Vannkvalitet og biologiske forhold i Øystre Slidre-vassdraget og Begna i 2000

Årsliste 2001Rapporten gir en beskrivelse av vannkvaliteten og forurensningsgraden av næringssalter i Øyangen, Heggefjorden og Strondafjorden samt Begna ved Bagn i 2000. Den oppsummerer også tidsutviklingen i vannkvaliteten fra 1980-tallet til 2000. Ut fra sesongmiddelverdiene av næringssalter og klorofyll-a kan Øyangen, Heggefjorden og Strondafjorden betegnes som næringsfattige (oligotrofe) innsjøer. Mengden og sammensetningen av alger var også karakteristisk for næringsfattige innsjøer. Vannkvaliteten var meget god i vekstsesongen. I vintersesongen var imidlertid vannmassene i deler av Øyangen markert forurenset av næringssalter, organisk stoff og tarmbakterier fra kloakkrenseanlegget som betjener Beitostølen-området. Et nytt renseanlegg med større kapasitet er for tiden under bygging, men også med det nye anlegget vil det stilles store krav til optimal drift for at ikke vannkvaliteten i Øyangen skal forringes. Heggefjorden har sannsynligvis blitt mer sårbar for tilførsler av næringssalter etter Lomen-reguleringen, men dette har hittil ikke ført til noen forringelse av vannkvaliteten. Krepsdyrplanktonet hadde en gunstig sammensetning med tanke på omsetning av produsert algebiomasse både i Øyangen og Heggefjorden. Siden 1991 har det skjedd en reduksjon i alge-mengdene i Strondafjorden, og det har ikke blitt observert markerte algeoppblomstringer i de senere årene. Middelkonsentrasjonene av fosfor og klorofyll i 2000 var de laveste som er registrert siden målingene startet. Vannkvaliteten var også meget god vurdert ut fra et hygienisk-bakteriologisk synspunkt i 2000. Resultatene fra overvåkingen i perioden 1984-93 viser imidlertid at små økninger i tilførslene av næringssalter i kombinasjon med pent og varmt vær lett kan føre til algeoppblomstringer og dermed problemer for brukerne av innsjøen. Vannvegetasjonen i Begna ved Bagn var artsrik og frodig, men undersøkelsen gav ikke indikasjoner på at den kraftige veksten var forårsaket av næringssaltforurensninger. Reguleringen av elva har ført til stabilsering av vannstanden, manglende islegging om vinteren og økt sedimentering av finmateriale. Dette er antagelig de viktigste årsakene til utviklingen av store bestander av vannvegetasjon i området. Situasjonen var lite endret siden 1985.Foreningen til Bægnavassdragets Regulering, kommunene Nord- Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Vestre Slidre, Øystre Slidre og Van

Metabolomic characterization of commercial, old, and red-fleshed apple varieties

In this study, a metabolomic investigation was presented to correlate single polyphenolic compounds in apple pulp with quality characteristics such as antioxidant activity and content of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins in apple skin. Since the concentration of these compounds is influenced by environmental factors, the twenty-two apple cultivars originate from the same site. The polyphenolic compounds were analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS). The antioxidant activity, phenolic content, and anthocyanins were evaluated on the sunny and the shady sides of apple skin by spectrometric assays. In old apple varieties, the measured parameters were higher than in the commercial and red-fleshed varieties. By contrast, the profile of flavan-3-ols and anthocyanins was variable amongst commercial and red-fleshed varieties. The partial least square (PLS) method was applied to investigate the association between the skin proprieties and the metabolic profile of the pulp. The highest coefficients of determination in prediction (Q2) were obtained for compounds quantified in old cultivars. These results provided information to define the old apple varieties as a reliable group based on the pathway of the antioxidant compounds and anthocyanins content. Our results show the possibility to find cultivars with promising health features based on their content of polyphenols suitable for commercialization or breedin

Solvent-dependent termination, size and stability in polyynes synthesis by laser ablation in liquids

