Occurrence and distribution of endangered, vulnerable and rare species in segetal communities of the western part of the Szczecin Lowland

Wydano przy pomocy finansowej Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego oraz Komitetu Badań NaukowychThe occurrence and distribution of endangered, vulnerable and rare species in segetal communities of western part of the Szczecin Lowland are described. The characteristics of 1 endangered, 10 vulnerable and 4 rare species are presented against differentiated soil conditions of the area.Zadanie pt. Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki nr 885/P-DUN/2014 zostało dofinansowane ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę

Using plant spectral response curves in detecting plant stress

Understanding the way in which electromagnetic radiation interacts with vegetation is extremely important when studying the possibility of using new remote sensing technologies for monitoring forests and crops. Remote sensing methods enable an early detection of changes occurring within plants, simplifying the locating of affected areas and determining the severity of the changes. The optical properties of leaves (reflection and absorption coefficients) in selected segments of leaves in different ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum may be useful in detecting any deficiencies or surplus of selected substances which are essential for plant growth and development. Changes in the spectral response curves of damaged leaves can be cause both by changes in the leaf structure (Chandrasekharan 2005; Jacquemoud & Ustin 2008) and biochemical changes within the plant (Chandrasekharan 2005). A series of experiments was conducted at the Military University of Technology in Warsaw using a terrestrial hyperspectral system. Spectral reflection coefficients acquired from imagery in the 420–1100 nm range have enabled the establishing of how various growing conditions affect vegetation and their spectral response curves

Evaluating the Role of Bone Marrow Microenvironment in the Pathogenesis of Therapy-related Myeloid Neoplasms

Therapy-related myeloid neoplasm (tMN), lethal blood cancer developing in long-term cancer survivors, is considered to be direct consequence of cytotoxic therapy-induced DNA damage in haematopoietic stem cells. Despite increased recognition that altered bone marrow stroma can also drive leukemogenesis, the functional biology of tMN bone marrow microenvironment remains unknown. Comprehensive multiomic (transcriptome, DNA damage response, cytokine secretome and functional profiling) characterisation of bone marrow stromal cells from tMN was performed and compared with (i) patients with myeloid neoplasm and a history of another cancer but without cytotoxic exposure, (ii) typical primary myeloid neoplasm and (iii) agematched controls, to decipher bone marrow microenvironmental changes induced by cytotoxics from that age related and myeloid neoplasm induced changes. tMN bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells exhibited profound senescence with CDKN1A induction, high levels of β-Galactosidase, aberrant morphology, defective proliferation, differentiation and haematopoietic stem cell supportive capacity. Highly senescence phenotype is probably driven by defective DNA repair capacity. Strikingly, despite their dormant state, tMN stromal cells were metabolically highly active with a switch towards glycolysis and secreted multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines indicative of a senescent-secretory phenotype that inhibited adipogenesis. Critically, senolytics not only eliminated dormant cells, but also restored adipogenesis. Finally, sequential patient sampling showed senescence phenotypes are induced within months of cytotoxic exposure, well prior to the onset of secondary cancer. This thesis provides novel insight into role of pro-inflammatory and senescent stromal milieu to tMN pathogenesis and provide a valuable resource for future strategies to delay/prevent the tMN.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Adelaide Medical School, 202

An optical coherence tomography and endothelial shear stress study of a novel bioresorbable bypass graft

Endothelial shear stress (ESS) plays a key role in the clinical outcomes in native and stented segments; however, their implications in bypass grafts and especially in a synthetic biorestorative coronary artery bypass graft are yet unclear. This report aims to examine the interplay between ESS and the morphological alterations of a biorestorative coronary bypass graft in an animal model. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation derived from the fusion of angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging was used to reconstruct data on the luminal anatomy of a bioresorbable coronary bypass graft with an endoluminal "flap" identified during OCT acquisition. The "flap" compromised the smooth lumen surface and considerably disturbed the local flow, leading to abnormally low ESS and high oscillatory shear stress (OSI) in the vicinity of the "flap". In the presence of the catheter, the flow is more stable (median OSI 0.02384 versus 0.02635, p < 0.0001; maximum OSI 0.4612 versus 0.4837). Conversely, OSI increased as the catheter was withdrawn which can potentially cause back-and-forth motions of the "flap", triggering tissue fatigue failure. CFD analysis in this report provided sophisticated physiological information that complements the anatomic assessment from imaging enabling a complete understanding of biorestorative graft pathophysiology

