Ligand-selective Modulation of the Permeability Transition Pore by Arginine Modification OPPOSING EFFECTS OF p-HYDROXYPHENYLGLYOXAL AND PHENYLGLYOXAL

Chemical modification of mitochondria with the arginine-specific reagents phenylglyoxal (PGO) and 2,3-butanedione (BAD) decreases the Ca(2+) sensitivity of the permeability transition pore (PTP) and stabilizes it in the closed conformation (Eriksson, O., Fontaine, E., and Bernardi, P. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 12669-12674). Unexpectedly, modification of mitochondria with the arginine-specific reagent p-hydroxyphenylglyoxal (OH-PGO) resulted instead in PTP opening. Sequential modification with OH-PGO and PGO (or BAD) revealed that the effects on the PTP depended on the order of the additions. PTP opening was observed when OH-PGO preceded, and PTP closing was observed when OH-PGO followed, the addition of PGO (or BAD). The differential effects of OH-PGO and PGO on the PTP open probability (i) were not modified by the conformation-specific ligands of the adenine nucleotide translocase bongkrekate and atractylate; and (ii) were also observed in de-energized mitochondria, indicating that the effect is exerted directly on the PTP. OH-PGO dramatically sensitized PTP opening, which was triggered by depolarization even in the presence of EGTA. These data show that arginine modification modulates the PTP conformation in a ligand-selective fashion and suggest that the effects of OH-PGO, PGO, and BAD are mediated by the same arginine residues. We analyzed the structure of the arginine adducts by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization and time-of-flight mass spectrometry using a test peptide and N-acetylarginine. The results indicate that both OH-PGO and PGO react with arginine at a stoichiometry of 2:1 and form stable adducts that may be feasible to identify the PTP at the molecular level

Niittomurskaimet kuivattavat rehua tasaveroisesti

Vastalevyllä tai -kammalla varustetut varsta- ja kumitelamurskaimet ovat tasaveroisia rehun kuivumisen edistäjiä. Kulmikkailla varstoilla varustetussa niittomurskaimessa suuri murskausvoimakkuus voi jopa hidastaa kuivumista. Sen sijaan pyöreillä varstoilla varustetussa koneessa murskausvoimakkuudella ei yleensä ole merkitystä.vo

Forest biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and wood production: modeling synergies and trade-offs for ten forest landscapes across Europe

Original ResearchEurope’s forests provide vital habitat for biodiversity and essential ecosystem services whose provision must be sustained or enhanced over the coming century. However, the potential to secure or increase forest ecosystem services, while securing the habitat requirements of taxa remains unclear, especially within the context of uncertain climate and socio-economic developments. To tease out the associated trade-offs and synergies, we used 10 case study landscapes within nine countries throughout Europe. Starting with the current status of the forests in the case study landscapes, we simulated forest development 100 years into the future. Simulations were embedded in three combined climate and socio-economic frame scenarios based on global and European policies which varied in their climate change mitigation efficiency. Scenarios were translated into country specific projections of climate variables, and resultant demands for wood products. Forest management regimes were projected to vary in response to these scenarios at local scales. The specific combinations of alternative forest management practices were based on parallel research and input from local forest stakeholders. For each case study, a specific forest growth simulator was used. In general, the climate scenarios applied did not cause fundamentally different ecosystem service outputs at the case study level. Our results revealed almost no reduction in outcomes for biodiversity indicators with an increase in wood production, and in some cases synergistic results occurred when diversity was actively promoted as part of the management concept. Net carbon uptake was not strongly correlated with biodiversity, indicating that biodiversity-friendly forest management doesn’t need to curtail carbon sequestration. Notably, we obtained heterogeneous results for the relation between sustainable wood production and net carbon uptake. Most scenarios resulted in a more or less reduced net carbon uptake over the long term, often due to stand age class distribution shifts. Levels of sustainable wood production varied widely during the simulation period, from significant increases (Sweden, Lithuania) to minor changes (Slovakia, Turkey) and slight decreases (Ireland, Netherlands). We place our results within the larger context of European forest policy and the challenges of simulating and contrasting forest biodiversity and the ecosystem services that societies depend on outcomes for biodiversity indicators with an increase in wood production, and in some cases synergistic results occurred when diversity was actively promoted as part of the management concept. Net carbon uptake was not strongly correlated with biodiversity, indicating that biodiversity-friendly forest management doesn’t need to curtail carbon sequestration. Notably, we obtained heterogeneous results for the relation between sustainable wood production and net carbon uptake. Most scenarios resulted in a more or less reduced net carbon uptake over the long term, often due to stand age class distribution shifts. Levels of sustainable wood production varied widely during the simulation period, from significant increases (Sweden, Lithuania) to minor changes (Slovakia, Turkey) and slight decreases (Ireland, Netherlands). We place our results within the larger context of European forest policy and the challenges of simulating and contrasting forest biodiversity and the ecosystem services that societies depend oninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Serotonergic aspects on high consumption of alcohol in humans. Experimental and clinical studies

In animal studies an association between alcohol intake and central serotonergic function has been demonstrated. There are also evidence for altered serotonergic neurotransmission in subgroups of alcohol-dependent subjects.The aim of the thesis was to investigate the effect of SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) on alcohol intake, in relation to biological markers for alcoholism, in men with long-term high alcohol consumption but without social, psychiatric or somatic complications due to their alcohol intake. The subjects were approximately 50 years old, had a history of daily alcohol consumption of about 100 g since 10 years. Despite that 70% fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence only 30% had earlier experiences from health care or voluntary organizations due to their alcohol problem. They had few social, medical or other complications related to their alcohol intake. They may therefore represent a group of patients not well known in traditional treatment programs.Compared to a norm group they had lower levels of mental well-being but no anxious or depressive symptoms as assessed by rating scales. The lower moods were most marked in the group of subjects who discontinued the study. Reduction in alcohol consumption of about 60% did not affect moods. Treatment with an SSRI did not increase moods although a trend was observed. On the other hand, participating in the study program increased mood levels to that of a norm group.The subjects were found to have signs of impaired central serotonergic neurotransmission as assessed by the fenfluramine challenge test, but platelet monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) activity was of the same magnitude as in a reference group. The presence of the dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) A1 allele was about 20%, as could be expected from the prevalence in the general population. Subjects with the DRD2 A1 allele had lower platelet MAO-B activity than those with the DRD2 A2/A2 alleles.The present studies suggest that treatment with an SSRI during a period of alcohol consumption can reduce alcohol intake by about 20% compared to placebo for at least 2 weeks. This finding is more of a theoretical interest than of clinical usefulness. Predictors for an alcohol-reducing effect of SSRIs may be a mean daily pure alcohol consumption between 60 and 100 g, presence of the DRD2 A2/A2 alleles and high prolactin response to fenfluramine

Teknisk verifiering och validering av ADS-B/VDL Mode 4 för A-SMGCS

This report is a technical verification and validation of ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast) over VDL Mode 4 (Very High Frequency Data Link Mode 4) for the use in the surveillance element of an A-SMGCS (Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System). The main objective of this report is to examine if ADS-B/VDL Mode 4 fulfils the technical requirements for an implementation at Arlanda airport, Stockholm Sweden. The report also includes a FMECA (Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis), a theoretical background and methods for monitoring. The process of making this report can be divided into three phases: 1. Preliminary Study. In this phase the requirements were examined and structured. 2. Verification. In this phase the system performance has been verified both theoretically and by several tests at Arlanda Airport. Simulation results have also been used. 3. Validation and documentation. The tests and verifications that were performed in phase 2 were validated in the third phase of the project. The final project document was also written in this phase. The main conclusion from this analysis is that ADS-B/VDL Mode 4 is well suited for surveillance. ADS-B/VDL Mode 4 has the possibility to fulfil all considered requirements, apart from detecting all obstacles. But if all the requirements are going to be fulfilled depends both on the implementation and the operational environment. The results from this verification and validation should be used as the technical subset in a future safety case, both in Sweden and internationally

On the Effect of Antennas on UWB Systems

Abstract- Ultra-wideband (UWB) communication systems are emerging as the most promising solution for high rate, short range wireless communication, with applications in home networking and high quality multimedia content delivery. This technique is being studied in numerous research projects and is the subject of a standardization work within the IEEE 802.15.3a task group. UWB systems are characterised by a radio signal whose fractional bandwidth, i.e the ratio between 3-dB bandwidth and center frequency, is greater than 25 % and by a very low radiated power (−41.3dBm/MHz at most, by FCC requirements [1]). UWB systems cover a spectrum of several gigahertz and the transmitted pulses are very short, in the order of a few nanoseconds. For these kind of pulses, antennas act as pulse shaping filters for which the impulse response depends on the direction of arrival (DoA) of the received waveform. During the standardization work in IEEE802.15.3a, a new UWB channel model was proposed, following the Saleh-Valenzuela cluster model [2] with some modifications [3]. The model is parameterised in four scenarios describing different communication situations, e.g., line-of-sight (LOS) or non line-of-sight (NLOS) communication and shadowing effect. A model for the direction of arrival was proposed in [4]. Combining these two models, we obtained a description of the channel suitable for including antennas in the system model. The antenna is modeled using a bank of discrete FIR filters with one filter for each direction of arrival. The antenna under study is a UWB monocone antenna designed at ENSTA as reported in [5]

Fast Method of XANES Data Collection Suitable for Oxidation State Mapping

XANES has been recently used for the determination of oxidation states of actinides in environmental samples. To obtain reliable results, however, a sufficiently long counting time at every probing energy and a large number of experimental points per XANES spectrum are required, due to the complex mathematical model used to fit the measured spectrum. This makes micro-mapping difficult, since the time required for data collection becomes unacceptably long. A simplified model for data collection and evaluation is presented. Its effectiveness has been tested by measuring the distribution of Pu oxidation states in a ¿¿hot¿¿ particle coming from a nuclear weapon test site.JRC.E.5-Nuclear chemistr