Rotwein unter Hochspannung: Mehrjährige Qualitäts- Untersuchung mit Gas-Discharge-Visualisation (GDV)

We investigated whether we can detect any differences in red wines produced either by bio-dynamic or by standard organic agriculture. We used standard methods to investigate the quality of the wines and Gas-Discharge-Visualisation (GDV) method to investigate a holistic quality of the wines. With the GDV-method, samples are exposed to high voltage. The halo-like gas discharge caused by a burst of electron emission of the sample is captured by a digital camera underneath a transparent, dielectric surface. The wine samples measured originate from an On-Farm experiment in South of France with two separately managed but neighbouring blocks (same soil and climate conditions): bio-organic and bio-dynamic. Apart from the use of bio-dynamic preparations, plant protection and fertilization was the same in both blocks. The vinification of the sampled grapes was made in two replicates which were analysed separately. During the three years of examination, the bio-dynamic samples did not reveal significant differences when assessed with standard methods (sensory triangle test, polyphenol analysis etc.). However, with GDV measurements the values for the imageparameter “mean intensity” were mostly higher for the wines from bio-dynamically produced grapes. In a „mixed effect model“ (GDV-parameter „mean intensity“ as dependent variable, replication und cultivation-system as fix and year as random effect) the difference was statistically significant. We conclude that the GDV-method has an interesting potential to detect very sensitively differences in food attributes. However, in order to interpret the results in terms of consumer-relevant quality further research is needed

Eigenschaften von Tonerdepräparaten: Erfahrungen aus der Schweiz

In der Schweiz stehen für die Bekämpfung von P. viticola Kupfer und Tonerdeprodukte wie Myco-San, Myco-Sin, und Ulmasud zur Verfügung. Die Praxis hat das Wirkungspotential gezeigt und es werden verschiedene Anwendungsstrategien angewandt. Der Einsatz von Tonerdeprodukten kann allerdings auch zu Phytotoxizität führen, die von der Anwendungsstrategie, Konzentration und Sorte abhängt. In dieser Studie (i) verglich das FiBL verschiedene Anwendungsstrategien mit und ohne Kupfer, (ii) untersuchte das aktive Prinzip und die Wirkungsweise der Tonerdeprodukte, und (iii) beschrieb den Einfluss von Umeltfaktoren wie Niederschlag auf die Wirkung. Die FiBL-Erfahrungen zeigen, dass Tonerdeprodukte wertvolle Kupferersatzprodukte sind in Situationen mit mittleren Niederschlagsintensitäten und bei guter Applikationstechnik. Die Wirkungsgrenzen werden unter den Bedingungen in der Schweiz allerdings in den niederschlagsreichen Regionen und bei hohem Befallsdruck wie im Jahre 1999 sichtbar

Intelligence within BAOR and NATO's Northern Army Group

During the Cold War the UK's principal military role was its commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) through the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR), together with wartime command of NATO's Northern Army Group. The possibility of a surprise attack by the numerically superior Warsaw Pact forces ensured that great importance was attached to intelligence, warning and rapid mobilisation. As yet we know very little about the intelligence dimension of BAOR and its interface with NATO allies. This article attempts to address these neglected issues, ending with the impact of the 1973 Yom Kippur War upon NATO thinking about warning and surprise in the mid-1970s. It concludes that the arrangements made by Whitehall for support to BAOR from national assets during crisis or transition to war were - at best - improbable. Accordingly, over the years, BAOR developed its own unique assets in the realm of both intelligence collection and special operations in order to prepare for the possible outbreak of conflict

Targeted Deletion of Neuropeptide Y (NPY) Modulates Experimental Colitis

Neurogenic inflammation plays a major role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We examined the role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in modulating colitis.Colitis was induced by administration of dextran sodium sulphate (3% DSS) or streptomycin pre-treated Salmonella typhimurium (S.T.) in wild type (WT) and NPY (NPY(-/-)) knockout mice. Colitis was assessed by clinical score, histological score and myeloperoxidase activity. NPY and nNOS expression was assessed by immunostaining. Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring catalase activity, glutathione and nitrite levels. Colonic motility was assessed by isometric muscle recording in WT and DSS-treated mice.DSS/S.T. induced an increase in enteric neuronal NPY and nNOS expression in WT mice. WT mice were more susceptible to inflammation compared to NPY(-/-) as indicated by higher clinical & histological scores, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity (p<0.01). DSS-WT mice had increased nitrite, decreased glutathione (GSH) levels and increased catalase activity indicating more oxidative stress. The lower histological scores, MPO and chemokine KC in S.T.-treated nNOS(-/-) and NPY(-/-)/nNOS(-/-) mice supported the finding that loss of NPY-induced nNOS attenuated inflammation. The inflammation resulted in chronic impairment of colonic motility in DSS-WT mice. NPY -treated rat enteric neurons in vitro exhibited increased nitrite and TNF-alpha production.NPY mediated increase in nNOS is a determinant of oxidative stress and subsequent inflammation. Our study highlights the role of neuronal NPY and nNOS as mediators of inflammatory processes in IBD

