Modelling Climate Change Impact on European Agriculture: Does the Choice of Global Circulation Model Matter?

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Highly Efficient siRNA Delivery from Core-Shell Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles with Multifunctional Polymer Caps

A new general route for siRNA delivery is presented combining porous core-shell silica nanocarriers with a modularly designed multifunctional block copolymer. Specifically, the internal storage and release of siRNA from mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) with orthogonal core-shell surface chemistry was investigated as a function of pore-size, pore morphology, surface properties and pH. Very high siRNA loading capacities of up to 380 microg/mg MSN were obtained with charge-matched amino-functionalized mesoporous cores, and release profiles show up to 80% siRNA elution after 24 h. We demonstrate that adsorption and desorption of siRNA is mainly driven by electrostatic interactions, which allow for high loading capacities even in medium-sized mesopores with pore diameters down to 4 nm in a stellate pore morphology. The negatively charged MSN shell enabled the association with a block copolymer containing positively charged artificial amino acids and oleic acid blocks, which acts simultaneously as capping function and endosomal release agent. The potential of this multifunctional delivery platform is demonstrated by highly effective cell transfection and siRNA delivery into KB-cells. A luciferase reporter gene knock-down of up to 90% was possible using extremely low cell exposures with only 2.5 microg MSN containing 32 pM siRNA per 100 microL well.Comment: Artikel including supporting informatio

Categorical and continuous - disentangling the neural correlates of the carry effect in multi-digit addition

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recently it was suggested that the carry effect observed in addition involves both categorical and continuous processing characteristics.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the present study, we aimed at identifying the specific neural correlates associated with processing either categorical or continuous aspects of the carry effect in an fMRI study on multi-digit addition.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In line with our expectations, we observed two distinct parts of the fronto-parietal network subserving numerical cognition to be associated with either one of these two characteristics. On the one hand, the categorical aspect of the carry effect was associated with left-hemispheric language areas and the basal ganglia probably reflecting increased demands on procedural and problem solving processes. Complementarily, the continuous aspect of the carry effect was associated with increased intraparietal activation indicating increasing demands on magnitude processing as well as place-value integration with increasing unit sum.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In summary, the findings suggest representations and processes underlying the carry effect in multi-digit addition to be more complex and interactive than assumed previously.</p

Increasing Antibacterial Efficiency of Cu Surfaces by targeted Surface Functionalization via Ultrashort Pulsed Direct Laser Interference Patterning

Copper (Cu) exhibits great potential for application in the design of antimicrobial contact surfaces aiming to reduce pathogenic contamination in public areas as well as clinically critical environments. However, current application perspectives rely purely on the toxic effect of emitted Cu ions, without considering influences on the interaction of pathogenic microorganisms with the surface to enhance antimicrobial efficiency. In this study, it is investigated on how antibacterial properties of Cu surfaces against Escherichia coli can be increased by tailored functionalization of the substrate surface by means of ultrashort pulsed direct laser interference patterning (USP‐DLIP). Surface patterns in the scale range of single bacteria cells are fabricated to purposefully increase bacteria/surface contact area, while parallel modification of the surface chemistry allows to involve the aspect of surface wettability into bacterial attachment and the resulting antibacterial effectivity. The results exhibit a delicate interplay between bacterial adhesion and the expression of antibacterial properties, where a reduction of bacterial cell viability of up to 15‐fold can be achieved for E. coli on USP‐DLIP surfaces in comparison to smooth Cu surfaces. Thereby, it can be shown how the antimicrobial properties of copper surfaces can be additionally enhanced by targeted surface functionalization

Crowd-sourcing archaeological research: HeritageTogether digital public archaeology in practice

Archaeologists are increasingly working with crowd-sourced digital data. Using evidence from other disciplines about the nature of crowd-sourcing in academic research, we suggest that archaeological projects using donated data can usefully be differentiated between generative projects (which rely on data collected by citizen scientists), and analytical projects (which make use of volunteers to classify, or otherwise analyse data that are provided by the project). We conclude that projects which privilege hyper-local research (such as surveying specific sites) might experience tension if the audience they are appealing to are 'cyber local'. In turn, for more 'traditional' archaeological audiences (when the primary motivating interests may be the tangible, physical nature of portable material culture or the archaeological site itself), then intangible, digital simulacra may not provide an effective medium through which to undertake digital public archaeology

Spaceflight Virology: What Do We Know about Viral Threats in the Spaceflight Environment?

Viruses constitute a significant part of the human microbiome, so wherever humans go, viruses are brought with them, even on space missions. In this mini review, we focus on the International Space Station (ISS) as the only current human habitat in space that has a diverse range of viral genera that infect microorganisms from bacteria to eukaryotes. Thus, we have reviewed the literature on the physical conditions of space habitats that have an impact on both virus transmissibility and interaction with their host, which include UV radiation, ionizing radiation, humidity, and microgravity. Also, we briefly comment on the practices used on space missions that reduce virus spread, that is, use of antimicrobial surfaces, spacecraft sterilization practices, and air filtration. Finally, we turn our attention to the health threats that viruses pose to space travel. Overall, even though efforts are taken to ensure safe conditions during human space travel, for example, preflight quarantines of astronauts, we reflect on the potential risks humans might be exposed to and how those risks might be aggravated in extraterrestrial habitats

Small works, big stories. Methodological approaches to photogrammetry through crowd sourcing experiences

A recent digital public archaeology project (HeritageTogether) sought to build a series of 3D ditigal models using photogrammetry from crowd-sourced images. The project saw over 13000 digital images being donated, and resulted in models of some 78 sites, providing resources for researchers, and condition surveys. The project demonstrated that digital public archaeology does not stop at the 'trowel's edge', and that collaborative post-excavation analysis and generation of research processes are as important as time in the field. We emphasise in this contribution that our methodologies, as much as our research outputs, can be fruitfully co-produced in public archaeology projects

Identification of staphyloxanthin and derivates in yellow-pigmented Staphylococcus capitis subsp. capitis

Introduction: Staphylococcus capitis naturally colonizes the human skin but as an opportunistic pathogen, it can also cause biofilm-associated infections and bloodstream infections in newborns. Previously, we found that two strains from the subspecies S. capitis subsp. capitis produce yellow carotenoids despite the initial species description, reporting this subspecies as non-pigmented. In Staphylococcus aureus, the golden pigment staphyloxanthin is an important virulence factor, protecting cells against reactive oxygen species and modulating membrane fluidity. Methods: In this study, we used two pigmented (DSM 111179 and DSM 113836) and two non-pigmented S. capitis subsp. capitis strains (DSM 20326T and DSM 31028) to identify the pigment, determine conditions under which pigmentproduction occurs and investigate whether pigmented strains show increased resistance to ROS and temperature stress. Results: We found that the non-pigmented strains remained colorless regardless of the type of medium, whereas intensity of pigmentation in the two pigmented strains increased under low nutrient conditions and with longer incubation times. We were able to detect and identify staphyloxanthin and its derivates in the two pigmented strains but found that methanol cell extracts from all four strains showed ROS scavenging activity regardless of staphyloxanthin production. Increased survival to cold temperatures (−20°C) was detected in the two pigmented strains only after long-term storage compared to the non-pigmented strains. Conclusion: The identification of staphyloxanthin in S. capitis is of clinical relevance and could be used, in the same way as in S. aureus, as a possible target for anti-virulence drug design

Identification of staphyloxanthin and derivates in yellow-pigmented Staphylococcus capitis subsp. capitis

IntroductionStaphylococcus capitis naturally colonizes the human skin but as an opportunistic pathogen, it can also cause biofilm-associated infections and bloodstream infections in newborns. Previously, we found that two strains from the subspecies S. capitis subsp. capitis produce yellow carotenoids despite the initial species description, reporting this subspecies as non-pigmented. In Staphylococcus aureus, the golden pigment staphyloxanthin is an important virulence factor, protecting cells against reactive oxygen species and modulating membrane fluidity.MethodsIn this study, we used two pigmented (DSM 111179 and DSM 113836) and two non-pigmented S. capitis subsp. capitis strains (DSM 20326T and DSM 31028) to identify the pigment, determine conditions under which pigment-production occurs and investigate whether pigmented strains show increased resistance to ROS and temperature stress.ResultsWe found that the non-pigmented strains remained colorless regardless of the type of medium, whereas intensity of pigmentation in the two pigmented strains increased under low nutrient conditions and with longer incubation times. We were able to detect and identify staphyloxanthin and its derivates in the two pigmented strains but found that methanol cell extracts from all four strains showed ROS scavenging activity regardless of staphyloxanthin production. Increased survival to cold temperatures (−20°C) was detected in the two pigmented strains only after long-term storage compared to the non-pigmented strains.ConclusionThe identification of staphyloxanthin in S. capitis is of clinical relevance and could be used, in the same way as in S. aureus, as a possible target for anti-virulence drug design

Increasing Antibacterial Efficiency of Cu Surfaces by targeted Surface Functionalization via Ultrashort Pulsed Direct Laser Interference Patterning

Copper (Cu) exhibits great potential for application in the design of antimicrobial contact surfaces aiming to reduce pathogenic contamination in public areas as well as clinically critical environments. However, current application perspectives rely purely on the toxic effect of emitted Cu ions, without considering influences on the interaction of pathogenic microorganisms with the surface to enhance antimicrobial efficiency. In this study, it is investigated on how antibacterial properties of Cu surfaces against Escherichia coli can be increased by tailored functionalization of the substrate surface by means of ultrashort pulsed direct laser interference patterning (USP‐DLIP). Surface patterns in the scale range of single bacteria cells are fabricated to purposefully increase bacteria/surface contact area, while parallel modification of the surface chemistry allows to involve the aspect of surface wettability into bacterial attachment and the resulting antibacterial effectivity. The results exhibit a delicate interplay between bacterial adhesion and the expression of antibacterial properties, where a reduction of bacterial cell viability of up to 15‐fold can be achieved for E. coli on USP‐DLIP surfaces in comparison to smooth Cu surfaces. Thereby, it can be shown how the antimicrobial properties of copper surfaces can be additionally enhanced by targeted surface functionalization