Squeezing out the last 1 nanometer of water: A detailed nanomechanical study

In this study, we present a detailed analysis of the squeeze-out dynamics of nanoconfined water confined between two hydrophilic surfaces measured by small-amplitude dynamic atomic force microscopy (AFM). Explicitly considering the instantaneous tip-surface separation during squeezeout, we confirm the existence of an adsorbed molecular water layer on mica and at least two hydration layers. We also confirm the previous observation of a sharp transition in the viscoelastic response of the nanoconfined water as the compression rate is increased beyond a critical value (previously determined to be about 0.8 nm/s). We find that below the critical value, the tip passes smoothly through the molecular layers of the film, while above the critical speed, the tip encounters "pinning" at separations where the film is able to temporarily order. Pre-ordering of the film is accompanied by increased force fluctuations, which lead to increased damping preceding a peak in the film stiffness once ordering is completed. We analyze the data using both Kelvin-Voigt and Maxwell viscoelastic models. This provides a complementary picture of the viscoelastic response of the confined water film

Genetic interaction between Lef1 and Alx4 is required for early embryonic development

Lymphoid Enhancer Factor-1 (Lef1) facilitates the assembly of transcriptional regulatory complexes and mediates nuclear responses to Wnt signals. We determined previously that the mesenchymally restricted, paired-like homeodomain protein Aristaless-like 4 (Alx4) interacts with Lef1 and together alters promoter activity of candidate genes. In order to define their overlapping functions, mice deficient for both Lef1 and Alx4 activity (Lef1^-/-/Alx4^lstD/lstD) were produced. Whereas embryos lacking either Lef1 or Alx4 activity remain viable up to or after birth, early embryonic lethality results when both factors were absent. No viable Lef1^-/-/Alx4^lstD/lstD embryos were recovered beyond 9.5 dpc. Between E8.5 and E10, viable Lef1^-/-/Alx4^lstD/lstD embryos were developmentally delayed 0.5 days relative to littermates of all other genotypes. Principle among the alterations seen in Lef1^-/-/Alx4^lstD/lstD animals was defective vasculature in both embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues. In the yolk sac, while the vascular network is present, it were greatly diminished and large vitelline vessels were largely absent. Platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM) staining revealed that the major vessels in the head of compound mutant embryos were absent, while the other vessels were finer than those seen in normal littermates. Pools of blood and pericardial effusion were also apparent in Lef1^-/-/Alx4^lstD/lstD animals, further indicative of a defective vasculature. These data confirm genetically the interaction between Lef1 and Alx4 and further reveal unknown, overlapping roles for these transcription factors in embryonic vasculogenesis

Effect of Toxic Compounds Extracted from Microalgae Oscillatoria limosa (Roth) Agardh on the Fertility of White Male Mice Mus musculus L.

The effect of toxic compounds extracted from cyanobacteria Oscillatoria limosa isolated from Abu-Alkaseeb rivers in the southern Iraq was studied, water samples  were collected from rivers, and cultured in chu-10 medium .Supernatant of toxic extract from biomass was extracted and  test its effects on the fertility of male mice .The present study reveal   that di(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate and phytol compounds effected on the fertility of male mice based on the sperm count ,sperm abnormalities and testosterone hormone level. The current study concluded that the toxic compounds extracted of Oscillatoria limosa had a positive effect on fertility of Mus musculus these effects represented in increasing in abnormal sperms, decreasing of sperm count and testosterone hormone levels compared with control group. Keywards: oscillatoria limosa, sperm count, testosterone hormone

Effect of Toxic Compounds Extracted from Microalgae Oscillatoria limosa (Roth) Agardh on the Fertility of White Male Mice Mus musculus L.

