GFP-tagged multimetal-tolerant bacteria and their detection in the rhizosphere of white mustard

The introduction of rhizobacteria that tolerate heavy metals is a promising approach to support plants involved in phytoextraction and phytostabilisation. In this study, soil of a metal-mine wasteland was analyzed for the presence of metal-tolerant bacterial isolates, and the tolerance patterns of the isolated strains for a number of heavy metals and antibiotics were compared. Several of the multimetal-tolerant strains were tagged with a broad host range reporter plasmid (i.e. pPROBE-NT) bearing a green fluorescent protein marker gene (gfp). Overall, the metal-tolerant isolates were predominately Gram-negative bacteria. Most of the strains showed a tolerance to five metals (Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb and Cd), but with differing tolerance patterns. From among the successfully tagged isolates, we used the transconjugant Pseudomonas putida G25 (pPROBE-NT) to inoculate white mustard seedlings. Despite a significant decrease in transconjugant abundance in the rhizosphere, the gfp-tagged cells survived on the root surfaces at a level previously reported for root colonisers

Involvement of resistin-like molecule β in the development of methionine-choline deficient diet-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice

Resistin-like molecule β (RELMβ) reportedly has multiple functions including local immune responses in the gut. In this study, we investigated the possible contribution of RELMβ to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) development. First, RELMβ knock-out (KO) mice were shown to be resistant to methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet-induced NASH development. Since it was newly revealed that Kupffer cells in the liver express RELMβ and that RELMβ expression levels in the colon and the numbers of RELMβ-positive Kupffer cells were both increased in this model, we carried out further experiments using radiation chimeras between wild-type and RELMβ-KO mice to distinguish between the contributions of RELMβ in these two organs. These experiments revealed the requirement of RELMβ in both organs for full manifestation of NASH, while deletion of each one alone attenuated the development of NASH with reduced serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels. The higher proportion of lactic acid bacteria in the gut microbiota of RELMβ-KO than in that of wild-type mice may be one of the mechanisms underlying the lower serum LPS level the former. These data suggest the contribution of increases in RELMβ in the gut and Kupffer cells to NASH development, raising the possibility of RELMβ being a novel therapeutic target for NASH

A paired conceptual framework integrating information systems research and democracy theory

Anastasiadou, M., dos Santos, V. D., & Evans, A. M. (2020). A paired conceptual framework integrating information systems research and democracy theory. In H. Santos, G. V. Pereira, M. Budde, S. F. Lopes, & P. Nikolic (Eds.), Science and Technologies for Smart Cities: 5th EAI International Summit, SmartCity360, Braga, Portugal, December 4-6, 2019, Proceedings (pp. 217-235). (Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, LNICST; Vol. 323 LNICST). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51005-3_20Information systems (IS) play an important role in contemporary society, but critical questions remain on their impact on democracy. This study aims to contribute to a better understanding of this phenomenon. In order to do so, the study develops an innovative methodological approach. Drawing from Design Science Research (DSR), we build conceptual pairs between core preoccupations explored by critical thought on democracy and available problem-solving information technologies. The study does not aim at an exhaustive analysis of problems and solutions; this would be unfeasible, considering the limitations of journal article format. Rather, it aims at early-stage methodology incorporation across disciplines that draw from different research paradigms. The findings will offer a preliminary probe on the analytical input of DSR conceptual artefacts in examining functional links between information systems and political outcomes.authorsversionpublishe