NAD(P) turnover in plant mitochondria

An analytical procedure based on alkaline extraction and HPLC analysis was adapted for quantification of pyridine nucleotides in plant mitochondria. The amounts of NAD and NADP extracted from seven different species varied from 1.0 to 3.7 and 0 to 0.5 nmol (mg protein) –1 , respectively. Although NADP was found in four species, its reduced form was in all cases below the detection limit of 0.1 nmol (mg protein) –1 . The NAD pool was mainly oxidized in the absence of substrates. However, oxidation of substrates followed by anaerobiosis caused 50–92% NAD pool reduction, indicating that the majority of the NAD+ was metabolically active. The NAD reduction level in potato tuber mitochondria oxidizing malate varied with assay conditions. The highest level of reduction (>80%) was reached at anaerobiosis, at pH 6.5 and 7.2, conditions favouring malic enzyme (ME), whereas the lowest reduction level (0%) was observed at pH 7.5, conditions favouring malate dehydrogenase (MDH). Mitochondria incubated at 0°C without respiratory substrate showed a loss of endogenous NAD + which correlated with a decline in the rate of oxidation of NAD+ -linked substrates. The lost NAD+ was mainly recovered as breakdown products in both the surrounding medium and the mitochondria. When submitochondrial fractions were incubated with NAD + or NADP + , the highest rate of NAD(P)+metabolism was detected in the outer membrane fraction. The metabolites detected, adenosine monophosphate (AMP), nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and adenosine, imply that several enzymes involved in pyridine nucleotide degradation, including an NAD pyrophosphatase, are localized to the outer membrane

‘If you look the part you’ll get the job’: should career professionals help clients to enhance their career image?

This article presents a critical exploration of the role of career professionals in supporting people to reflect on and enhance their appearance, attractiveness and self-presentation (career image). The article is conceptual and based on a review of the broader literature on career success, appearance and attractiveness. It explores the evidence for a relationship between attractiveness and career, and the authors propose a conceptual framework in which career image is comprised of three elements (interpersonal skills, aesthetic presentation and beauty). The paper examines a possible role for career professionals in relation to this and then critically examines this role and concludes with the proposition of a research agenda in this area

Adsorption of Fibrinogen on Thin Oriented Poly(Tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) Fibres Studied by Scanning Force Microscopy

We have investigated fibrinogen adsorption on ordered poly(tetrafluoroethylene), PTFE, fibres deposited on hydrophilic and hydrophobic silicon substrates. Fibrinogen molecules appear to adsorb with their long axis perpendicular to the fibre direction for PTFE fibres having widths of less than 100 nm. On these thin fibres, fibrinogen apparently forms close packed bands or clusters, consisting of small integer numbers of molecules arranged parallel to each other. On broader (\u3e 100 nm) PTFE fibres, the fibrinogen forms two dimensional networks. The orientation of the molecules in these networks is random in the central flat part of the fibres but perpendicular to the fibre direction at the fibre edges. As a tentative explanation, we propose that the observed orientation may be linked to the radius of curvature of the fibre surface

Psychotherapy Versus Pharmacotherapy For Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Systemic Review And Meta-Analyses To Determine First-Line Treatments

Background: Current clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) offer contradictory recommendations regarding use of medications or psychotherapy as first-line treatment. Direct head-to-head comparisons are lacking. Methods: Systemic review of Medline, EMBASE, PILOTS, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, and Global Health Library was conducted without language restrictions. Randomized clinical trials \u3e8 weeks in duration using structured clinical interview-based outcome measures, active-control conditions (e.g. supportive psychotherapy), and intent-to-treat analysis were selected for analyses. Independent review, data abstraction, and bias assessment were performed using standardized processes. Study outcomes were grouped around conventional follow-up time periods (3, 6, and 9 months). Combined effect sizes were computed using meta-analyses for medication versus control, medication pre-/posttreatment, psychotherapy versus control, and psychotherapy pre-/posttreatment. Results: Effect sizes for trauma-focused psychotherapies (TFPs) versus active control conditions were greater than medications versus placebo and other psychotherapies versus active controls. TFPs resulted in greater sustained benefit over time than medications. Sertraline, venlafaxine, and nefazodone outperformed other medications, although potential for methodological biases were high. Improvement following paroxetine and fluoxetine treatment was small. Venlafaxine and stress inoculation training (SIT) demonstrated large initial effects that decreased over time. Bupropion, citalopram, divalproex, mirtazapine, tiagabine, and topiramate failed to differentiate from placebo. Aripiprazole, divalproex, guanfacine, and olanzapine failed to differentiate from placebo when combined with an antidepressant. Conclusions: Study findings support use of TFPs over nontrauma-focused psychotherapy or medication as first-line interventions. Second-line interventions include SIT, and potentially sertraline or venlafaxine, rather than entire classes of medication, such as SSRIs. Future revisions of CPGs should prioritize studies that utilize active controls over waitlist or treatment-as-usual conditions. Direct head-to-head trials of TFPs versus sertraline or venlafaxine are needed

Predictors of Long-term Exercise Maintenance among College Aged Adults: Role of Body Image Anxiety

Background and Purpose: Participation in regular exercise is low among young adults and is contributing to a rapid increase in obesity and chronic health conditions. Enhancing motivation is a key element in exercise initiation and maintenance. The current investigation considers factors relevant to the transtheoretical model (TTM), self-determination theory (SDT), self-efficacy (SE), and body image anxiety (BIA) in relation to college students’ motivation to exercise. Design and Main Outcome Measures: In this cross sectional study, lower division college students (N=614, 64% female, 36% male) completed an online survey of exercise behavior, motivation, SE and BIA. Results: BIA was related to both controlled extrinsic (external and introjected regulations) and autonomous extrinsic (integrated regulation) SDT motivational variables, as well as intrinsic motivation. Exercise maintenance was most strongly associated with integrated regulation, a “selfdetermined” motivational state, and SE. Conclusion: The current study provides support for the central tenet of SDT indicating that intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are not mutually exclusive constructs. Helping individuals with BIA develop a more intrinsic approach to exercise is integral for fostering long-term exercise maintenance. Thus, future research should focus on developing interventions that enhance integrated regulation and SE in order to promote exercise maintenance and reduce associated BIA

Establishing research strategies, methodologies and technologies to link genomics and proteomics to seagrass productivity, community metabolism, and ecosystem carbon fluxes

A complete understanding of the mechanistic basis of marine ecosystem functioning is only possible through integrative and interdisciplinary research. This enables the prediction of change and possibly the mitigation of the consequences of anthropogenic impacts. One major aim of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action ES0609 “Seagrasses productivity. From genes to ecosystem management,” is the calibration and synthesis of various methods and the development of innovative techniques and protocols for studying seagrass ecosystems. During 10 days, 20 researchers representing a range of disciplines (molecular biology, physiology, botany, ecology, oceanography, and underwater acoustics) gathered at The Station de Recherches Sous-marines et Océanographiques (STARESO, Corsica) to study together the nearby Posidonia oceanica meadow. STARESO is located in an oligotrophic area classified as “pristine site” where environmental disturbances caused by anthropogenic pressure are exceptionally low. The healthy P. oceanica meadow, which grows in front of the research station, colonizes the sea bottom from the surface to 37 m depth. During the study, genomic and proteomic approaches were integrated with ecophysiological and physical approaches with the aim of understanding changes in seagrass productivity and metabolism at different depths and along daily cycles. In this paper we report details on the approaches utilized and we forecast the potential of the data that will come from this synergistic approach not only for P. oceanica but for seagrasses in general