Greenhouse gas observations from Cabauw Tall Tower (1992–2010)

Since 1992 semi-continuous in-situ observations of greenhouse gas concentrations have been performed at the tall tower of Cabauw (4.927° E, 51.971° N, −0.7 m a.s.l.). Through 1992 up to now, the measurement system has been gradually extended and improved in precision, starting with CO<sub>2</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations from 200 m a.g.l. in 1992 to vertical gradients at 4 levels of the gases CO<sub>2</sub>, CH<sub>4</sub>, SF<sub>6</sub>, N<sub>2</sub>O, H<sub>2</sub>, CO and gradients at 2 levels for <sup>222</sup>Rn. In this paper the measurement systems and measurement results are described for the main greenhouse gases and CO, for the whole period. The automatic measurement system now provides half-hourly concentration gradients with a precision better than or close to the WMO recommendations. <br><br> The observations at Cabauw show a complex pattern caused by the influence of sources and sinks from a large area around the tower with significant contributions of sources and sinks at distances up to 500–700 km. The concentration footprint area of Cabauw is one the most intensive and complex source areas of greenhouse gases in the world. Despite this, annual mean trends for the most important greenhouse gases, compatible with the values derived using the global network, can be reproduced from the measured concentrations at Cabauw over the entire measurement period, with a measured increase in the period 2000–2009 for CO<sub>2</sub> of 1.90 ± 0.1 ppm yr<sup>−1</sup>, for CH<sub>4</sub> of 4.4 ± 0.6 ppb yr<sup>−1</sup>, for N<sub>2</sub>O of 0.86 ± 0.04 ppb yr<sup>−1</sup>, and for SF<sub>6</sub> of 0.27 ± 0.01 ppt yr<sup>−1</sup>; for CO no significant trend could be detected. <br><br> The influences of strong local sources and sinks are reflected in the amplitude of the mean seasonal cycles observed at Cabauw, that are larger than the mean Northern Hemisphere average; Cabauw mean seasonal amplitude for CO<sub>2</sub> is 25–30 ppm (higher value for lower sampling levels). The observed CH<sub>4</sub> seasonal amplitude is 50–110 ppb. All gases except N<sub>2</sub>O show highest concentrations in winter and lower concentrations in summer, N<sub>2</sub>O observations show two additional concentration maxima in early summer and in autumn. <br><br> Seasonal cycles of the day-time mean concentrations show that surface concentrations or high elevation concentrations alone do not give a representative value for the boundary layer concentrations, especially in winter time, but that the vertical profile data along the mast can be used to construct a useful boundary layer mean value. The variability at Cabauw in the atmospheric concentrations of CO<sub>2</sub> on time scales of minutes to hours is several ppm and is much larger than the precision of the measurements (0.1 ppm). The diurnal and synoptical variability of the concentrations at Cabauw carry information on the sources and sinks in the footprint area of the mast, that will be useful in combination with inverse atmospheric transport model to verify emission estimates and improve ecosystem models. For this purpose a network of tall tower stations like Cabauw forms a very useful addition to the existing global observing network for greenhouse gases

Transmission of Rickettsia raoultii and Rickettsia massiliae DNA by Dermacentor reticulatus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (s.l.) ticks during artificial feeding

Background: Tick-borne rickettsial pathogens are emerging worldwide and pose an increased health risk to both humans and animals. A plethora of rickettsial species has been identified in ticks recovered from human and animal patients. However, the detection of rickettsial DNA in ticks does not necessarily mean that these ticks can act as vectors for these pathogens. Here, we used artificial feeding of ticks to confirm transmission of Rickettsia massiliae and Rickettsia raoultii by Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato) and Dermacentor reticulatus ticks, respectively. The speed of transmission was also determined. Methods: An artificial feeding system based on silicone membranes were used to feed adult R. sanguineus (s.l.) and D. reticulatus ticks. Blood samples from in vitro feeding units were analysed for the presence of rickettsial DNA using PCR and reverse line blot hybridisation. Results: The attachment rate of R. sanguineus (s.l.) ticks were 40.4% at 8 h post-application, increasing to 70.2% at 72 h. Rickettsia massiliae was detected in blood samples collected 8 h after the R. sanguineus (s.l.) ticks were placed into the in vitro feeding units. D. reticulatus ticks were pre-fed on sheep and subsequently transferred to the in vitro feeding system. The attachment rate was 29.1 % at 24 h post-application, increasing to 43.6 % at 96 h. Rickettsia raoultii was detected in blood collected 24 h after D. reticulatus was placed into the feeding units. Conclusions: Rhipicephalus sanguineus (s.l.) and D. reticulatus ticks are vectors of R. massiliae and R. raoultii, respectively. The transmission of R. massiliae as early as 8 h after tick attachment emphasises the importance of removing ticks as soon as possible to minimise transmission. This study highlights the relevance of in vitro feeding systems to provide insight into the vectorial capacity of ticks and the dynamics of tick-borne pathogen transmission

