Validity of Gotland Male Depression Scale for male depression in a community study: The Sudurnesjamenn study

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink at the bottom of the pageBackground: Several studies suggest a "male depressive syndrome", where not only the standard symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) but also symptoms of anxiety, anger, irritability and antisocial behaviour are prominent. Method: In a community study, 534 males were screened for possible depression by the Gotland Male Depression Scale (GMDS) and Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI). For comparison psychiatrists examined a sub-sample of healthy and depressive males (n=137). The validity of the GMDS was compared both with the BDl and MDD diagnosis according to DSM4V. Results: GMDS was as good as BDl for screening males. ROC-curve analysis gave AUC 0.945 (95% Cl 0.923-0.968) for GMDS when tested against BM. Second, when both scales were tested by ROC-curves against DSM4V, the GMDS had AUC=0.861 (95% Cl 0.800-0.921) and BDl had AUC=0.822 (95% CI 0751-0.893). The estimated prevalence was 14-15%. Limitations: Low participation rare (25%) in the screening phase. Conclusion: GMDS is a valid screening tool for detecting male depression (MDD). Furthermore it is a short self-rating scale, easy to use in daily practice to screen for depression. Our results support recent reports of high prevalence of depressions in the community which supports active screening of males in clinical practiceLandakot Medical Foundation Icelandic College of Family Physicians Memorial Foundation of Helga Jonsdottir and Sigurlidi Kristjansson (Medical Division

Carved tree under the verandah of the school in Eugowra, New South Wales, 2001, 2 [picture] /

Title devised by cataloguer based on inscription.; On panel: Preserved for posterity, carved tree in Eugowra, New South Wales, 2001.; Part of the collection: Cage of ghosts, 1994-2006.; Inscriptions: "Preserved for Posterity, Wiradjuri, Eugowra, NSW, 2001, Carved tree"--Exhibition caption.; Also available in electronic version via the Internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn4267048-s2; Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Jon Rhodes, 2007.; Exhibited: Cage of Ghosts, National Library of Australia, Canberra, 27 September to 25 November 2007

Modification of linear (β1→3)-linked gluco-oligosaccharides with a novel recombinant β-glucosyltransferase (trans-β-glucosidase) enzyme from Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens

Recently, we have shown that glycoside hydrolases enzymes of family GH17 from proteobacteria (genera Pseudomonas, Azotobacter) catalyze elongation transfer reactions with laminari-oligosaccharides generating (β1→3) linkages preferably and to a lesser extent (β1→6) or (β1→4) linkages. In the present study, the cloning and characterization of the gene encoding the structurally very similar GH17 domain of the NdvB enzyme from Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, designated Glt20, as well as its catalytic properties are described. The Glt20 enzyme was strikingly different from the previously investigated bacterial GH17 enzymes, both regarding substrate specificity and product formation. The Azotobacter and Pseudomonas enzymes cleaved the donor laminari-oligosaccharide substrates three or four moieties from the non-reducing end, generating linear oligosaccharides. In contrast, the Glt20 enzyme cleaved donor laminari-oligosaccharide substrates two glucose moieties from the reducing end, releasing laminaribiose and transferring the remainder to laminari-oligosaccharide acceptor substrates creating only (β1→3)(β1→6) branching points. This enables Glt20 to transfer larger oligosaccharide chains than the other type of bacterial enzymes previously described, and helps explain the biologically significant formation of cyclic β-glucans in B. diazoefficiens

Going to extremes - a metagenomic journey into the dark matter of life

The Virus-X-Viral Metagenomics for Innovation Value-project was a scientific expedition to explore and exploit uncharted territory of genetic diversity in extreme natural environments such as geothermal hot springs and deep-sea ocean ecosystems. Specifically, the project was set to analyse and exploit viral metagenomes with the ultimate goal of developing new gene products with high innovation value for applications in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical, and the life science sectors. Viral gene pool analysis is also essential to obtain fundamental insight into ecosystem dynamics and to investigate how viruses influence the evolution of microbes and multicellular organisms. The Virus-X Consortium, established in 2016, included experts from eight European countries. The unique approach based on high throughput bioinformatics technologies combined with structural and functional studies resulted in the development of a biodiscovery pipeline of significant capacity and scale. The activities within the Virus-X consortium cover the entire range from bioprospecting and methods development in bioinformatics to protein production and characterisation, with the final goal of translating our results into new products for the bioeconomy. The significant impact the consortium made in all of these areas was possible due to the successful cooperation between expert teams that worked together to solve a complex scientific problem using state-of-the-art technologies as well as developing novel tools to explore the virosphere, widely considered as the last great frontier of life

Going to extremes - a metagenomic journey into the dark matter of life

Aevarsson A, Kaczorowska A-K, Adalsteinsson BT, et al. Going to extremes - a metagenomic journey into the dark matter of life. FEMS microbiology letters. 2021: fnab067.The Virus-X-Viral Metagenomics for Innovation Value-project was a scientific expedition to explore and exploit uncharted territory of genetic diversity in extreme natural environments such as geothermal hot springs and deep-sea ocean ecosystems. Specifically, the project was set to analyse and exploit viral metagenomes with the ultimate goal of developing new gene products with high innovation value for applications in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical, and the life science sectors. Viral gene pool analysis is also essential to obtain fundamental insight into ecosystem dynamics and to investigate how viruses influence the evolution of microbes and multicellular organisms. The Virus-X Consortium, established in 2016, included experts from eight European countries. The unique approach based on high throughput bioinformatics technologies combined with structural and functional studies resulted in the development of a biodiscovery pipeline of significant capacity and scale. The activities within the Virus-X consortium cover the entire range from bioprospecting and methods development in bioinformatics to protein production and characterisation, with the final goal of translating our results into new products for the bioeconomy. The significant impact the consortium made in all of these areas was possible due to the successful cooperation between expert teams that worked together to solve a complex scientific problem using state-of-the-art technologies as well as developing novel tools to explore the virosphere, widely considered as the last great frontier of life. © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of FEMS

Going to extremes - a metagenomic journey into the dark matter of life

Aevarsson A, Kaczorowska A-K, Adalsteinsson BT, et al. Going to extremes - a metagenomic journey into the dark matter of life. FEMS microbiology letters. 2021: fnab067.The Virus-X-Viral Metagenomics for Innovation Value-project was a scientific expedition to explore and exploit uncharted territory of genetic diversity in extreme natural environments such as geothermal hot springs and deep-sea ocean ecosystems. Specifically, the project was set to analyse and exploit viral metagenomes with the ultimate goal of developing new gene products with high innovation value for applications in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical, and the life science sectors. Viral gene pool analysis is also essential to obtain fundamental insight into ecosystem dynamics and to investigate how viruses influence the evolution of microbes and multicellular organisms. The Virus-X Consortium, established in 2016, included experts from eight European countries. The unique approach based on high throughput bioinformatics technologies combined with structural and functional studies resulted in the development of a biodiscovery pipeline of significant capacity and scale. The activities within the Virus-X consortium cover the entire range from bioprospecting and methods development in bioinformatics to protein production and characterisation, with the final goal of translating our results into new products for the bioeconomy. The significant impact the consortium made in all of these areas was possible due to the successful cooperation between expert teams that worked together to solve a complex scientific problem using state-of-the-art technologies as well as developing novel tools to explore the virosphere, widely considered as the last great frontier of life. © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of FEMS