The control of indirect effects of biomanipulation

Results from long-term investigations on biomanipulation show that indirect effects are at least as important as direct effects are for the stability of biomanipulation. Three types of indirect effects can be distinguished: (1) a change in quantity or quality of the resource base, (2) behavioural change of the prey, and (3) development of anti-predator traits. Although indirect effects of type (2), (e.g. a change in the pattern of vertical migration of zooplankton), and type (3), (e.g. development of helmets and neck teeth in Daphnia), are important mechanisms, the most essential indirect effects regarding biomanipulation belong to type (1). An example of the latter will be demonstrated: the complex of indirect effects of enhanced grazing by large herbivores on the phosphorus metabolism of the lake. It is concluded that control of the indirect effects is absolutely necessary to stabilize biomanipulation measures, but this is much more difficult than the control of direct effects and needs deeper insights into the structuring mechanisms of food webs. Proper management of fish stocks, in combination with the control of phosphorus load and/or the physical conditions, seems to be the most promising way of controlling the indirect effects of biomanipulation

Abnormal small heat shock protein interactions involving neuropathy-associated HSP22 (HSPB8) mutants

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154632/1/fsb2fj065911fje.pd

Effects of telmisartan and ramipril on adiponectin and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes

<b>Background:</b> Adiponectin is secreted by adipose tissue and may play a role in cardiovascular disease. We examined adiponectin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes who participated in the Telmisartan vs. Ramipril in Renal Endothelial Dysfunction (TRENDY) study. <b>Methods</b> A total of 87 patients were assessed at baseline and following 9 weeks treatment with the angiotensin-receptor blocker telmisartan (final dose, 80 mg; n = 45) or the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril (final dose, 10 mg; n = 42). Adiponectin levels were measured in plasma by radioimmunoassay. <b>Results:</b> Adiponectin levels were inversely correlated with systolic (SBP; r = -0.240, P < 0.05) and diastolic (DBP; r = -0.227, P < 0.05) blood pressure at baseline and following treatment with telmisartan or ramipril (SBP: r = -0.228, P < 0.05; DBP: r = -0.286, P < 0.05). Changes in adiponectin levels were related to changes in SBP (r = -0.357, P < 0.01) and DBP (r = -0.286, P < 0.01). There was a significant increase in adiponectin levels in the telmisartan (0.68 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.27 to 1.10) <sup>µ</sup>g/ml, P < 0.01) but not in the ramipril group (0.17 (95% CI, -0.56 to 0.90) <sup>µ</sup>g/ml, P = 0.67). Blood pressure reduction in the telmisartan group (DeltaSBP: -13.5 (95% CI, -17.0 to -10.0) mm Hg; ΔDBP: -7.6 (95% CI, -9.8 to -5.3) mm Hg, each P < 0.001) was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.01 for SBP and P < 0.01 for DBP) greater than in the ramipril group (ΔSBP: -6.1 (95% CI, -6.2 to -2.0) mm Hg; ΔDBP: -2.7 (95% CI, -5.0 to -0.5) mm Hg; P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). <b>Conclusion:</b> Adiponectin is correlated with blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes. Whether increased adiponectin contributes to the blood pressure–lowering effect of telmisartan needs further study

Degradation Kinetics of Lignocellulolytic Enzymes in a Biogas Reactor Using Quantitative Mass Spectrometry

The supplementation of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes can be used to enhance the performance of biogas production in industrial biogas plants. Since the structural stability of these enzyme preparations is essential for efficient application, reliable methods for the assessment of enzyme stability are crucial. Here, a mass-spectrometric-based assay was established to monitor the structural stability of enzymes, i.e., the structural integrity of these proteins, in anaerobic digestion (AD). The analysis of extracts of Lentinula edodes revealed the rapid degradation of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes, with an approximate half-life of 1.5 h. The observed low structural stability of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes in AD corresponded with previous results obtained for biogas content. The established workflow can be easily adapted for the monitoring of other enzyme formulations and provides a platform for evaluating the effects of enzyme additions in AD, together with a characterization of the biochemical methane potential used in order to determine the biodegradability of organic substrates

Nocardia macrotermitis sp. nov. and Nocardia aurantia sp. nov., isolated from the gut of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes natalensis