Non-conventional yeast species for lowering ethanol content of wines

Rising sugar content in grape must, and the concomitant increase in alcohol levels in wine, are some of the main challenges affecting the winemaking industry nowadays. Among the several alternative solutions currently under study, the use of nonconventional yeasts during fermentation holds good promise for contributing to relieve this problem. Non-Saccharomyces wine yeast species comprise a high number or species, so encompassing a wider physiological diversity than Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Indeed, the current oenological interest of these microorganisms was initially triggered by their potential positive contribution to the sensorial complexity of quality wines, through the production of aroma and other sensory-active compounds. This diversity also involves ethanol yield on sugar, one of the most invariant metabolic traits of S. cerevisiae. This review gathers recent research on non-Saccharomyces yeasts, aiming to produce wines with lower alcohol content than those from pure Saccharomyces starters. Critical aspects discussed include the selection of suitable yeast strains (considering there is a noticeable intra-species diversity for ethanol yield, as shown for other fermentation traits), identification of key environmental parameters influencing ethanol yields (including the use of controlled oxygenation conditions), and managing mixed fermentations, by either the sequential or simultaneous inoculation of S. cerevisiae and non-Saccharomyces starter cultures. The feasibility, at the industrial level, of using non-Saccharomyces yeasts for reducing alcohol levels in wine will require an improved understanding of the metabolism of these alternative yeast species, as well as of the interactions between different yeast starters during the fermentation of grape must.Experimental work by researchers from ICVV is supported by the Spanish Government trough MINECO and FEDER funds: MINECO AGL2012-32064 and AGL2015-63629-R grants, INIA RM2012-00007-00-00 grant, MINECO RTC-2014-2186-2 grant, MINECO training contract for AR, MINECO Formación Postdoctoral contract for JC. Experimental work by the authors from Polytechnic University of Marche is supported by Ricerca Scientifica di Ateneo RSA2015.Peer Reviewe

The use of mixed populations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and S. kudriavzevii to reduce ethanol content in wine: limited aeration, inoculum proportions, and sequential inoculation

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the most widespread microorganism responsible for wine alcoholic fermentation. Nevertheless, the wine industry is currently facing new challenges, some of them associate with climate change, which have a negative effect on ethanol content and wine quality. Numerous and varied strategies have been carried out to overcome these concerns. From a biotechnological point of view, the use of alternative non-Saccharomyces yeasts, yielding lower ethanol concentrations and sometimes giving rise to new and interesting aroma, is one of the trendiest approaches. However, S. cerevisiae usually outcompetes other Saccharomyces species due to its better adaptation to the fermentative environment. For this reason, we studied for the first time the use of a Saccharomyces kudriavzevii strain, CR85, for co-inoculations at increasing proportions and sequential inoculations, as well as the effect of aeration, to improve its fermentation performance in order to obtain wines with an ethanol yield reduction. An enhanced competitive performance of S. kudriavzevii CR85 was observed when it represented 90% of the cells present in the inoculum. Furthermore, airflow supply of 20 VVH to the fermentation synergistically improved CR85 endurance and, interestingly, a significant ethanol concentration reduction was achieved

A senescence stress secretome is a hallmark of therapy-related myeloid neoplasm stromal tissue occurring soon after cytotoxic exposure

