Cell-type phylogenetics and the origin of endometrial stromal cells

SummaryA challenge of genome annotation is the identification of genes performing specific biological functions. Here, we propose a phylogenetic approach that utilizes RNA-seq data to infer the historical relationships among cell types and to trace the pattern of gene-expression changes on the tree. The hypothesis is that gene-expression changes coincidental with the origin of a cell type will be important for the function of the derived cell type. We apply this approach to the endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), which are critical for the initiation and maintenance of pregnancy. Our approach identified well-known regulators of ESCs, PGR and FOXO1, as well as genes not yet implicated in female fertility, including GATA2 and TFAP2C. Knockdown analysis confirmed that they are essential for ESC differentiation. We conclude that phylogenetic analysis of cell transcriptomes is a powerful tool for discovery of genes performing cell-type-specific functions

Development and Optimization of Gas Diffusion Electrodes for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction at High Current Density

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 to valuable compounds is a promising approach for its substantial utilization and the storage of electricity in chemical form. At present, the main challenges impeding technical realization are i) low production rates due to mass transport limitations deriving from the low solubility of CO2 in the electrolyte, ii) high overpotentials and poor energetic efficiency, necessitating development of more active catalysts, as well as iii) the demonstration of its continuous production which combines the above with low ohmic losses and long-term stability. Furthermore, hydrogen evolution occurs in the same potential range, and becomes dominating at current densities above 10 mA∙cm 2 on conventional metallic electrodes when diffusion of CO2 to the electrode surface becomes rate-determining

Transferring Electrochemical CO2 Reduction from Semi-Batch into Continuous Operation Mode Using Gas Diffusion Electrodes

The electrochemical reduction of C02 is a promising method for its conversion which still suffers from important challenges that have to be solved before indus­ trial realization becomes attractive. The optimization of gas diffusion electrodes is described with respect to catalyst dispersion and mass transport limitations allowing solubility issues to be circumvented and current densities to be increased to industrially relevant values. The transfer of the promising results from semi-batch experiments into continuous mode of operation is demonstrated, and it is indi­cated how the energetic efficiency can be significantly improved by the choice of electrolyte, in terms of concentration and type. Thereby ohmic losses can be decreased and the intrinsic activity be improved

Morfologia e ultraestrutura do intestino do peixe antártico Notothenia rossi Richardson, 1844 e sua relaçao com o hábito alimentar

Orientadora : Edith FantaDissertaçao (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciencias Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduaçao em Biologia Celular e Molecular. Defesa: Curitiba, 04/03/2005Inclui bibliografiaAs características oceanográficas do Oceano Austral podem ter moldado a evolução do aparelho digestório de peixes antárticos e podem estar relacionadas ao desenvolvimento de hábitos alimentares específicos nestes peixes. O presente trabalho tem o objetivo de estudar a morfologia e a ultraestrutura do intestino do peixe antártico Notothenia rossii e relacionar os resultados obtidos com os hábitos alimentares desta espécie. N. rossii exibe características do trato digestório de peixes carnívoros, como estômago grande e intestino relativamente curto. A mucosa intestinal é constituída principalmente de enterócitos e células caliciformes. As células caliciformes secretam mucossubstâncias neutras, ácidas e ácidas ricas em grupamentos sulfatados, porém a intensidade da secreção de muco varia sensivelmente ao longo do intestino. Os enterócitos do intestino médio e posterior podem estar envolvidos com a absorção de lipídios, devido à presença de partículas lipídicas no citoplasma das células absortivas. Os enterócitos dos cecos pilóricos, intestino médio e intestino posterior podem estar envolvidos com a absorção de proteínas, pois foram observados corpúsculos multivesiculares no citoplasma destas células. Tais características do trato digestorio podem estar relacionadas aos hábitos alimentares e características metabólicas da espécie, e a adaptação deste nototenídeo a sazonalidade e ao ambiente permanentemente frio dos mares antárticosOceanographic properties of the Southern Ocean may have influenced the evolution of the digestive system in Antarctic fish, being possibly related to the development of specific feeding habits in these organisms. Our main objective was to study morfology and ultrastructure of the intestine of the Antarctic fish Notothenia rossii, relating these characteristics to feeding habits of the species. Some observed features of the digestive system of N. rossii, such as a large stomach and a relatively short intestine, are typical of carnivore fish. The intestinal epithelium is formed mainly of enterocytes and mucous cells. The latter produce neutral, acidic and sulphate-rich acidic mucous substances, which are secreted in varying intensities throughout the intestine. The presence of lipidic substances on the cytoplasm of enterocytes in the middle and posterior segments of the intestine and of multivesicular corpuscula in the pyloric cecae, as well as in the middle and posterior segments, suggest an important role of these cells on lipid and protein absorption. These features of the digestive tract are probably related to feeding habits and metabolic characteristics of this nototenid species, and to its adaptation to seasonality and the permanently cold environment of Antarctic seas

Estudo morfofuncional do intestino dos peixes antárticos Lepidonotothen nudifrons E Notothenia rossii e sua relaçao com o hábito alimentar

Orientadora: Edith FantaMonografia (Bacharelado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná. Setor de Ciencias Biológicas. Curso de Graduaçao em Ciencias Biológica

Telework within the Bureau of Reclamation Lower Colorado Region office

A team of researchers from The University of Nevada, Las Vegas were invited by management to observe, assess, and offer recommendations. It was determined by the research team that the first step to improving participation would be to observe the functional telework policy, compare and contrast it with the Department of the Interior standards, and offer recommendations to generate data necessary to develop an updated telework policy by management. The recommendations made by this group include creating an employee eligibility list, tracking actual participation by creating a renewal policy for employees choosing to telework. It is also recommended that a database of employee status be created which tracks whether a telework arrangement is in place and in use

Impact of smoking behavior on clozapine blood levels – a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Objective Tobacco smoking significantly impacts clozapine blood levels and has substantial implications on individual efficacy and safety outcomes. By investigating differences in clozapine blood levels in smoking and non‐smoking patients on clozapine, we aim to provide guidance for clinicians how to adjust clozapine levels for patients on clozapine who change their smoking habits. Methods We conducted a meta‐analysis on clozapine blood levels, norclozapine levels, norclozapine/clozapine ratios and concentration to dose (C/D) ratios in smokers and non‐smokers on clozapine. Data were meta‐analysed using a random‐effects model with sensitivity analyses on dose, ethnic origin and study quality. Results Data from 23 studies were included in this meta‐analysis with 21 investigating differences between clozapine blood levels of smokers and non‐smokers. In total, data from 7125 samples were included for the primary outcome (clozapine blood levels in ng/ml) in this meta‐analysis. A meta‐analysis of all between‐subject studies (N=16) found that clozapine blood levels were significantly lower in smokers compared to non‐smokers (Standard Mean Difference (SMD) ‐0.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) ‐0.55 to ‐0.22,

Psychiatric medication and physical performance parameters – are there implications for treatment?

Introduction The impact of psychiatric medications and their enhancing or impairing effects on physical performance remains inconclusive. Therefore, with this systematic review we provide a comprehensive overview of frequently used psychotropic drugs and their effects on physical performance for the purpose of providing empirical information and deriving prescription and therapy recommendations for clinical practice. Methods We systematically searched PubMed, PsycInfo, and Cochrane databases and extracted human studies investigating the effect of psychotropic drugs on parameters associated with the level of physical performance, such as exercise time, oxygen consumption, heart rate, muscle contraction or blood lactate concentration in physically healthy participants. 36 studies - comprising a broad range of psychotropic agents, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, sedatives, and stimulants - were selected for final analyses. Results Most studies (N = 32) were randomized controlled trials (RCT) with a double-blind crossover design. Antidepressants (N = 21) were the most frequently studied drug class, with contradictory results e.g., performance enhancement in warm environment but not in temperate conditions for bupropion or inconsistent findings between studies for other antidepressants. Antipsychotics (N = 3) mainly showed impairing effects on physical performance, while stimulants (N = 4) were often performance-enhancing. Sedatives (N = 9) may cause a hangover effect. Conclusion The examined studies with heterogeneous design showed different effects of psychiatric medications on physical performance. Antipsychotics seemed to be performance impairing, while the findings for antidepressants and sedatives were more inconsistent. Stimulants were the only group with consistent performance-enhancing effects. However, most studies were conducted with a small sample size (N < 10), mostly in well-trained subjects rather than in patients with psychiatric disorders, and most studies used single-dose designs. These issues impede the formulation of generalized conclusions for treatment regimes and should therefore be considered in further longitudinal studies for clinically reliable statements. Nevertheless, answering our research question is quite relevant for clinical practice and therapeutic prescription and should be further investigated especially considering the high drop-out rates in drug treatment. Systematic review registration [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=276103], identifier [CRD42021276103]