The taxonomic positions of two novel aerobic, Gram-stain-positive Actinobacteria, designated RB20$^{T}$ and RB56$^{T}$, were determined using a polyphasic approach. Both were isolated from the fungus-farming termite Macrotermes natalensis. Results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that both strains are members of the genus Nocardia with the closest phylogenetic neighbours Nocardia miyunensis JCM12860$^{T}$ (98.9 %) and Nocardia nova DSM44481$^{T}$ (98.5 %) for RB20$^{T}$ and Nocardia takedensis DSM 44801$^{T}$ (98.3 %), Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis DSM 44290$^{T}$ (98.3 %) and Nocardia rayongensis JCM 19832$^{T}$ (98.2 %) for RB56$^{T}$. Digital DNA–DNA hybridization (DDH) between RB20$^{T}$ and N. miyunensis JCM12860$^{T}$ and N. nova DSM 44481$^{T}$ resulted in similarity values of 33.9 and 22.0 %, respectively. DDH between RB56$^{T}$ and N. takedensis DSM44801$^{T}$ and N. pseudobrasiliensis DSM44290$^{T}$ showed similarity values of 20.7 and 22.3 %, respectively. In addition, wet-lab DDH between RB56$^{T}$ and N. rayongensis JCM19832$^{T}$ resulted in 10.2 % (14.5 %) similarity. Both strains showed morphological and chemotaxonomic features typical for the genus Nocardia , such as the presence of meso-diaminopimelic acid (A$_{2}$pm) within the cell wall, arabinose and galactose as major sugar components within whole cell-wall hydrolysates, the presence of mycolic acids and major phospholipids (diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol), and the predominant menaquinone MK-8 (H4, ω-cyclo). The main fatty acids for both strains were hexadecanoic acid (C$_{16 : 0}$), 10-methyloctadecanoic acid (10-methyl C$_{18 : 0}$) and cis-9-octadecenoic acid (C$_{18 : 1}$ ω9c). We propose two novel species within the genus Nocardia : Nocardia macrotermitis sp. nov. with the type strain RB20$^{T}$ (=VKM Ac-2841$^{T}$=NRRL B65541$^{T}$) and Nocardia aurantia sp. nov. with the type strain RB56$^{T}$ (=VKM Ac-2842$^{T}$=NRRL B65542$^{T}$)

Fecal Metaproteomics Reveals Reduced Gut Inflammation and Changed Microbial Metabolism Following Lifestyle-Induced Weight Loss

Gut microbiota-mediated inflammation promotes obesity-associated low-grade inflammation, which represents a hallmark of metabolic syndrome. To investigate if lifestyle-induced weight loss (WL) may modulate the gut microbiome composition and its interaction with the host on a functional level, we analyzed the fecal metaproteome of 33 individuals with metabolic syndrome in a longitudinal study before and after lifestyle-induced WL in a well-defined cohort. The 6-month WL intervention resulted in reduced BMI (−13.7%), improved insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR, −46.1%), and reduced levels of circulating hsCRP (−39.9%), indicating metabolic syndrome reversal. The metaprotein spectra revealed a decrease of human proteins associated with gut inflammation. Taxonomic analysis revealed only minor changes in the bacterial composition with an increase of the families Desulfovibrionaceae, Leptospiraceae, Syntrophomonadaceae, Thermotogaceae and Verrucomicrobiaceae. Yet we detected an increased abundance of microbial metaprotein spectra that suggest an enhanced hydrolysis of complex carbohydrates. Hence, lifestyle-induced WL was associated with reduced gut inflammation and functional changes of human and microbial enzymes for carbohydrate hydrolysis while the taxonomic composition of the gut microbiome remained almost stable. The metaproteomics workflow has proven to be a suitable method for monitoring inflammatory changes in the fecal metaproteome

Dynamic proteome profiling of individual proteins in human skeletal muscle after a high-fat diet and resistance exercise.

