas, may represent a new sign of an optic tract lesion.

The optimization of DOTA-NHS-ester conjugation to Rituximab using different Ab:DOTA molar ratios (1:10, 1:20, 1:50 and 1:100) was studied. High radiochemical yield, in vitro stability and immunoreactive fraction were obtained for the Rituximab conjugated at 1:50 molar ratio, resulting in the incorporation of an average number of 4.9 ± 1.1 DOTA per Rituximab molecule. Labeling with 177Lu was performed in high specific activity with great in vitro stability. Biodistribution in healthy and xenographed mice showed tumor uptake and high in vivo stability as evidenced by low uptake in bone. The properties of 177Lu-DOTA-Rituximab prepared from DOTA-NHS-ester suggest the potential for the application of the 177Lu-labeled antibody in preliminary clinical studies.

Investigation in blood of specific elements concentration are an important step in the development of new treatments. Recently, studies with human adipose derived from stromal cells injected systemic (medication that affects the entire body) into a golden retriever muscular dystrophy dogs shown to be able to express improvements in skeletal muscle. To check the alterations that this cell therapy may cause in the dogs, elements concentration in blood of treated dogs were investigated using NAA. These results were compared with the control and affected (untreated) dogs groups showing an improvement in Ca and Fe blood levels in treated dogs.

Human prolactin (hPRL) is a polypeptide hormone occurring in the non-glycosylated (NG-hPRL) and glycosylated (G-hPRL) forms, with MM of approximately 23 and 25 kDa, respectively. It has a single, partially occupied N-glycosylation site located at Asn-31, which makes it a particularly simple and interesting model for glycosylation studies. The bioactivity of G-hPRL is lower than that of NG-hPRL (by ca. 4-fold) and its physiological function is not clear. However, carbohydrate moieties generally play important roles in the biosynthesis, secretion, biological activity, and plasma survival of glycohormones and can vary depending on the host cell. The main objective of this study was to determine the N-glycan structures present in native, pituitary G-hPRL and compare them with those present in the recombinant hormone. To obtain recombinant G-hPRL, genetically modified Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO), adapted to growth in suspension, were treated with cycloheximide, thus increasing the glycosylation site occupancy from 5.5% to 38.3%, thereby facilitating G-hPRL purification. CHO cell-derived G-hPRL (CHO-G-hPRL) was compared to pituitary G-hPRL (pit-G-hPRL) especially with regard to N-glycoprofiling. Among the main differences found in the pituitary sample were an extremely low presence of sialylated (1.7%) and a high percentage of sulfated (74.0%) and of fucosylated (90.5%) glycans. A ∼6-fold lower in vitro bioactivity and a higher clearance rate in mice were also found for pit-G-hPRL versus CHO-G-hPRL. N-Glycan profiling proved to be a useful and accurate methodology also for MM and carbohydrate content determination for the two G-hPRL preparations, in good agreement with the values obtained directly via MALDI-TOF-MS.

Summary Plant species sometimes exhibit dynamic contrasting patterns in terms of reproductive traits. Floral colour change – the retention of old, non-productive, rewardless, but fully turgid flowers in an altered colour – has been considered as a plant strategy for enhancing pollinator attraction while minimizing visits to non-reproductive flowers. Considering the perceptive and cognitive abilities of animals, these advantages should apply in most systems. It seems paradoxical, and therefore, that floral colour change occurs in only a portion of angiosperms. This divergence may be explained if floral colour change adds as yet unknown costs or benefits under specific conditions. To explore such possibilities, we compared details of trait combinations and pollination consequences between a floral colour-changing (Weigela coraeensis) and a non-colour-changing (Weigela hortensis) species in a shared environment. Flowers of W. coraeensis secreted nectar for initial 2–3 days and remained white, after which they persisted for a few more days with discoloured, red purple petals and reduced nectar levels. Flowers of W. hortensis also secreted nectar for initial 2–3 days. They persisted for a few more days with the same colour and reduced amounts of nectar, but did so only when pollinators were scarce. Because only W. hortensis suffered from pollination difficulty at our site, both species retained their flowers for 4–5 days. Bees strongly preferred to visit W. coraeensis, leading to a greater proportion of seed set than in W. hortensis. In addition to their higher nectar productivity, only W. coraeensis plants offered bees colour difference as a visual cue to choose rewarding flowers and improve both long-term and short-term rates of nectar intake. By learning where to return, bees apparently responded to the difference in resource exploitability. Results indicate that floral colour change yields an additional benefit of attracting bee-like pollinators that return preferentially to more easily exploitable plants. Under conditions where benefits of enhancing both conspicuousness and exploitability cannot outweigh the costs of doing so, however, retention of rewardless flowers in the same colour and flexibility in floral longevity – as was adopted in W. hortensis – may become more advantageous in terms of saving metabolic and ecological costs.