Relationships between renal cytoplasmic and nuclear aldosterone-receptors

Relationships between renal cytoplasmic and nuclear aldosteronereceptors.Three 3H-aldosterone receptor complexes have been recovered from rat kidneys: 1) cytosol (high speed supernatants), 2) Tris-soluble nuclear (obtained by an osmotic shock procedure), and 3) chromatin-bound (prepared by extracting post-shock nuclei with 0.4 M KCl).Glycerol density gradient analyses of cytosol labelled in vivo or in vitro with 3H-aldosterone yielded two specific peaks -4.5S and 8.5S.These peaks were sensitive to salt concentration; 0.4 M KCl shifted the 8.5S to 4.5S and the addition of Ca++ (6 mM) resulted in a further shift to 3.5S.The Tris-soluble nuclear species sedimented at 3S and the chromatin-bound species at 4S.The time-course of generation of the 3H-aldosterone-labelled cytosol and nuclear receptor species was studied in vivo and in vitro by tissue slice and reconstitution methods.The results obtained are consistent with a three-step mechanism: cytosol (8.5S or 4.5S)→ Tris-soluble nuclear (3S)→ chromatin-bound (4S).Alternatively, the 3S and 4S complexes may be attached to independent nuclear sites.The formation of the chromatin-bound species was temperature sensitive and failed to form at 0°C.Pre-treatment with DNase but not RNase impaired the generation of both the Tris-soluble nuclear and chromatin-bound species.These results imply a close association between nuclear aldosterone-receptor complexes and intact DNA

Longitudinal monitoring of Ehrlichia ruminantium infection in Gambian lambs and kids by pCS20 PCR and MAP1-B ELISA

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The epidemiology of <it>E. ruminantium </it>infection in extensively managed young animals is not adequately understood. Thus in this study, we monitored the onset (age at first infection) and kinetics of <it>E. ruminantium </it>infection and antibody response in extensively managed newborn lambs and kids at three sites in The Gambia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used a nested pCS20 PCR and MAP1-B ELISA in a longitudinal study to monitor the onset (age at first infection) and kinetics of <it>E. ruminantium </it>infection and antibody response respectively, in 77 newborn lambs and kids under a traditional husbandry system at three sites (Kerr Seringe, Keneba, Bansang) in The Gambia where heartwater is known to occur. The animals were monitored for field tick infestation and the comparative performance of the two assays in detecting <it>E. ruminantium </it>infection was also assessed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The infection rate detected by pCS20 PCR varied between 8.6% and 54.8% over the 162-day study period. Nineteen per cent of the animals in week 1 post-partum tested positive by pCS20 PCR with half of these infections (7/14) detected in the first 3 days after birth, suggesting that transmission other than by tick feeding had played a role. The earliest detectable <it>A. variegatum </it>infestation in the animals occurred in week 16 after birth. Antibodies detected by MAP1-B ELISA also varied, between 11.5% and 90%. Although there is considerable evidence that this assay can detect false positives and due to this and other reasons serology is not a reliable predictor of infection at least for heartwater. In contrast to the pCS20 PCR, the serological assay detected the highest proportion of positive animals in week 1 with a gradual decline in seropositivity with increasing age. The pCS20 PCR detected higher <it>E. ruminantium </it>prevalence in the animals with increasing age and both the Spearman's rank test (<it>r</it>_{<it>s </it>}= -0.1512; P = 0.003) and <it>kappa </it>statistic (-0.091 to 0.223) showed a low degree of agreement between the two assays.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The use of pCS20 PCR supported by transmission studies and clinical data could provide more accurate information on heartwater epidemiology in endemic areas and single-occasion testing of an animal may not reveal its true infection status. The view is supported because both the vector and vertical transmission may play a vital role in the epidemiology of heartwater in young small ruminants; the age range of 4 and 12 weeks corresponds to the period of increased susceptibility to heartwater in traditionally managed small ruminants.</p

Effect of Heating and Glycation on the Allergenicity of 2S Albumins (Ara h 2/6) from Peanut

Although no effect of processing on T-cell reactivity was observed, heat induced denaturation reduced the IgE reactivity and subsequent functionality of Ara h 2/6. Conversely, Ara h 2 and 6 purified from roasted peanut retained the structure and IgE reactivity/functionality of the native protein which may explain the allergenic potency of this protein. Through detailed molecular study and allergenicity assessment approaches, this work then gives new insights into the effect of thermal processing on structure/allergenicity of peanut proteins

A Conserved Mito-Cytosolic Translational Balance Links Two Longevity Pathways.

Slowing down translation in either the cytosol or the mitochondria is a conserved longevity mechanism. Here, we found a non-interventional natural correlation of mitochondrial and cytosolic ribosomal proteins (RPs) in mouse population genetics, suggesting a translational balance. Inhibiting mitochondrial translation in C. elegans through mrps-5 RNAi repressed cytosolic translation. Transcriptomics integrated with proteomics revealed that this inhibition specifically reduced translational efficiency of mRNAs required in growth pathways while increasing stress response mRNAs. The repression of cytosolic translation and extension of lifespan from mrps-5 RNAi were dependent on atf-5/ATF4 and independent from metabolic phenotypes. We found the translational balance to be conserved in mammalian cells upon inhibiting mitochondrial translation pharmacologically with doxycycline. Lastly, extending this in vivo, doxycycline repressed cytosolic translation in the livers of germ-free mice. These data demonstrate that inhibiting mitochondrial translation initiates an atf-5/ATF4-dependent cascade leading to coordinated repression of cytosolic translation, which could be targeted to promote longevity

Дослідження руху індексу Doing Business України

Background: Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) is associated with a range of psychosocial and mental health problems. Having a psychiatric illness increases likelihood of being a victim of DVA. Despite the evidence of a high risk for DVA and the serious effects of violent victimization in psychiatric patients, detection rates are low and responses are inadequate. The aim of the BRAVE (Better Reduction trough Assessment of Violence and Evaluation) study is to improve detection of and response to DVA in psychiatric patients. In this article, we present the protocol of the BRAVE study which follows the SPIRIT guidelines. Methods: The BRAVE study is a cluster randomized controlled trial. We will include 24 community mental health teams from Rotterdam and The Hague. Twelve teams will provide care as usual and 12 teams will receive the intervention. The intervention consists of 1) a knowledge and sk

Potential role of ticks as vectors of bluetongue virus

When the first outbreak of bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV8) was recorded in North-West Europe in August 2006 and renewed outbreaks occurred in the summer of 2007 and again in 2008, the question was raised how the virus survived the winter. Since most adult Culicoides vector midges are assumed not to survive the northern European winter, and transovarial transmission in Culicoides is not recorded, we examined the potential vector role of ixodid and argasid ticks for bluetongue virus. Four species of ixodid ticks (Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes hexagonus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Rhipicephalus bursa) and one soft tick species, Ornithodoros savignyi, ingested BTV8-containing blood either through capillary feeding or by feeding on artificial membranes. The virus was taken up by the ticks and was found to pass through the gut barrier and spread via the haemolymph into the salivary glands, ovaries and testes, as demonstrated by real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (PCR-test). BTV8 was detected in various tissues of ixodid ticks for up to 21 days post feeding and in Ornithodoros ticks for up to 26 days. It was found after moulting in adult Ixodes hexagonus and was also able to pass through the ovaries into the eggs of an Ornithodoros savignyi tick. This study demonstrates that ticks can become infected with bluetongue virus serotype 8. The transstadial passage in hard ticks and transovarial passage in soft ticks suggest that ticks have potential vectorial capacity for bluetongue virus. Further studies are required to investigate transmission from infected ticks to domestic livestock. This route of transmission could provide an additional clue in the unresolved mystery of the epidemiology of Bluetongue in Europe by considering ticks as a potential overwintering mechanism for bluetongue virus

Fatigue mediates the relationship between emotional and cognitive functioning in children post-cancer treatment

Background/objectives: Children treated for cancer are at risk to develop cognitive problems. Insight in underlying associations with emotional functioning and fatigue can be used to optimize interventions. We therefore aim to study emotional functioning, fatigue, and cognitive functioning in children postcancer treatment and investigate whether fatigue mediates the relationship between emotional and cognitive functioning. Design/methods: Emotional functioning, fatigue, and cognitive functioning were assessed in children post-cancer treatment using subscales of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Generic Core Scales, Multidimensional Fatigue Scale and Cognitive Functioning Scale. A one sample t-test was used to compare outcomes with general population peers and mediation analysis was used to address the effect of fatigue on the relationship between emotional and cognitive functioning. Results: A total of 137 children (mean age: 13.6, SD ± 3.3 years; mean time since end of treatment: 7.1 months, SD ± 5.9) participated. Lower scores on emotional functioning (Cohen's d [D]: 0.4), fatigue (D: 0.8) and cognitive functioning (D: 0.6) were found (p <.001) in children post-cancer treatment than in peers. A medium association was found between emotional and cognitive functioning (standardized regression coefficient [β]: 0.27, p <.001), which was mediated by fatigue (β = 0.16). Conclusions: Outcomes on emotional and cognitive functioning are decreased and fatigue is increased in children postcancer treatment. Fatigue mediates the relationship between emotional and cognitive functioning. Our results show the importance to focus on fatigue amongst stress as a target for intervention to improve cognitive functioning

Pharmacogenomic and structural analysis of constitutive G-protein coupled receptor activity

Premi a l'excel·lència investigadora. Àmbit de les Ciències de la Salut. 2008G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) respond to a chemically diverse plethora of signal transduction molecules. The notion that GPCRs also signal without an external chemical trigger, i.e. in a constitutive or spontaneous manner, resulted in a paradigm shift in the field of GPCR pharmacology. With the recognition of constitutive GPCR activity and the fact that GPCR binding and signaling can be strongly affected by a single point mutation, GPCR pharmacogenomics obtained a lot of attention. For a variety of GPCRs, point mutations have been convincingly linked to human disease. Mutations within conserved motifs, known to be involved in GPCR activation, might explain the properties of some naturally occurring constitutively active GPCR variants linked to disease. A brief history historical introduction to the present concept of constitutive receptor activity is given and the pharmacogenomic and the structural aspects of constitutive receptor activity are described