Sustained MAPK/ERK activation in adult Schwann cells impairs nerve repair

The MAPK/ERK pathway has a critical role in PNS development. It is required for Schwann cell (SC) differentiation and myelination; sustained embryonic MAPK/ERK activation in SCs enhances myelin growth overcoming signals that normally end myelination. Excess activation of this pathway can be maladaptive as in adulthood acute strong activation of MAPK/ERK has been shown to cause SC dedifferentiation and demyelination. We used a mouse model (including male and female animals) in which gain of function Mek1DD allele produces sustained MAPK/ERK activation in adult SCs and we determined the impact of such activation on nerve repair. In the uninjured nerve, MAPK/ERK activation neither impaired myelin nor did it re-activate myelination. However, in the injured nerve it was detrimental and resulted in delayed repair and functional recovery. In the early phase of injury the rate of myelin clearance was faster. Four weeks following injury, when nerve repair is normally advanced, myelinated axons of Mek1DD mutants demonstrated higher rates of myelin decompaction, a reduced number of Cajal bands and decreased internodal length. We noted the presence of abnormal Remak bundles with long SCs processes and reduced numbers of C-fibres/Remak bundle. Both the total number of regenerating axons and the intra-epidermal nerve fibres density in the skin were reduced. Sustained activation of MAPK/ERK in adult SCs is therefore deleterious to successful nerve repair, emphasising the differences in the signalling processes coordinating nerve development and repair. Our results also underline the key role of SCs in axon regeneration and successful target einnervation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe MAPK/ERK pathway promotes developmental myelination and its sustained activation in SCs induced continuous myelin growth, compensating for the absence of essential myelination signals. However, the strength of activation is fundamental because acute strong induction of MAPK/ERK in adulthood induces demyelination. What has been unknown is the effect of a mild but sustained MAPK/ERK activation in SCs on nerve repair in adulthood. This promoted myelin clearance but led to abnormalities in non-myelinating and myelinating SCs in the later phases of nerve repair, resulting in slowed axon regeneration, cutaneous reinnervation and functional recovery. Our results emphasise the distinct role of the MAPK/ERK pathway in developmental myelination versus remyelination and the importance of signalling between SCs and axons for successful axon regeneration

