Comprehensive textbook on functional programming

Functional programming / Anthony J. Field, Peter G. Harrison. - Wokingham : Addison-Wesley, 198

Reply to Comment on "Reevaluation of the parton distribution of strange quarks in the nucleon"

A Comment on the recently published reevaluation of the polarization-averaged parton distribution of strange quarks in the nucleon using final data on the multiplicities of charged kaons in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering is reviewed. Important features of the comparison of one-dimensional projections of the multidimensional HERMES data are pointed out. A test of the leading-order extraction of xS(x) using the difference between charged-kaon multiplicities is repeated. The results are consistent with leading-order predictions within the uncertainties in the input data, and do not invalidate the earlier extraction of xS(x).Comment: Reply Comment to arXiv:1407.372

A new Hebrew word in Ben Sira 40:4 (Ms B IX verso, line 12 = Or. 1102): סיגה

In the Hebrew text of the Wisdom of Ben Sira (Ms B IX verso, line 12 = Or. 1102), the final word of 40:4 has been misread in past editions and commentaries. New digital photographs and first-hand observation reveal that the word in question is סיגה 'flax, linen', a word previously unattested in Hebrew

Ramsar Policy Brief No. 5. Restoring drained peatlands: A necessary step to achieve global climate goals

Peatlands cover about 400 million hectares (ha), or 3% of the land surface of our planet. Yet they store more carbon, more effectively and for longer periods, than any other ecosystem on land. Intact peatlands also provide essential ecosystem services such as regulating water cycles, purifying water, and supporting a wealth of biodiversity. Since peat is hidden below ground, it is often unrecognised and can be damaged unknowingly. New, large peatland areas are still being discovered including forest-covered peatlands in the tropics. Around 50 million ha of peatlands globally are currently drained and have been transformed to grazing land, forestry land and cropland, used for peat extraction or impacted by infrastructure. These drained peatlands are responsible for approximately 4% (2 Gt CO2 -eq/year) of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Achieving the climate goals of the Paris Agreement requires protection of all remaining intact peatland and rapid restoration of almost all drained peatlands. This will also contribute to delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 6, Target 6.6, on protecting and restoring water related ecosystems and SDG 15, Targets 15.1, on conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, as well as 15.5 on reducing degradation of natural habitats. The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 provides the opportunity to rapidly scale up efforts

Functional consequences of sphingomyelinase-induced changes in erythrocyte membrane structure.

Inflammation enhances the secretion of sphingomyelinases (SMases). SMases catalyze the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin into phosphocholine and ceramide. In erythrocytes, ceramide formation leads to exposure of the removal signal phosphatidylserine (PS), creating a potential link between SMase activity and anemia of inflammation. Therefore, we studied the effects of SMase on various pathophysiologically relevant parameters of erythrocyte homeostasis. Time-lapse confocal microscopy revealed a SMase-induced transition from the discoid to a spherical shape, followed by PS exposure, and finally loss of cytoplasmic content. Also, SMase treatment resulted in ceramide-associated alterations in membrane-cytoskeleton interactions and membrane organization, including microdomain formation. Furthermore, we observed increases in membrane fragility, vesiculation and invagination, and large protein clusters. These changes were associated with enhanced erythrocyte retention in a spleen-mimicking model. Erythrocyte storage under blood bank conditions and during physiological aging increased the sensitivity to SMase. A low SMase activity already induced morphological and structural changes, demonstrating the potential of SMase to disturb erythrocyte homeostasis. Our analyses provide a comprehensive picture in which ceramide-induced changes in membrane microdomain organization disrupt the membrane-cytoskeleton interaction and membrane integrity, leading to vesiculation, reduced deformability, and finally loss of erythrocyte content. Understanding these processes is highly relevant for understanding anemia during chronic inflammation, especially in critically ill patients receiving blood transfusions

Salmonella Typhimurium Induces Immune Paralysis in Human Peripheral Monocytes

LPS tolerance, a well-described phenomenon, is characterized by immune paralysis. Recent studies suggest that this paralysis occurs due to metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic changes in immune cells after an initial stimulus, leading to anergy and an inability to respond to subsequent stimuli. This process is a form of innate immune memory. This study aimed to investigate whether Salmonella Typhimurium can induce changes in innate immune cells, specifically exploring its capacity to elicit either trained immunity or tolerance. Using an in vivo protocol for trained immunity, human adherent monocytes were isolated from multiple donors and stimulated with live and heat-killed strains of Salmonella Typhimurium. Following a wash and a six-day resting period, the monocytes were re-stimulated with LPS and Pam3Cys. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured from supernatants at various time points. Additionally, lactate production, a key metabolite in these processes, was assessed. The findings indicate that Salmonella Typhimurium induces tolerance in human adherent monocytes, as evidenced by a lack of response to the second stimuli. This non-responsiveness is physiologically significant, as it may prevent tissue damage during sepsis by curbing excessive inflammatory signals. These findings may have significant implications for the management of sepsis and other conditions characterized by dysregulated immune responses.Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovació