Effect of an organoclay on the reaction-induced phase-separation in a dynamically asymmetric epoxy/PCL system

The addition of layered silicates can significantly affect the phase behaviour of both immiscible thermoplastic blends and partially miscible thermoset systems that undergo reaction-induced phase separation (RIPS) during curing. This study focuses on the phase behaviour of polycaprolactone (PCL)/epoxy in the presence of organically modified montmorillonite (oMMT). Due to the high dynamic asymmetry caused by the differences in the molecular weights and viscosities of the PCL and the uncured epoxy, the critical point is localised at low PCL concentrations, as indicated by the pseudophase diagram. The addition of oMMT to the system led to the marked shift of the critical point towards higher concentrations of PCL, with an increase in the oMMT content occurring as a consequence of the preferential localisation of the clay in the epoxy phase, making this phase more dynamically slow. Significant changes in morphology, including phase inversion of the PCL/epoxy systems caused by the presence of oMMT, were recorded for PCL concentrations ranging from 10 to 30%

Regulation of the abundance of clover seed weevils, Apion spp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in a seed stand of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.)

The clover seed weevils, Apion trifolii and Protapion apricans, members of the genus Apion, are responsible for causing serious economic damage in clover. In 2010-2012, the effectiveness of some insecticides against clover seed weevils in the genus Apion were tested in red clover stands. The efficacy of different products was evaluated on the basis of analyses of specimens trapped in the herb layer of red clover using a sweep net and red clover heads sampled in individual plots. Over the course of these trials, the applications of the products tested resulted in a marked reduction in their numbers (particularly of adults and, to a lesser extent, also of larvae). The highest efficacy was observed with Biscaya 240 (A.I. thiacloprid) and Mospilan 20 SP (A.I. acetamiprid). Results obtained in this study corroborated the low efficacy of the insecticide Karate Zeon Technology 5 CS against seed weevils of the genus Apion

A comparison of ground beetle assemblages (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in conventionally and ecologically managed alfalfa fields

From 2007-2011, the occurrence of ground beetles (<em>Coleoptera</em>: <em>Carabidae</em>) was studied using emergence traps in two differently managed alfalfa fields in the Czech Republic - a conventional and an ecological production system. In total, 784 specimens of ground beetles representing 58 species were trapped in these two alfalfa fields in South Moravia. A slightly higher number of specimens were trapped in the conventionally managed than in the ecological alfalfa stand (404 <em>vs</em> 380, respectively). In the conventionally managed alfalfa stand, the number of species was also higher than in the ecological stand (45 <em>vs</em> 40, respectively). With the exception of 2007 and 2009, Simpson’s indices of diversity were higher in the conventional stand than in the ecological in all study years. Shannon’s index was higher in the conventional alfalfa field in 2008, 2009, and 2011. Regarding distribution, species classified into group E (<em>i.e.</em>, those without special demands on the type and quality of their habitat) dominated in both types of management throughout the experimental period. The incidence of species classified into group R (<em>i.e</em>., those with narrow ecological amplitude) was very low;<em> i.e</em>., only four species. These ground beetle species are included in the Red List of Threatened Species of the Czech Republic, and all of them (<em>i.e</em>. <em>Acupalpus</em> <em>suturalis</em>, <em>Calosoma</em> <em>auropunctatum</em>, <em>Cicindela</em> <em>germanica</em> and <em>Ophonus</em> <em>cribricollis</em>) are listed as vulnerable

Epoxy/PCL nanocomposites: Effect of layered silicate on structure and behavior

The effect of clay-induced morphological transitions on the structure formed in the course of reactively induced phase separation (RIPS) and its impact on the properties of epoxy/polycaprolactone (PCL) nanocomposites were studied. The effect of organophilized montmorillonite on the behavior of epoxy containing 5&#8211;30% PCL was strongly dependent on the epoxy/PCL system composition. With a supercritical 20% PCL content, the increasing amounts of clay led to changes in the morphology that produced phase inversion, causing radical changes in the mechanical behavior. The main effect of the clay, which was located preferentially in the epoxy, was to influence the significant dynamic asymmetry (and thus the phase behavior). The simultaneous pinning effect of the clay on the phase separation changed the composition and parameters of the coexisting phases. The evaluation of the structure-properties relationship indicated the significant potential for nanoclays to control the behavior of thermoplastic- modified epoxy systems

Corrigendum to “Evidence for discrete modes of YAP1 signaling via mRNA splice isoforms in development and disease” [Genomics 113 (2021) 1349–1365]

Correction to: Vrbský, J., Vinarský, V., Perestrelo, A. R., De La Cruz, J. O., Martino, F., Pompeiano, A., Izzi, V., Hlinomaz, O., Rotrekl, V., Sudol, M., Pagliari, S., &amp; Forte, G. (2021). Evidence for discrete modes of YAP1 signaling via mRNA splice isoforms in development and diseases. Genomics, 113(3), 1349–1365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.03.009 Rinnakkaistallennettu versio / Self-archived versio

Evidence for discrete modes of YAP1 signaling via mRNA splice isoforms in development and diseases

Abstract Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) is a transcriptional co-activator downstream of Hippo pathway. The pathway exerts crucial roles in organogenesis and its dysregulation is associated with the spreading of different cancer types. YAP1 gene encodes for multiple protein isoforms, whose specific functions are not well defined. We demonstrate the splicing of isoform-specific mRNAs is controlled in a stage- and tissue-specific fashion. We designed expression vectors encoding for the most-represented isoforms of YAP1 with either one or two WW domains and studied their specific signaling activities in YAP1 knock-out cell lines. YAP1 isoforms display both common and unique functions and activate distinct transcriptional programs, as the result of their unique protein interactomes. By generating TEAD-based transcriptional reporter cell lines, we demonstrate individual YAP1 isoforms display unique effects on cell proliferation and differentiation. Finally, we illustrate the complexity of the regulation of Hippo-YAP1 effector in physiological and in pathological conditions of the heart