Condiciones físicas del salitral de la vidriera y su relación con el zooplancton

El objetivo del presente trabajo es estudiar condiciones físicas y ambientales en el Salitral de la Vidriera, Provincia de Buenos. Aires, localizado en la zona interna del estuario de Bahía Blanca y su relación con el principal componente del zooplancton, el crustáceo Artemia persimilis (Crustacea, Anostraca). El enfoque se centró en la colecta del material biológico durante los meses de mayo a agosto de 2001. Los muéstreos se realizaron en dos transectas con tres estaciones cada una. Se midió temperatura, salinidad, pH y profundidad. Adicionalmente se registraron datos sobre llora y fauna acompañante y se realizó el análisis del tipo de sustrato. El zooplancton del Salitral de la Vidriera estuvo representado casi en su totalidad por Artemia persimilis. Los resultados indicaron que los meses de mayo y junio no difirieron estadísticamente en el número de individuos (73.66 y 57.34 ind/1 Olitros), pero si respecto al mes de agosto que registró una menor abundancia de 24.17 ind/101itros. Esta última variación podría estar condicionada a los cambios de salinidad y temperatura que fluctuaron durante ese mes en el cuerpo de agua. La temperatura del agua siguió el ritmo de la temperatura del aire, no registrándose fluctuaciones de magnitud importante en las diferentes transectas y en los distintos meses, registrándose temperaturas entre 12 - 15,5 °C en ese período. La salinidad fue muy baja (23.73), si se lo compara con el valor de 95.5 obtenido para diciembre de 2001. Este último registro sería más representativo para un ambiente hipersalino como el Salitral de la Vidriera. Los bajos valores de este parámetro estuvieron relacionados con una abundante precipitación para esos meses. El pH del agua fluctuó entre 7-8 y la profundidad en las dos transectas entre 25 y 55 cm. El estudio de las poblaciones evidenció un comportamiento bisexual, no detectándose que la relación machos/hembras fuera 1:1, pero si observándose una ligera superioridad de las hembras. Tampoco se registraron interacciones entre fechas y sectores, hallándose ambos sexos, a diferentes profundidades. En cuanto a las tallas se obtuvo un rango de ejemplares que variaron entre 5,88 - 8,98 mm. El 31.7 % de los individuos correspondió a adultos (talla > 5,88 mm).The objetive of this study was to analysed physical and environmental aspects of El Salitral de la Vidriera, Buenos Aires province and its relation with Artemia persimilis (Crustacea, Anostraca) one of the most important component of the zooplankton. Samples were taken during four months in winter time. Data of temperature, salinity, depth and pH were registered. Flora, fauna and substrate were analyzed. The results showed that the months of May and June did not differ statistically in the number of individuals, presenting values of 73.66 and 57.34 ind/1 Olitres but if differ from August, which registered an abundance of 24.17 ind/1 Olitres. This variation could be explain by changes in salinity and temperature, that fluctuated during that month. Water temperature varied 12 °C and 15,5 °C during the study period. Salinity was very low (23.73) comparig with the higher measurement (95.5) in december 2001. The last data is representative of the hypersaline environment of El Salitral de la Vidriera. The lowest values were related with the rainfall in preview months. The pH variation were 7-8 and depth between 25 to 55 cm. Populations showed a bisexual behavior, the relation male females not detected 1:1. A hight superiority of the females is observed. Interactions between dates and sectors were not registered. Both sexes, in different depths were found. Sizes of strain varied among 5,88 - 8,98 mm. The 31.7 % of the individuals were adults (size> 5,88 mm).Asociación Argentina de Geofísicos y Geodesta

Condiciones físicas del salitral de la vidriera y su relación con el zooplancton

El objetivo del presente trabajo es estudiar condiciones físicas y ambientales en el Salitral de la Vidriera, Provincia de Buenos. Aires, localizado en la zona interna del estuario de Bahía Blanca y su relación con el principal componente del zooplancton, el crustáceo Artemia persimilis (Crustacea, Anostraca). El enfoque se centró en la colecta del material biológico durante los meses de mayo a agosto de 2001. Los muéstreos se realizaron en dos transectas con tres estaciones cada una. Se midió temperatura, salinidad, pH y profundidad. Adicionalmente se registraron datos sobre llora y fauna acompañante y se realizó el análisis del tipo de sustrato. El zooplancton del Salitral de la Vidriera estuvo representado casi en su totalidad por Artemia persimilis. Los resultados indicaron que los meses de mayo y junio no difirieron estadísticamente en el número de individuos (73.66 y 57.34 ind/1 Olitros), pero si respecto al mes de agosto que registró una menor abundancia de 24.17 ind/101itros. Esta última variación podría estar condicionada a los cambios de salinidad y temperatura que fluctuaron durante ese mes en el cuerpo de agua. La temperatura del agua siguió el ritmo de la temperatura del aire, no registrándose fluctuaciones de magnitud importante en las diferentes transectas y en los distintos meses, registrándose temperaturas entre 12 - 15,5 °C en ese período. La salinidad fue muy baja (23.73), si se lo compara con el valor de 95.5 obtenido para diciembre de 2001. Este último registro sería más representativo para un ambiente hipersalino como el Salitral de la Vidriera. Los bajos valores de este parámetro estuvieron relacionados con una abundante precipitación para esos meses. El pH del agua fluctuó entre 7-8 y la profundidad en las dos transectas entre 25 y 55 cm. El estudio de las poblaciones evidenció un comportamiento bisexual, no detectándose que la relación machos/hembras fuera 1:1, pero si observándose una ligera superioridad de las hembras. Tampoco se registraron interacciones entre fechas y sectores, hallándose ambos sexos, a diferentes profundidades. En cuanto a las tallas se obtuvo un rango de ejemplares que variaron entre 5,88 - 8,98 mm. El 31.7 % de los individuos correspondió a adultos (talla > 5,88 mm).The objetive of this study was to analysed physical and environmental aspects of El Salitral de la Vidriera, Buenos Aires province and its relation with Artemia persimilis (Crustacea, Anostraca) one of the most important component of the zooplankton. Samples were taken during four months in winter time. Data of temperature, salinity, depth and pH were registered. Flora, fauna and substrate were analyzed. The results showed that the months of May and June did not differ statistically in the number of individuals, presenting values of 73.66 and 57.34 ind/1 Olitres but if differ from August, which registered an abundance of 24.17 ind/1 Olitres. This variation could be explain by changes in salinity and temperature, that fluctuated during that month. Water temperature varied 12 °C and 15,5 °C during the study period. Salinity was very low (23.73) comparig with the higher measurement (95.5) in december 2001. The last data is representative of the hypersaline environment of El Salitral de la Vidriera. The lowest values were related with the rainfall in preview months. The pH variation were 7-8 and depth between 25 to 55 cm. Populations showed a bisexual behavior, the relation male females not detected 1:1. A hight superiority of the females is observed. Interactions between dates and sectors were not registered. Both sexes, in different depths were found. Sizes of strain varied among 5,88 - 8,98 mm. The 31.7 % of the individuals were adults (size> 5,88 mm).Asociación Argentina de Geofísicos y Geodesta

Context-dependent plant traits drive fine-scale species persistence in old-growth forests

Questions: we studied old growth beech forest vegetation in Permanent Monitoring Plots (PMPs) located in Italy, with the following questions: is species turnover the main component of the observed changes or the present species assemblages is an impoverished sub-sets of the former ones?; 2) how compositional changes are reflected by specific plant functional traits? Location: we selected 4 PMPs (50 x 50 m) of the CONECOFOR network, placed along a latitudinal and climatic gradient in Italy, from south to north: CALABRIA03, CAMPANIA04, ABRUZZO01 and VENETO20. Methods: presence/absence of herb layer species were recorded in 100 permanent micro-plots of 50 x 50 cm over 12 years (1999-2011). For all sampled species we chose a set of 8 easy-to-measure functional traits. We compared the persistence, nestedness and turnover components of compositional changes. The role of plant traits explaining species persistence were analyzed by classification and regression tree. Results: Analysis in species diversity reveal antithetical ecological phenomena due to the diversity and complexity of the 4 different forest stands. ABRUZZO01 and CALABRIA03 show a clear nestedness trends over time with persistent species in ABR01 having higher seed mass and persistent species in CALABRIA03 having scleromorphic leaves and mesoporphic leaves, with large below-ground budbank. On the other hand, VENETO20 and CAMPANIA04 exibit a significant turnover trends over the 12 years characterized by persistent species in VENETO20 having helomorphic leaves, while in CAMPANIA04 large below-ground budbank and smaller SLA were the most important traits for species survival. Conclusion: Fine-scale approach highlight different mechanisms for the maintenance of species diversity in different complex forest systems driven significantly by specific traits, influenced by context-dependent factors

Plant functional traits are correlated with species persistence in the herb layer of old-growth beech forests

This paper explores which traits are correlated with fine-scale (0.25 m2) species persistence patterns in the herb layer of old-growth forests. Four old-growth beech forests representing different climatic contexts (presence or absence of summer drought period) were selected along a north–south gradient in Italy. Eight surveys were conducted in each of the sites during the period spanning 1999–2011. We found that fine-scale species persistence was correlated with different sets of plant functional traits, depending on local ecological context. Seed mass was found to be as important for the fine-scale species persistence in the northern sites, while clonal and bud-bank traits were markedly correlated with the southern sites characterised by summer drought. Leaf traits appeared to correlate with species persistence in the drier and wetter sites. However, we found that different attributes, i.e. helomorphic vs scleromorphic leaves, were correlated to species persistence in the northernmost and southernmost sites, respectively. These differences appear to be dependent on local trait adaptation rather than plant phylogenetic history. Our findings suggest that the persistent species in the old-growth forests might adopt an acquisitive resource-use strategy (i.e. helomorphic leaves with high SLA) with higher seed mass in sites without summer drought, while under water-stressed conditions persistent species have a conservative resource-use strategy (i.e. scleromorphic leaves with low SLA) with an increased importance of clonal and resprouting ability

Plant functional traits are correlated with species persistence in the herb layer of old-growth beech forests

This paper explores which traits are correlated with fine-scale (0.25 m2) species persistence patterns in the herb layer of old-growth forests. Four old-growth beech forests representing different climatic contexts (presence or absence of summer drought period) were selected along a north–south gradient in Italy. Eight surveys were conducted in each of the sites during the period spanning 1999–2011. We found that fine-scale species persistence was correlated with different sets of plant functional traits, depending on local ecological context. Seed mass was found to be as important for the fine-scale species persistence in the northern sites, while clonal and bud-bank traits were markedly correlated with the southern sites characterised by summer drought. Leaf traits appeared to correlate with species persistence in the drier and wetter sites. However, we found that different attributes, i.e. helomorphic vs scleromorphic leaves, were correlated to species persistence in the northernmost and southernmost sites, respectively. These differences appear to be dependent on local trait adaptation rather than plant phylogenetic history. Our findings suggest that the persistent species in the old-growth forests might adopt an acquisitive resource-use strategy (i.e. helomorphic leaves with high SLA) with higher seed mass in sites without summer drought, while under water-stressed conditions persistent species have a conservative resource-use strategy (i.e. scleromorphic leaves with low SLA) with an increased importance of clonal and resprouting ability

High habitat richness limits the risk of tick-borne encephalitis in Europe: a multi-scale study

The natural transmission cycle of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus is enhanced by complex interactions between ticks and key hosts strongly connected to habitat characteristics. The diversity of wildlife host species and their relative abundance is known to affect transmission of tick-borne diseases (such as, for example, Lyme disease). In the current context of global biodiversity loss, we explored the relationship between the habitat richness index (HRI) and the pattern of human TBE cases in Europe to assess the role of HRI in disease risk mitigation. Methods: We assessed human TBE case distribution across 879 European regions using official epidemiological data reported to the European Surveillance System (TESSy) between 2017 and 2021 from 15 countries. We statistically explored the relationship between TBE presence and a novel variable - the habitat richness index (HRI) - describing the diversity of European ecosystem types. We also validated our findings at local scale using data collected between 2017 and 2021 in 227 municipalities located in Trento and Belluno provinces, two known TBE foci in northern Italy. Findings: Our results showed a significant parabolic effect of HRI on the probability of presence of human TBE cases in the European regions included in our dataset, and a significant, negative effect of HRI on the local presence of TBE in northern Italy. At both spatial scales, TBE risk decreases in areas with higher values of HRI. Interpretation: To our knowledge, no efforts have yet been made to explore the relationship between habitat richness and TBE risk, both in local and in large scale geographical contexts, probably due to the scarcity of high-resolution, large-scale data about the abundance or density of critical host species, such as rodents and ungulates. To overcome this lack o f data, in this study we considered habitat richness as proxy of vertebrate host biodiversity to disentangle its role in driving TBE European occurrence at different spatial scales. The results suggest that biodiversity loss could considerably enhance disease risk for both humans and wildlife, which may influence biodiversity conservation policies within a One Health context approach

Utilización de cereales no convencionales, tricepiro (Triticum x Secale x Thinopyrum) y triticale (Triticum x Secale), en la alimentación de los cerdos. Dos experiencias.