The effect of toxic compounds extracted from cyanobacteria Oscillatoria limosa isolated from Abu-Alkaseeb rivers in the southern Iraq was studied, water samples  were collected from rivers, and cultured in chu-10 medium .Supernatant of toxic extract from biomass was extracted and  test its effects on the fertility of male mice .The present study reveal   that di(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate and phytol compounds effected on the fertility of male mice based on the sperm count ,sperm abnormalities and testosterone hormone level. The current study concluded that the toxic compounds extracted of Oscillatoria limosa had a positive effect on fertility of Mus musculus these effects represented in increasing in abnormal sperms ,decreasing  of sperm count and testosterone hormone levels compared with control group . Keywards: oscillatoria limosa, sperm count, testosterone hormone

D.4.4: Plan for continuation of the knowledge platform

This deliverable is part work package 4 of the OK-Net Arable Horizon 2020 project, which started on 1 March 2015 and finished on 28 February 2018. The aim of OK-Net Arable is to promote and exchange knowledge among farmers, farm advisers and scientists with the objective to increase productivity and quality in organic arable cropping all over Europe. Within the 3-year project, a knowledge platform was created (farmknowledge.org) to provide access to a wide range of tools and resources, that can help to improve organic production. While, the platform was launched in October 2016, it was platform was continuously improved during the course of the project and tools were added until the end of the project. Setting up the farmknowledge platform was a success. After a slow start, the visitor numbers have been continuously increasing since September 2017, and with a new Facebook group and twitter account it will be more popularised and well-known, which will continue increase the number of visitors. The work that has been done will not be lost. In the project application of OK-Net Arable, some partners already agreed to continue the platform for at least 5 years after the end of the project, namely: IFOAM EU, AU/ICROFS, FiBL, PFT Ltd/ORC, Bioland, AIAB and IAMB. These partners have now agreed on the following steps to continue the platform: • Continuation under OK-Net EcoFeed • Using farmknowledge.org as dissemination platform for other projects • Strengthening link with Organic Eprints • Improvement of the functioning of farmknowledge.org By implementing those 4 steps, we want the farmknowledge platform to be a reference knowledge hub for practical information on organic farming at EU-level, from all kinds of projects, not only Horizon 2020. We will also explore how to open the platform and give the possibility to new "core partners" to join the initiative, to use the platform and support it. This deliverable contains the analysis of the visitor’s statistics of the OK-Net Platform (famknowledge.org), such as how many users the platform had, how much time did they spent on the platform and how many pageviews were registered in the different month. The report includes also the description of the “Recommended tool of the week” and how it has affected the numbers of visitors. End-users experiences with using the platform and a comparison with other platforms are also included. The deliverable ends with a plan for the continuation of the platform

Sex dimorphism in isoproterenol-induced cardiac damage associated neuroinflammation and behavior in old rats

Acute cardiac damage can be induced by isoproterenol injections in animals. The associated inflammatory response could be reflected in the brain as neuroinflammation, with potential consequences for brain function and behavior. Although cardiac responses are reported age and sex-related, for neuroinflammation and brain function this is virtually unknown. Therefore, cardiac damage and its consequences for neuroinflammation, brain function and behavior were compared in aged male and female rats. Wistar rats of 24 months of age were treated with isoproterenol (ISO, twice s.c.) or saline. Four weeks after injections, exploratory behavior and short-term memory were tested. Then, rats were sacrificed. Hearts were collected to measure cardiac damage. Brain tissue was collected to obtain measures of neuroinflammation and brain function. In male-, but not in female rats, ISO induced significant cardiac damage. Accordingly, mortality was higher in males than in females. Baseline hippocampal microglia activity was lower in females, while ISO induced neuroinflammation in both sexes, Hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression appeared lower in females, without effects of ISO. In the open field test, ISO-treated males, but not females, displayed anxiety-like behavior. No effects of ISO were observed on short-term memory in either sex. In conclusion, sex dimorphism in effects of ISO was observed for cardiac damage and open field behavior. However, these effects could not be related to differences in hippocampal neuroinflammation or neuronal function