In recent years there has been a growing interest in sp-carbon chains as possible novel nanostructures. An example of sp-carbon chains are the so-called polyynes, characterized by the alternation of single and triple bonds that can be synthesized by pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) of a graphite target. In this work, by exploiting different solvents in the PLAL process, e.g. water, acetonitrile, methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol, we systematically investigate the solvent role in polyyne formation and stability. The presence of methyland cyano-groups in the solutions influences the termination of polyynes, allowing to detect, in addition to hydrogen-capped polyynes up to HC22H, methyl-capped polyynes up to 18 carbon atoms (i.e. HCnCH3) and cyanopolyynes up to HC12CN. The assignment of each species was done by UV-Vis spectroscopy and supported by density functional theory simulations of vibronic spectra. In addition, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy allowed to observe differences, due to different terminations (hydrogen, methyl-and cyano group), in the shape and positions of the characteristic Raman bands of the size-selected polyynes. The evolution in time of each polyyne has been investigated evaluating the chromatographic peak area, and the effect of size, terminations and solvents on polyynes stability has been individuated.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures. Supporting Information of this article is available in the end of this manuscrip

Structured-light-sheet imaging in an integrated optofluidic platform

: Heterogeneity investigation at the single-cell level reveals morphological and phenotypic characteristics in cell populations. In clinical research, heterogeneity has important implications in the correct detection and interpretation of prognostic markers and in the analysis of patient-derived material. Among single-cell analysis, imaging flow cytometry allows combining information retrieved by single cell images with the throughput of fluidic platforms. Nevertheless, these techniques might fail in a comprehensive heterogeneity evaluation because of limited image resolution and bidimensional analysis. Light sheet fluorescence microscopy opened new ways to study in 3D the complexity of cellular functionality in samples ranging from single-cells to micro-tissues, with remarkably fast acquisition and low photo-toxicity. In addition, structured illumination microscopy has been applied to single-cell studies enhancing the resolution of imaging beyond the conventional diffraction limit. The combination of these techniques in a microfluidic environment, which permits automatic sample delivery and translation, would allow exhaustive investigation of cellular heterogeneity with high throughput image acquisition at high resolution. Here we propose an integrated optofluidic platform capable of performing structured light sheet imaging flow cytometry (SLS-IFC). The system encompasses a multicolor directional coupler equipped with a thermo-optic phase shifter, cylindrical lenses and a microfluidic network to generate and shift a patterned light sheet within a microchannel. The absence of moving parts allows a stable alignment and an automated fluorescence signal acquisition during the sample flow. The platform enables 3D imaging of an entire cell in about 1 s with a resolution enhancement capable of revealing sub-cellular features and sub-diffraction limit details

Exon Skipping-Mediated Dystrophin Reading Frame Restoration for Small Mutations

n/

A novel custom high density-comparative genomic hybridization array detects common rearrangements as well as deep intronic mutations in dystrophinopathies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The commonest pathogenic <it>DMD </it>changes are intragenic deletions/duplications which make up to 78% of all cases and point mutations (roughly 20%) detectable through direct sequencing. The remaining mutations (about 2%) are thought to be pure intronic rearrangements/mutations or 5'-3' UTR changes. In order to screen the huge <it>DMD </it>gene for all types of copy number variation mutations we designed a novel custom high density comparative genomic hybridisation array which contains the full genomic region of the <it>DMD </it>gene and spans from 100 kb upstream to 100 kb downstream of the 2.2 Mb <it>DMD </it>gene.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We studied 12 DMD/BMD patients who either had no detectable mutations or carried previously identified quantitative pathogenic changes in the <it>DMD </it>gene. We validated the array on patients with previously known mutations as well as unaffected controls, we identified three novel pure intronic rearrangements and we defined all the mutation breakpoints both in the introns and in the 3' UTR region. We also detected a novel polymorphic intron 2 deletion/duplication variation. Despite the high resolution of this approach, RNA studies were required to confirm the functional significance of the intronic mutations identified by CGH. In addition, RNA analysis identified three intronic pathogenic variations affecting splicing which had not been detected by the CGH analysis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This novel technology represents an effective high throughput tool to identify both common and rarer DMD rearrangements. RNA studies are required in order to validate the significance of the CGH array findings. The combination of these tools will fully cover the identification of causative DMD rearrangements in both coding and non-coding regions, particularly in patients in whom standard although extensive techniques are unable to detect a mutation.</p

Herkunftsnachweis von Südtiroler Äpfeln mittels Analyse des Sr-Isotopenverhältnisses: Grundlagen und praktische Anwendungen