The objective of these experiments was to study the different cereal grains ("tricepiro and trilicale") as energy sourees in growing-finishing diets. The hybrid gilts (Yorl<shire x Landrace x Duroc Jersey) were fed sd-/lbltum during 56 days with: 16% C.P.; 3.300 Kcal DElkg, 1,30% Ca; 0,93% P and 0,82% of Iys (Dry weight). The first experiment was done wilh tricepiro "Don René" (T1), triticale "Tehuelche" (T2) and the mixture of both triticale (50-50) "Don Erman and Don Frank" (T3), being compare with Com (T0)as a control in hybrid gilts between 57 - 100 kg Iiveweight, confined in individual boxes. In a second trial triticale "Yagén" (T4) and triticale "Don Santiago" (T5) were evaluated versus Corn (T0). AII other experimental conditions being the same as for trial one. The results of the first trial were: Oally welght galn (p<0,025): T2= 868,62 9 a; T3= 840,35 sb; T0=753,50 bc and T1= 729,25 c. Feed Intake In sil the period (p<0,01):T0= 181,95 kg  a; T3= 167,85 b, T2= 164,90 be and T1= 155 c. Conversion efflciency (p<0,01): T0=4,31:1 8; T1= 3,83:1 b; T3= 3,59:1 bc and T2= 3,40:1 c. Backfat thlckness (p<0,01):T0- 26,12 mm a; T3= 23,19 b; T1= 20,82 C and T2= 19,91 c. Fatty acid ratio: T2= 1,17% of oleic acid, T3= 1,59; T0=3,65 and T1= 3,67. Second trial results were: Oally welght gain (p<00,01):T0= 948 9 a; T5= 942 a; and T4= 883 b. Feed Intake In all th8 period (p<0,01): T4= 159,55 kg a; T5= 173,34 b, and T0= 169,51 b, but not found statistical difference In conversion efflciency and backfat thickness. Fatty acid ratio: T2= 1,17% of oleic acid, T3= 1,59; T0=3,65 and T1= 3,67. We conclude that trilicale Tehuelche, the mixture of Don Erman and Don Frank, and Don Santiago can be included in growing-finishing diets for hybrid gilts on account of the daily weight gain and faed conversion results obtained. tricepiro Don René showed the best result for backfat thickness and feed intake. indeed, Triticales tried in these diets produced carcasses with excellent values of backfat thickness.En un primer ensayo se evaluaron los granos de Tricepiro Don René (T1), triticale Tehuelche (T2) y una mezcla de 50% de triticale Don Frank y 50% de triticale Don Erman (T3) frente al maíz (T0), en dietas de desarrollo-terminación en cerdas híbridas nulíparas (Yorkshire x Landrace x Duroc Jersey). En una segunda experiencia se evaluaron los granos de triticale Yagán (T4) y triticale Don Santiago (T5) frente al maíz (T0), también en dietas de desarrollo terminación y con las mismas características en las unidades experimentales. Los animales se alojaron en boxes individuales en el periodo de 57 a 100 kg de p.v., y fueron alimentados ea- Ifbitum durante 56 días con una dieta que contenla 16,5% de P.B., 3300 kcal de ED/kg; 1,30% de Ca; 0,93% de P y 0,82% de lisina, valores en base seca. Se valoraron las dietas a través de los rendimientos productivos de los animales y los resultados del ensayo uno fueron: Ganancia diaria de peso (GOP), (p<O,025): T2= 868,62g 8; T3= 840,35 8b; T0=753,50 be y T1= 729,25 e. Consumo en todo el periodo (p<0,01): T0= 181,95 kg 8; T3= 167,85 b; T2= 164,90 be y T1= 155~. Eficíencla de conversión (p<0,01): T0=4,31:1 a; T1= 3,83:1 b; T3= 3,59:1 be: T2= 3,40:1 e. Espesor de grasa dorsal (p<0,01): T0= 26,12 mm 8; T3= 23,19 b; T1= 20,82 e; T2= 19,91 e. Los valores de Indice de acidez para los tratamientos fueron: T2= 1,17% de ácido oleieo, T3=1,59; T0=3,65 y T1= 3,67. En el ensayo dos: GOP (p<0,01): T0(Testigo)= 948 9 8; T5= 942 8 Y T4= 883 b. Consumo en todo el periodo (p<0,01): T4= 159,55 kg 8; T5= 173,34 b y T0 (Testigo)= 169:51b. No existieron diferencias significativas en Eficiencia de conversión alimenticia y el espesor de grasa dorsal (p<0,01). Los valores de Índice de acidez para los tratamientos fueron: T0= 3,17% de ácido oleico, T4=3,05 y T5= 2,82. Los granos de triticale Tehuelche, la mezcla Don Frank-Don Erman y Don Santiago son apropiados para incluirlos en dietas de crecimiento-terminación de cerdos por sus adecuadas respuestas a la ganancia diaria de peso y eficiencia de conversión alimenticia. El tricepiro Don René expresó el mejor resultado en las variables grasa dorsal y consumo. Los trilicales incorporados en estas dietas determinaron también carcasas con óptimos contenidos de grasa dorsal