Hyaluronan Export through Plasma Membranes Depends on Concurrent K+ Efflux by Kir Channels

Hyaluronan is synthesized within the cytoplasm and exported into the extracellular matrix through the cell membrane of fibroblasts by the MRP5 transporter. In order to meet the law of electroneutrality, a cation is required to neutralize the emerging negative hyaluronan charges. As we previously observed an inhibiting of hyaluronan export by inhibitors of K+ channels, hyaluronan export was now analysed by simultaneously measuring membrane potential in the presence of drugs. This was done by both hyaluronan import into inside-out vesicles and by inhibition with antisense siRNA. Hyaluronan export from fibroblast was particularly inhibited by glibenclamide, ropivacain and BaCl2 which all belong to ATP-sensitive inwardly-rectifying Kir channel inhibitors. Import of hyaluronan into vesicles was activated by 150 mM KCl and this activation was abolished by ATP. siRNA for the K+ channels Kir3.4 and Kir6.2 inhibited hyaluronan export. Collectively, these results indicated that hyaluronan export depends on concurrent K+ efflux

Serotonergic chemosensory neurons modify the <i>C. elegans</i> immune response by regulating G-protein signaling in epithelial cells

The nervous and immune systems influence each other, allowing animals to rapidly protect themselves from changes in their internal and external environment. However, the complex nature of these systems in mammals makes it difficult to determine how neuronal signaling influences the immune response. Here we show that serotonin, synthesized in Caenorhabditis elegans chemosensory neurons, modulates the immune response. Serotonin released from these cells acts, directly or indirectly, to regulate G-protein signaling in epithelial cells. Signaling in these cells is required for the immune response to infection by the natural pathogen Microbacterium nematophilum. Here we show that serotonin signaling suppresses the innate immune response and limits the rate of pathogen clearance. We show that C. elegans uses classical neurotransmitters to alter the immune response. Serotonin released from sensory neurons may function to modify the immune system in response to changes in the animal's external environment such as the availability, or quality, of food

Deficient Dopamine D2 Receptor Function Causes Renal Inflammation Independently of High Blood Pressure

Renal dopamine receptors participate in the regulation of blood pressure. Genetic factors, including polymorphisms of the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) are associated with essential hypertension, but the mechanisms of their contribution are incompletely understood. Mice lacking Drd2 (D2−/−) have elevated blood pressure, increased renal expression of inflammatory factors, and renal injury. We tested the hypothesis that decreased dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) function increases vulnerability to renal inflammation independently of blood pressure, is an immediate cause of renal injury, and contributes to the subsequent development of hypertension. In D2−/− mice, treatment with apocynin normalized blood pressure and decreased oxidative stress, but did not affect the expression of inflammatory factors. In mouse RPTCs Drd2 silencing increased the expression of TNFα and MCP-1, while treatment with a D2R agonist abolished the angiotensin II-induced increase in TNF-α and MCP-1. In uni-nephrectomized wild-type mice, selective Drd2 silencing by subcapsular infusion of Drd2 siRNA into the remaining kidney produced the same increase in renal cytokines/chemokines that occurs after Drd2 deletion, increased the expression of markers of renal injury, and increased blood pressure. Moreover, in mice with two intact kidneys, short-term Drd2 silencing in one kidney, leaving the other kidney undisturbed, induced inflammatory factors and markers of renal injury in the treated kidney without increasing blood pressure. Our results demonstrate that the impact of decreased D2R function on renal inflammation is a primary effect, not necessarily associated with enhanced oxidant activity, or blood pressure; renal damage is the cause, not the result, of hypertension. Deficient renal D2R function may be of clinical relevance since common polymorphisms of the human DRD2 gene result in decreased D2R expression and function