The effects of exercise training on heart, brain and behavior, in the isoproterenol-induced cardiac infarct model in middle-aged female rats

Women with cardiovascular disease may be more susceptible to concomitant mental health problems, such as depression and cognitive decline. Exercise training has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system as well as on mental functions. Aim of the present study was to study the effects of exercise training on heart, brain and behavior in the isoproterenol (ISO) model in middle-aged female rats. Twelve months old female Wistar rats were submitted to ISO injections (70 mg/kg s.c., on two consecutive days) or received saline. One week later, rats were assigned to either exercise training (treadmill running) or control handling for five weeks. During the last 7 days, tests were performed regarding depressive-like behavior and cognitive function. Then, rats were sacrificed and heart and brains were dissected for (immuno)histochemistry. ISO-induced cardiac effects were eminent from cardiac fibrosis and declined cardiac function. Exercise training reversed cardiac damage and partly restored ISO-induced cardiac dysfunction. However, ISO treatment could not be associated with neuroinflammation, nor impaired hippocampal neurogenesis or neuronal function. Accordingly, no cognitive impairment or depressive-like behavior were observed. Actually, hippocampal microglia hyper-ramification was observed after ISO. Exercise left neuroinflammation and behavior merely unaltered, and even reduced neuronal function. Our data indicated that the cardiac damage after ISO in middle-aged female rats, and the subsequent beneficial effects of five weeks exercise training on the heart, were not reflected in changes in the brain nor in altered behavior

Effects of exercise training on behavior and brain function after high dose isoproterenol-induced cardiac damage

Acute sympathetic stress can result in cardiac fibrosis, but may also lead to mental dysfunction. Exercise training after isoproterenol (ISO)-induced acute sympathetic stress was investigated regarding cardiac damage, neuroinflammation, brain function and behavior. Male Wistar rats (12 months) received ISO or saline. One week later, treadmill running or control handling (sedentary) started. After 4 weeks, cognitive- and exploratory behavior were evaluated, and heart and brain tissues were analyzed regarding cardiac damage, hippocampal neuroinflammation and neuronal function. ISO did not affect cognitive performance nor hippocampal function. However, ISO reduced anxiety, coinciding with locally reduced microglia (processes) size in the hippocampus. Exercise in ISO rats reversed anxiety, did not affect microglia morphology, but increased brain function. Thus, exercise after ISO did not affect cardiac damage, cognition or hippocampal neuroinflammation, but normalized anxiety. Increased localized BDNF expression may indicate improved brain function

Release of polyphenols from starch-chitosan based films containing thyme extract

[EN] The release kinetics of thyme extract polyphenols (TE) from chitosan (CH), pea starch (S) and CH:S blend films in different solvents was evaluated, as well as their antioxidant activity in each release media. Pure starch films showed the fastest delivery rate and the highest delivery ratio of polyphenols, although the corresponding release media exhibited the lowest antioxidant capacity. TE provided CH based films with remarkable antioxidant activity, despite the lower polyphenol release obtained in all solvents, due to the strong polyphenols-chitosan interactions. The maximum amount of polyphenols delivered was found in the acetic acid solution, due to the high solubility of CH. The incorporation of tannic acid (TA) into CH films promoted cross-linking effect, which delays the TE release rate in water and ethanol aqueous solutions, except for CH:S:TA films. Thus, the polarity of the solvents and the polyphenols-matrix interactions markedly affected the polyphenol release and the antioxidant activity of the films.The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competividad (Projects AGL2013-42989-R and AGL2016-76699-R). Author Emma Talón thanks Universitat Politècnica València for a FPI Grant (99/2011).Talón-Argente, E.; Trifkovic, KT.; Vargas, M.; Chiralt, A.; González Martínez, MC. (2017). Release of polyphenols from starch-chitosan based films containing thyme extract. Carbohydrate Polymers. 175:122-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.07.067S12213017