Probabilistic and preferential sampling approaches offer integrated perspectives of Italian forest diversity

Aim: Assessing the performances of different sampling approaches for documenting community diversity may help to identify optimal sampling efforts and strategies, and to enhance conservation and monitoring planning. Here, we used two data sets based on probabilistic and preferential sampling schemes of Italian forest vegetation to analyze the multifaceted performances of the two approaches across three major forest types at a large scale. Location: Italy. Methods: We pooled 804 probabilistic and 16,259 preferential forest plots as samples of vascular plant diversity across the country. We balanced the two data sets in terms of sizes, plot size, geographical position, and vegetation types. For each of the two data sets, 1000 subsets of 201 random plots were compared by calculating the shared and exclusive indicator species, their overlap in the multivariate space, and the areas encompassed by spatially-constrained rarefaction curves. We then calculated an index of performance using the ratio between the additional and total information collected by each sampling approach. The performances were tested and evaluated across the three major forest types. Results: The probabilistic approach performed better in estimating species richness and diversity of species assemblages, but did not detect other components of the regional diversity, such as azonal forests. The preferential approach outperformed the probabilistic approach in detecting forest-specialist species and plant diversity hotspots. Conclusions: Using a novel workflow based on vegetation-plot exclusivities and commonalities, our study suggests probabilistic and preferential sampling approaches are to be used in combination for better conservation and monitor planning purposes to detect multiple aspects of plant community diversity. Our findings can assist the implementation of national conservation planning and large-scale monitoring of biodiversity

High habitat richness reduces the risk of tick-borne encephalitis in Europe: a multi-scale study

Background The natural transmission cycle of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus is enhanced by complex interactions between ticks and key hosts strongly connected to habitat characteristics. The diversity of wildlife host species and their relative abundance is known to affect transmission of tick-borne diseases. Therefore, in the current context of global biodiversity loss, we explored the relationship between habitat richness and the pattern of human TBE cases in Europe to assess biodiversity's role in disease risk mitigation. Methods We assessed human TBE case distribution across 879 European regions using official epidemiological data reported to The European Surveillance System (TESSy) between 2017 and 2021 from 15 countries. We explored the relationship between TBE presence and the habitat richness index (HRI1) by means of binomial regression. We validated our findings at local scale using data collected between 2017 and 2021 in 227 municipalities located in Trento and Belluno provinces, two known TBE foci in northern Italy. Findings Our results showed a significant parabolic effect of HRI on the probability of presence of human TBE cases in the European regions included in our dataset, and a significant, negative effect of HRI on the local presence of TBE in northern Italy. At both spatial scales, TBE risk decreases in areas with higher values of HRI. Interpretation To our knowledge, no efforts have yet been made to explore the relationship between biodiversity and TBE risk, probably due to the scarcity of high-resolution, large-scale data about the abundance or density of critical host species. Hence, in this study we considered habitat richness as proxy for vertebrate host diversity. The results suggest that in highly diverse habitats TBE risk decreases. Hence, biodiversity loss could enhance TBE risk for both humans and wildlife. This association is relevant to support the hypothesis that the maintenance of highly diverse ecosystems mitigates disease ris