It is generally accepted that muscle adaptation to resistance exercise (REX) training is underpinned by contraction-induced, increased rates of protein synthesis and dietary protein availability. By using dynamic proteome profiling (DPP), we investigated the contribution of both synthesis and breakdown to changes in abundance on a protein-by-protein basis in human skeletal muscle. Age-matched, overweight males consumed 9 d of a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet during which time they either undertook 3 sessions of REX or performed no exercise. Precursor enrichment and the rate of incorporation of deuterium oxide into newly synthesized muscle proteins were determined by mass spectrometry. Ninety proteins were included in the DPP, with 28 proteins exhibiting significant responses to REX. The most common pattern of response was an increase in turnover, followed by an increase in abundance with no detectable increase in protein synthesis. Here, we provide novel evidence that demonstrates that the contribution of synthesis and breakdown to changes in protein abundance induced by REX differ on a protein-by-protein basis. We also highlight the importance of the degradation of individual muscle proteins after exercise in human skeletal muscle.-Camera, D. M., Burniston, J. G., Pogson, M. A., Smiles, W. J., Hawley, J. A. Dynamic proteome profiling of individual proteins in human skeletal muscle after a high-fat diet and resistance exercise

Hsp27 regulates podocyte cytoskeletal changes in an in vitro model of podocyte process retraction

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is characterized by structural changes in the actin‐rich foot processes of glomerular podocytes. We previously identified high concentrations of the small heat shock protein hsp27 within podocytes as well as increased glomerular accumulation and phosphorylation of hsp27 in puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) ‐induced experimental NS. Here we analyzed murine podocytes stably transfected with hsp27 sense, antisense, and vector control constructs using a newly developed in vitro PAN model system. Cell morphology and the microfilament structure of untreated sense and antisense transfectants were altered compared with controls. Vector cell survival, polymerized actin content, cell area, and hsp27 content increased after 1.25 μg/ml PAN treatment and decreased after 5.0 μg/ml treatment. In contrast, sense cells were unaffected by 1.25 μg/ml PAN treatment whereas antisense cells showed decreases or no changes in all parameters. Treatment of sense cells with 5.0 μ g/ml PAN resulted in increased cell survival and cell area whereas antisense cells underwent significant decreases in all parameters. Hsp27 provided dramatic protection against PAN‐induced microfilament disruption in sense > vector > antisense cells. We conclude that hsp27 is able to regulate both the morphological and actin cytoskeletal response of podocytes in an in vitro model of podocyte injury.—Smoyer, W. E., Ransom, R. F. Hsp27 regulates podocyte cytoskeletal changes in an in vitro model of podocyte process retraction. FASEB J. 16, 315–326 (2002)Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154256/1/fsb2fj010681com.pd

Integrated Cycles for Urban Biomass as a Strategy to Promote a CO2-Neutral Society—A Feasibility Study

The integration of closed biomass cycles into residential buildings enables efficient resource utilization and avoids the transport of biowaste. In our scenario called Integrated Cycles for Urban Biomass (ICU), biowaste is degraded on-site into biogas that is converted into heat and electricity. Nitrification processes upgrade the liquid fermentation residues to refined fertilizer, which can be used subsequently in house-internal gardens to produce fresh food for residents. Our research aims to assess the ICU scenario regarding produced amounts of biogas and food, saved CO2 emissions and costs, and social–cultural aspects. Therefore, a model-based feasibility study was performed assuming a building with 100 residents. The calculations show that the ICU concept produces 21% of the annual power (electrical and heat) consumption from the accumulated biowaste and up to 7.6 t of the fresh mass of lettuce per year in a 70 m2 professional hydroponic production area. Furthermore, it saves 6468 kg CO2-equivalent (CO2-eq) per year. While the ICU concept is technically feasible, it becomes economically feasible for large-scale implementations and higher food prices. Overall, this study demonstrates that the ICU implementation can be a worthwhile contribution towards a sustainable CO2-neutral society and decrease the demand for agricultural land

Model of optimization of mining complex for the planning of flow of quarry production of limestone in multiple products and with elements for the analysis of the capacity

Activities in mining complexes contain multiple decisions that affect the operations of the system for the extraction, transformation, transport and storage of various subsoil components. The purpose of this research is the planning of continuous flow production systems for mixed products, in non-metallic mining extraction processes, considering bottlenecks and capacity planning. This paper presents a model for production, based on mathematical optimization, that facilitates the planning and management of operations in the area of extraction, crushing and transformation of a quarry of aggregates for construction, considering the resources and the constraints that allow to define effective strategies in the increase of the productivity of the lines of low production environment by scenarios. This research develops an analysis of bottlenecks and contrasts the nature of the production system by means of a mathematical model of optimization, which considers the capacities and balances in the flows of the Limestone production line. The mathematical model that maximizes profits can be adapted to systems of continuous flow production in mining complexes where their products are part of a reverse logistics process, analysis of alternatives of extraction, transformation and transport