First Report on «Hop Stunt Viroid» (HSVd) from Some Mediterranean Countries

Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) has a very wide host range including most stone fruit trees. Among them, apricot is one of the most important host crops in the Mediterranean basin. In this study non-isotopic molecular hybridisation revealed, for the first time, the presence of HSVd on apricot in four Mediterranean countries (Cyprus, Greece, Morocco and Turkey). The results obtained by this technique were confirmed by northern-blot and RT-PCR analyses. The data presented in this work indicate a wider geographical distribution of this viroid than hitherto known and emphasise the need for this kind of study as part of the control effort

Concordant peripheral lipidome signatures in two large clinical studies of Alzheimer’s disease

© 2020, The Author(s). Changes to lipid metabolism are tightly associated with the onset and pathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Lipids are complex molecules comprising many isomeric and isobaric species, necessitating detailed analysis to enable interpretation of biological significance. Our expanded targeted lipidomics platform (569 species across 32 classes) allows for detailed lipid separation and characterisation. In this study we examined peripheral samples of two cohorts (AIBL, n = 1112 and ADNI, n = 800). We are able to identify concordant peripheral signatures associated with prevalent AD arising from lipid pathways including; ether lipids, sphingolipids (notably GM3 gangliosides) and lipid classes previously associated with cardiometabolic disease (phosphatidylethanolamine and triglycerides). We subsequently identified similar lipid signatures in both cohorts with future disease. Lastly, we developed multivariate lipid models that improved classification and prediction. Our results provide a holistic view between the lipidome and AD using a comprehensive approach, providing targets for further mechanistic investigation

APOE ε2 resilience for Alzheimer’s disease is mediated by plasma lipid species: Analysis of three independent cohort studies

Introduction The apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer\u27s disease. However, its effect on lipid metabolic pathways, and their mediating effect on disease risk, is poorly understood. Methods We performed lipidomic analysis on three independent cohorts (the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle [AIBL] flagship study, n = 1087; the Alzheimer\u27s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative [ADNI] 1 study, n = 819; and the Busselton Health Study [BHS], n = 4384), and we defined associations between APOE ε2 and ε4 and 569 plasma/serum lipid species. Mediation analysis defined the proportion of the treatment effect of the APOE genotype mediated by plasma/serum lipid species. Results A total of 237 and 104 lipid species were associated with APOE ε2 and ε4, respectively. Of these 68 (ε2) and 24 (ε4) were associated with prevalent Alzheimer\u27s disease. Individual lipid species or lipidomic models of APOE genotypes mediated up to 30% and 10% of APOE ε2 and ε4 treatment effect, respectively. Discussion Plasma lipid species mediate the treatment effect of APOE genotypes on Alzheimer\u27s disease and as such represent a potential therapeutic target

Comprehensive genetic analysis of the human lipidome identifies loci associated with lipid homeostasis with links to coronary artery disease

We integrated lipidomics and genomics to unravel the genetic architecture of lipid metabolism and identify genetic variants associated with lipid species putatively in the mechanistic pathway for coronary artery disease (CAD). We quantified 596 lipid species in serum from 4,492 individuals from the Busselton Health Study. The discovery GWAS identified 3,361 independent lipid-loci associations, involving 667 genomic regions (479 previously unreported), with validation in two independent cohorts. A meta-analysis revealed an additional 70 independent genomic regions associated with lipid species. We identified 134 lipid endophenotypes for CAD associated with 186 genomic loci. Associations between independent lipid-loci with coronary atherosclerosis were assessed in ∼ 456,000 individuals from the UK Biobank. Of the 53 lipid-loci that showed evidence of association (P \u3c 1 × 10−3), 43 loci were associated with at least one lipid endophenotype. These findings illustrate the value of integrative biology to investigate the aetiology of atherosclerosis and CAD, with implications for other complex diseases

Seven HCI Grand Challenges

This article aims to investigate the Grand Challenges which arise in the current and emerging landscape of rapid technological evolution towards more intelligent interactive technologies, coupled with increased and widened societal needs, as well as individual and collective expectations that HCI, as a discipline, is called upon to address. A perspective oriented to humane and social values is adopted, formulating the challenges in terms of the impact of emerging intelligent interactive technologies on human life both at the individual and societal levels. Seven Grand Challenges are identified and presented in this article: Human-Technology Symbiosis; Human-Environment Interactions; Ethics, Privacy and Security; Well-being, Health and Eudaimonia; Accessibility and Universal Access; Learning and Creativity; and Social Organization and Democracy. Although not exhaustive, they summarize the views and research priorities of an international interdisciplinary group of experts, reflecting different scientific perspectives, methodological approaches and application domains. Each identified Grand Challenge is analyzed in terms of: concept and problem definition; main research issues involved and state of the art; and associated emerging requirements

Polymeric polyblend Copolymers Polystyrene: Production, characterization and study their applications

153 σ.Στην παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία έγινε μελέτη της παραγωγής πολυμιγμάτων συμπολυμερών πολυστυρενίου και αναβάθμιση των ιδιοτήτων τους με καθιερωμένες τεχνικές συμβατοποίησης καθώς και με πιο καινοτομικές μεθόδους μέσω της ενσωμάτωσης νανοσωματιδίων ορυκτής αργίλου. Ακολούθησε ο χαρακτηρισμός της δομής, των ρεολογικών και θερμομηχανικών ιδιοτήτων των υβριδικών αυτών συστημάτων και η μελέτη εφαρμογών τους. Τα πολυμερή που μελετήθηκαν χρησιμοποιούνται σε εφαρμογές ηλεκτρικού και ηλεκτρονικού εξοπλισμού (ΗΗΕ), με την προοπτική ανάπτυξης τεχνογνωσίας για τη μηχανική ανακύκλωση των απορριμμάτων τους. Συγκεκριμένα, εξετάσθηκαν τα συστήματα: Ακρυλονιτρίλιο-Βουταδιένιο-Στυρένιο (ABS) με Στυρένιο-Ακρυλονιτρίλιο (SAN), Πολυανθρακικά (PC) με Στυρένιο-Ακρυλονιτρίλιο (SAN) και Πολυπροπυλένιο (PP) με Ακρυλονιτρίλιο-Βουταδιένιο-Στυρένιο (ABS). Για την παρασκευή των προαναφερθέντων υβριδικών συστημάτων χρησιμοποιήθηκε η διάταξη του δικόχλιου εκβολέα, ενώ για τη μορφοποίησή τους η μονάδα έγχυσης και η υδραυλική θερμόπρεσσα. Για το χαρακτηρισμό των μιγμάτων που ελήφθησαν χρησιμοποιήθηκαν οι τεχνικές της ανάλυσης με περίθλαση ακτίνων Χ (XRD), της ανάλυσης με διαφορική θερμιδομετρία σάρωσης (DSC) και της θερμοσταθμικής ανάλυσης (TGA). Επίσης πραγματοποιήθηκαν δοκιμές εφελκυσμού και μετρήσεις του δείκτη ροής τήγματος (MFI). Λέξεις κλειδιά: ABS, SAN, PC, ΡΡ, ορυκτή άργιλος, ABS-g-MAH, συμβατότητα, νανοσύνθετα, μηχανικές ιδιότητεςThe aim of this diploma thesis is the production and the upgrading of engineering thermoplastics polyblends, the characterization of structure, rheological and thermomechanical properties of these systems and to examine their potential applications. These polymers are used in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) applications. Specifically, the following systems were studied: Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) and Styrene-Acrylonitrile (SAN), Polycarbonate (PC) and Styrene-Acrylonitrile (SAN) and Polypropylene (PP) with Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS). For the preparation of the above mentioned hybrid systems melt mixing in a twin screw extruder was applied and specimens for characterization were prepared by injection moulding and a heated plates hydraulic press. The prepared polyblends were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), tensile test and melt flow index (MFI) measurements. Keywords: ABS, SAN, PC, PP, Cloisite 30B, ABS-g-MAH, compatibility, nanocomposites, mechanical properties.Μάριος Ι. Γαβριή