Published online: 29 August 2022Therapy-related myeloid neoplasm (tMN) is considered a direct consequence of DNA damage in hematopoietic stem cells. Despite increasing recognition that altered stroma can also drive leukemogenesis, the functional biology of the tMN microenvironment remains unknown. We performed multiomic (transcriptome, DNA damage response, cytokine secretome and functional profiling) characterization of bone marrow stromal cells from tMN patients. Critically, we also compared (i) patients with myeloid neoplasm and another cancer but without cytotoxic exposure, (ii) typical primary myeloid neoplasm, and (iii) age-matched controls to decipher the microenvironmental changes induced by cytotoxics vs. neoplasia. Strikingly, tMN exhibited a profoundly senescent phenotype with induction of CDKN1A and β-Galactosidase, defective phenotype, and proliferation. Moreover, tMN stroma showed delayed DNA repair and defective adipogenesis. Despite their dormant state, tMN stromal cells were metabolically highly active with a switch toward glycolysis and secreted multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines indicative of a senescent-secretory phenotype that inhibited adipogenesis. Critically, senolytics not only eliminated dormant cells, but also restored adipogenesis. Finally, sequential patient sampling showed senescence phenotypes are induced within months of cytotoxic exposure, well prior to the onset of secondary cancer. Our data underscores a role of senescence in the pathogenesis of tMN and provide a valuable resource for future therapeutics.Monika M. Kutyna, Chung Hoow Kok, Yoon Lim, Elizabeth Ngoc Hoa Tran, David Campbell, Sharon Paton, Chloe Thompson-Peach, Kelly Lim, Dimitrios Cakouros, Agnes Arthur, Timothy Hughes, Sharad Kumar, Daniel Thomas, Stan Gronthos, and Devendra K. Hiwas

Dysregulated lipid synthesis by oncogenic IDH1 mutation is a targetable synthetic lethal vulnerability

Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH) are mutated in multiple cancers and drive production of (R)-2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG). We identified a lipid synthesis enzyme (acetyl CoA carboxylase 1, ACC1) as a synthetic lethal target in mutant IDH1 (mIDH1), but not mIDH2, cancers. Here, we analyzed the metabolome of primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blasts and identified a mIDH1-specific reduction in fatty acids. mIDH1 also induced a switch to beta-oxidation indicating reprogramming of metabolism towards a reliance on fatty acids. Compared to mIDH2, mIDH1 AML displayed depletion of NADPH with defective reductive carboxylation that was not rescued by the mIDH1-specific inhibitor ivosidenib. In xenograft models, a lipid-free diet markedly slowed the growth of mIDH1 AML, but not healthy CD34+ HSPCs or mIDH2 AML. Genetic and pharmacologic targeting of ACC1 resulted in growth inhibition of mIDH1 cancers, not reversible by ivosidenib. Critically, pharmacologic targeting of ACC1 improved sensitivity of mIDH1 AML to venetoclax.Daniel Thomas, Manhong Wu, Yusuke Nakauchi, Ming Zheng, Chloe A.L. Thompson-Peach, Kelly Lim, Niklas Landberg, Thomas Köhnke, Nirmal Robinson, Satinder Kaur, Monika Kutyna, Melissa Stafford, Devendra Hiwase, Andreas Reinisch, Gary Peltz, Ravindra Majet

Use of Schizosaccharomyces strains for wine fermentation? Effect on the wine composition and food safety

Schizosaccharomyceswas initially considered as a spoilage yeast because of the production of undesirable metabolites such as acetic acid, hydrogen sulfide, or acetaldehyde, but it currently seems to be of great value in enology.o ced Nevertheless, Schizosaccharomyces can reduce all of the malic acid in must, leading to malolactic fermentation. Malolactic fermentation is a highly complicated process in enology and leads to a higher concentration of biogenic amines, so the use of Schizosaccharomyces pombe can be an excellent tool for assuring wine safety. Schizosaccharomyces also has much more potential than only reducing the malic acid content, such as increasing the level of pyruvic acid and thus the vinylphenolic pyranoanthocyanin content. Until now, few commercial strains have been available and little research on the selection of appropriate yeast strains with such potential has been conducted. In this study, selected and wild Sc. pombe strains were used along with a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain to ferment red grape must. The results showed significant differences in several parameters including non-volatile and volatile compounds, anthocyanins, biogenic amines and sensory parameters