The response of the diatom Asterionllopsis glacialis to variations in CO2 and nitrate availability

Inimtegevuse poolt õhku paisatud süsihappegaas (CO2) on põhjustanud kiiresti tõusva CO2 taseme atmosfääris. Heitkoguste praeguse kasvutempo jätkudes, võib aastaks 2100 CO2 tase kahekordistuda. Süsihappegaasi kontsentratsioon atmosfääris on tasakaalus ookeani pindmise kihi CO2 tasemega, põhjustades seeläbi pH alanemist. On leitud, et muutused vee keemilistes omadustes (suurenev CO2/alanev pH tase) võivad avaldada mõju primaarprodutsentidele. Tänaseks on vähe teada millised on erinevate faktorite koosmõjud. Käesoleva töö eesmärgiks oli välja selgitada millised on CO2 (620, 840, 1640 μatm) ja nitraadi (7 and 13 μmol l-1) mõjud kolooniaid moodustavale kosmopoliitsele ränivetikale Asterionellopsis glacialis. Vastupidiselt eeldusele, CO2 mõju kasvule ei sõltunud nitraadi kontsentratsioonist. Leiti, et CO2 suurenedes tõusis saagikus ning suurenes kasvukiirus. Samuti suurenesid kolooniad. Leiti ka, et kasv oli oluliselt suurem kõrgemal nitraadi kontsentratsioonil, aga see ei mõjutanud kolooniate suurust. Töö tulemustest järeldub, et suurenev süsiniku kättesaadavus mõjutab positiivselt A. glacialise kasvu ning kolooniate moodustamist. Eeldustekohaselt vajuvad suuremad kolooniad kiiremini ning seeläbi kiireneb orgaanilise aine settimine, mis eemaldab süsiniku aktiivsest bioloogiliselt ringest. Tänu sellele on võimalik anda negatiivset tagasisidet inimtekkelisele CO2 hulga tõusule Maa atmosfääris

Rearing tench (Tinca tinca L.) in closed aquaculture system

Töö eesmärgiks oli uurida linaski kasvatamise võimalusi suletud veekasutusega kalakasvatuse süsteemis (RAS – st recirculation aguaculture system). Uuriti kalade kohanemist e adaptatsiooni RASi paigutamisel; võrreldi linaskite keskmise massi muutusi kontrollgrupiks valitud karpkaladega; võrreldi erinevaid söötmisskeeme ning selgitati välja, millised olid katsekalade massi muutused katse jooksul ja milline kaalumise metoodika selle hindamiseks sobis. Katse teostati EMÜ vesiviljeluse osakonnas asuvas suletud veekasutusega kalakasvatuse süsteemis. Kokku oli katsepäevi 57, mis jagati neljaks etapiks. Katse esimesel kahel etapil söödeti kõiki kalu lähtudes söötmisnormist, et selgitada milline on söödakasutus ning kui palju kasvavad kalad juurde kindla söödakogusega söötmisel. Järgneval kahel etapil söödeti kalu isu järgi ad libitum, et teada saada milline on kalade juurdekasvu potentsiaal ning näha kas katsegruppide kasvutempod erinevad üksteisest. Kalade adapteerimisel aset leidnud haiguspuhangu tagajärjel suri 62% karpkaladest. Linaskite seas suremust ei esinenud. Kahe etapi järel oli nii linaskite kui ka karpkalade keskmine mass väga vähe tõusnud, mis ei osutunud statistiliselt oluliselt erinevaks (kõigi võrdluste puhul p>001, t-test). Karpkalade vähene kasv võis olla tingitud liiga madalast söötmisnormist, mida näitas söödajääkide puudumine karpkalade basseinis. Isu järgi söötmise kahel etapil ilmnseid erinevused. Katse lõpuks oli karpkalade mass märgatavalt tõusnud, see muutus oli statistiliselt oluline (p<0,001, t-test). Kuid linaskite kehamassid muutusid väga vähesel määral ning need muutused ei olnud statistiliselt olulised (p=0,891; p=0,955, t-test). Isu järgi söötmine kinnitas, et karpkalade jaoks oli algne söötmisnorm liiga väike aga linaskite juurdekasvu puudumise põhjused olid muus kui söödakoguses. Linaskite juurdekasvu võisid mõjutada mitmeid tegurid: läbipõetud bakteriaalhaigus, stress ja sööt. Linaski kasvatamine suletud veekasutusega kalakasvatuse süsteemis on võimalik, kuid väheefektiivne, sest kalade juurdekasv on väga väike. Linaskile olid loodud sobilikud keskkonnatingimused, kuid linask on liialt stressialdis kala suletud veekasutusega kalakasvatuse süsteemis tootmiseks. Tema võime süüa kunstliku sööta ning juurdekasv jäävad karpkala omale tugevasti alla.The aim of the thesis was to examine the possibilities of rearing juvenile tench in RASsystem (recirculation aquaculture system). The adaption of the fish upon placing into RAS was examined, the average body weight of the tench was compared to the control group of the carp; different feeding-schemes were compared, and the changes in body weight of the sample groups of fish during the experiment were examined, as well as which kinds of weighing methods were suitable for assessment. The growth performance experiment, which was carried out in the in the closed recirculating aquaculture system of the Department of Aguaculture of the University of Life Sciences. The experiment period lasted for a total number of 57 days, which was divided into four stages. During the first two stages, the fish were fed on the basis of the feeding rates in order to determine the feed use as well as how much the fish gain weight within certain norms. During the subsequent two stages, the fish were fed ad libitum, in order to find out the growth potential of the fish and find out if the sample groups differ in growth from each other. During the adaptation period, 62% of the carp perished due to the infection outbreak. The mortality rate for the tench was zero. After two stages the average weight of the carp as well as the tench had only slightly increased, which proved to be statistically insignificant (in case of all comparisons p<0.001, t-test). The lack of growth in the carp might have been caused by a too low feeding rate, since there was no leftover feed in the carp pool. During the subsequent two stages differences revealed. At the end of the experiment, the weight of the carp had significantly increased, also the change was deemed statistically significant (p<0,001, t-test). The body weight of the tench grew only slightly and these changes were deemed statistically insignificant (p=0,891; p=0,955, t-test). Ad libitum feeding confirmed that the initial feeding rate was too small for the carp; however, the lack of growth in the tench was caused by something other than the amount of feed. The growth of the tench could have been affected by several factors: suffered bacterial infection, stress and feed. Rearing tench in a closed aquaculture system is possile, yet ineffective, because the additional growth of the fish is very small. Suitable environmental conditions were created for the tench, but the tench is too stress-prone to be reared in closed aquaculture system. Its ability to consume artificial feed and growth rates are significantly smaller than those of the carp

Direct Reprogramming of Mouse Fibroblasts into Functional Skeletal Muscle Progenitors

Summary Skeletal muscle harbors quiescent stem cells termed satellite cells and proliferative progenitors termed myoblasts, which play pivotal roles during muscle regeneration. However, current technology does not allow permanent capture of these cell populations in vitro. Here, we show that ectopic expression of the myogenic transcription factor MyoD, combined with exposure to small molecules, reprograms mouse fibroblasts into expandable induced myogenic progenitor cells (iMPCs). iMPCs express key skeletal muscle stem and progenitor cell markers including Pax7 and Myf5 and give rise to dystrophin-expressing myofibers upon transplantation in vivo. Notably, a subset of transplanted iMPCs maintain Pax7 expression and sustain serial regenerative responses. Similar to satellite cells, iMPCs originate from Pax7+ cells and require Pax7 itself for maintenance. Finally, we show that myogenic progenitor cell lines can be established from muscle tissue following small-molecule exposure alone. This study thus reports on a robust approach to derive expandable myogenic stem/progenitor-like cells from multiple cell types

Influence of Antisynthetase Antibodies Specificities on Antisynthetase Syndrome Clinical Spectrum TimeCourse

Introduction: Increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality is observed in inflammatory joint diseases (IJDs) such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis. However, the management of CV disease in these conditions is far from being well established.Areas covered: This review summarizes the main epidemiologic, pathophysiological, and clinical risk factors of CV disease associated with IJDs. Less common aspects on early diagnosis and risk stratification of the CV disease in these conditions are also discussed. In Europe, the most commonly used risk algorithm in patients with IJDs is the modified SCORE index based on the revised recommendations proposed by the EULAR task force in 2017.Expert opinion: Early identification of IJD patients at high risk of CV disease is essential. It should include the use of complementary noninvasive imaging techniques. A multidisciplinary approach aimed to improve heart-healthy habits, including strict control of classic CV risk factors is crucial. Adequate management of the underlying IJD is also of main importance since the reduction of disease activity decreases the risk of CV events. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may have a lesser harmful effect in IJD than in the general population, due to their anti-inflammatory effects along with other potential beneficial effects.This research was partially funded by FOREUM—Foundation for Research in Rheumatolog

Health relevance of the modification of low grade inflammation in ageing (inflammageing) and the role of nutrition

Ageing of the global population has become a public health concern with an important socio-economic dimension. Ageing is characterized by an increase in the concentration of inflammatory markers in the bloodstream, a phenomenon that has been termed "inflammageing". The inflammatory response is beneficial as an acute, transient reaction to harmful conditions, facilitating the defense, repair, turnover and adaptation of many tissues. However, chronic and low grade inflammation is likely to be detrimental for many tissues and for normal functions. We provide an overview of low grade inflammation (LGI) and determine the potential drivers and the effects of the "inflamed" phenotype observed in the elderly. We discuss the role of gut microbiota and immune system crosstalk and the gut-brain axis. Then, we focus on major health complications associated with LGI in the elderly, including mental health and wellbeing, metabolic abnormalities and infections. Finally, we discuss the possibility of manipulating LGI in the elderly by nutritional interventions. We provide an overview of the evidence that exists in the elderly for omega-3 fatty acid, probiotic, prebiotic, antioxidant and polyphenol interventions as a means to influence LGI. We conclude that slowing, controlling or reversing LGI is likely to be an important way to prevent, or reduce the severity of, age-related functional decline and the onset of conditions affecting health and well-being; that there is evidence to support specific dietary interventions as a strategy to control LGI; and that a continued research focus on this field is warranted

Stroke genetics informs drug discovery and risk prediction across ancestries

Previous genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of stroke — the second leading cause of death worldwide — were conducted predominantly in populations of European ancestry1,2. Here, in cross-ancestry GWAS meta-analyses of 110,182 patients who have had a stroke (five ancestries, 33% non-European) and 1,503,898 control individuals, we identify association signals for stroke and its subtypes at 89 (61 new) independent loci: 60 in primary inverse-variance-weighted analyses and 29 in secondary meta-regression and multitrait analyses. On the basis of internal cross-ancestry validation and an independent follow-up in 89,084 additional cases of stroke (30% non-European) and 1,013,843 control individuals, 87% of the primary stroke risk loci and 60% of the secondary stroke risk loci were replicated (P < 0.05). Effect sizes were highly correlated across ancestries. Cross-ancestry fine-mapping, in silico mutagenesis analysis3, and transcriptome-wide and proteome-wide association analyses revealed putative causal genes (such as SH3PXD2A and FURIN) and variants (such as at GRK5 and NOS3). Using a three-pronged approach4, we provide genetic evidence for putative drug effects, highlighting F11, KLKB1, PROC, GP1BA, LAMC2 and VCAM1 as possible targets, with drugs already under investigation for stroke for F11 and PROC. A polygenic score integrating cross-ancestry and ancestry-specific stroke GWASs with vascular-risk factor GWASs (integrative polygenic scores) strongly predicted ischaemic stroke in populations of European, East Asian and African ancestry5. Stroke genetic risk scores were predictive of ischaemic stroke independent of clinical risk factors in 52,600 clinical-trial participants with cardiometabolic disease. Our results provide insights to inform biology, reveal potential drug targets and derive genetic risk prediction tools across ancestries

Synthesis, UV-visible spectroelectrochemistry and theoretical characterization of new polypyridyl Ru(ii) complexes containing 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine as precursors for water oxidation catalysts

In this work, we report the syntheses and physicochemical characterization of new chloro and aqua complexes of Ru(ii) with 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (tptz) and 2,2′-bipyridines substituted with donor and acceptor groups in the 4,4′-positions. The aqua complexes behave as precursors for water oxidation catalysts at pH = 1 using Ce(iv) as a sacrificial oxidant. Besides, the oxidized forms Ru(iv) and Ru(v) have been characterized at different pH values by electrochemistry, UV-Visible spectroscopy and spectroelectrochemistry. The reaction mechanisms were studied by combining mixing and stopped-flow experiments with spectrophotometric monitoring in the UV-visible region and all the rate constants were determined together with the corresponding TON and TOF values at pH = 1. Calculations based on Density Functional Theory (DFT and TD-DFT) were performed to support the experimental data.Fil: Domínguez, Sofía Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Química del Noroeste. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química del Noroeste; ArgentinaFil: Moran Vieyra, Faustino Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Instituto de Bionanotecnología del Noa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Bionanotecnología del Noa; ArgentinaFil: Fagalde, Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Química del Noroeste. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química del Noroeste; Argentin

Rabbit genome analysis reveals a polygenic basis for phenotypic change during domestication

The genetic changes underlying the initial steps of animal domestication are still poorly understood. We generated a high-quality reference genome for the rabbit and compared it to resequencing data from populations of wild and domestic rabbits. We identified more than 100 selective sweeps specific to domestic rabbits but only a relatively small number of fixed (or nearly fixed) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for derived alleles. SNPs with marked allele frequency differences between wild and domestic rabbits were enriched for conserved noncoding sites. Enrichment analyses suggest that genes affecting brain and neuronal development have often been targeted during domestication. We propose that because of a truly complex genetic background, tame behavior in rabbits and other domestic animals evolved by shifts in allele frequencies at many loci, rather than by critical changes at only a few domestication loci