Die meisten Konsumenten interessieren sich immer stärker für die Herkunft ihrer Lebensmittel. Eine vielversprechende Methode, um die Herkunft von landwirtschaftlichen Produkten zu prüfen ist die Analyse des Strontium (87Sr/86Sr)-Isotopenverhältnisses. Das 87Sr/86Sr-Verhältnis einer Pflanze spiegelt jenes des Bodens auf dem sie wächst wider. Der folgende Beitrag zeigt einige Aspekte des 87Sr/86Sr-Verhältnisses, untersucht während eines 3-jährigen Projektes, und seiner Verwendung als geographischen Indikator für Äpfel auf. In einem ersten Experiment betrachteten wir den Einfluss von landwirtschaftlichen Praktiken und des dadurch extern eingebrachten Strontiums, auf das Isotopenverhältnis der Apfelbäume im Gewächshaus. Die Bäume passten sich langsam an das Isotopenverhältnis im Boden an. Die landwirtschaftlichen Anwendungen hatten nur einen geringen Einfluss auf das 87Sr/86Sr-Verhältnis der Pflanze. Im zweiten Experiment wurden Unterschiede im Isotopenverhältnis zwischen Teilproben eines Pflanzenbestandteiles derselben Pflanze ("intra-part"), Unterschiede zwischen den verschiedenen Pflanzenbestandteilen desselben Baumes ("intra-tree"), die Unterschiede zwischen den verschieden Pflanzenbestandteilen unterschiedlicher Bäume derselben Obstanlage ("inter-tree") und ihr Zusammenhang mit dem Isotopenverhältnis im Boden, in jeweils zwei Südtiroler Obstanlagen untersucht. "Intra-part" und "intra-tree" war das 87Sr/86Sr Verhältniss homogen, allerdings konnten wir Unterschiede zwischen den Bäumen ("inter-tree") der beiden Obstanlagen beobachten. Im letzten Experiment wurden die Analysen auf 41 Obstanlagen in Norditalien ausgeweitet. Das 87Sr/86Sr-Verhältnis von Äpfeln mit geographischer Kennzeichnung aus verschiedenen Gebieten, wurde mit jenen ohne Kennzeichnung verglichen. Das Isotopenverhältnis im Apfel korrelierte stark mit jenem des jeweiligen Bodens der entsprechenden Obstanlage. Einige Gebiete hatten ähnliche geologische Eigenschaften und Isotopenverhältnis, wodurch eine eindeutige Unterscheidung nicht für alle Ortschaften möglich war. Trotzdem kann das 87Sr/86Sr-Verhältnis als geographischer Indikator verwendet werden, jedoch sollten in zukünftigen Studien weitere Parameter miteinbezogen werden

Effect of parasympathetic stimulation on brain activity during appraisal of fearful expressions

Autonomic nervous system activity is an important component of human emotion. Mental processes influence bodily physiology, which in turn feeds back to influence thoughts and feelings. Afferent cardiovascular signals from arterial baroreceptors in the carotid sinuses are processed within the brain and contribute to this two-way communication with the body. These carotid baroreceptors can be stimulated non-invasively by externally applying focal negative pressure bilaterally to the neck. In an experiment combining functional neuroimaging (fMRI) with carotid stimulation in healthy participants, we tested the hypothesis that manipulating afferent cardiovascular signals alters the central processing of emotional information (fearful and neutral facial expressions). Carotid stimulation, compared with sham stimulation, broadly attenuated activity across cortical and brainstem regions. Modulation of emotional processing was apparent as a significant expression-by-stimulation interaction within left amygdala, where responses during appraisal of fearful faces were selectively reduced by carotid stimulation. Moreover, activity reductions within insula, amygdala, and hippocampus correlated with the degree of stimulation-evoked change in the explicit emotional ratings of fearful faces. Across participants, individual differences in autonomic state (heart rate variability, a proxy measure of autonomic balance toward parasympathetic activity) predicted the extent to which carotid stimulation influenced neural (amygdala) responses during appraisal and subjective rating of fearful faces. Together our results provide mechanistic insight into the visceral component of emotion by identifying the neural substrates mediating cardiovascular influences on the processing of fear signals, potentially implicating central baroreflex mechanisms for anxiolytic treatment targets