SORLA in renal and adrenal function

Der Typ I Transmembran-Rezeptor SORLA gehört zur VPS10p-Rezeptor Familie in Säugern. Der Rezeptor mit starker Homologie zu Endozytose- und Sorting-Rezeptoren ist am stärksten im zentralen Nervensystem (CNS) exprimiert. Außerhalb des CNS ist SORLA in einer Vielzahl von Geweben zu finden, unter anderem in der Niere. Das klare Expressionsmuster des Rezeptors im distalen Nephron lässt eine Rolle des Rezeptors in transepithelialen Transportprozessen vermuten. Um genau festzustellen, welche Prozesse von SORLA beeinflusst werden, wurde die Nierenfunktion von Mäusen mit einer vollständigen Defizienz des Sorla-Gens (Sorla-/-) untersucht. Diese Tiere zeigen Defekte in der renalen Ionenhomöostase: sie verlieren Na+, Cl-, K+, und Ca2+ (im Normalzustand und/oder nach Trinkwasserentzug). Eine Erniedrigung von Blutdruck und Herzfrequenz sowie eine fehlregulierte Sekretion von Aldosteron gehen mit dem Salzverlust-Phänotyp einher. Passend zu dieser Beobachtung konnte eine Expression von SORLA in der Nebenniere – speziell in der Zona glomerulosa, dem Ort der Aldosteron-Synthese – gezeigt werden. Des weiteren wurde eine signifikant verminderte Expression mehrerer Gene des Adrenalin-Synthesewegs in Sorla-/--Mäusen festgestellt, welcher in einer verringerten Menge des Hormons in den Nebennieren der Tiere resultiert. In der Niere bewirkt das Fehlen von SORLA insbesondere eine veränderte Phosphorylierung der beiden Kation-Chlorid-Cotransporter NCC und NKCC2 hervor, deren Aktivität durch Phosphorylierung reguliert wird. Es ist bekannt, dass die Signalkinase SPAK die Aktivität von NKCC2 und NCC reguliert. Die anormale Phosphorylierung fällt mit einer untypischen Verteilung der Kinase im TAL der SORLA-defizienten Mäuse zusammen. Dies deutet auf eine Funktion des Rezeptors beim Trafficking von SPAK hin. Durch die Identifizierung von Transportproteinen als putative Interaktionspartner SORLAs konnte diese Hypothese bekräftigt werden.The type I transmembrane receptor SORLA is a member of the mammalian VPS10p-receptor family. The receptor, which is mainly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), is characterized by high structural homology to endocytosis- and sorting-receptors. Outside the CNS, expression of SORLA can be found in a variety of tissues, including kidney. This distinct expression pattern in the distal nephron suggests a role for SORLA in transepithelial transport processes. To determine which processes the receptor might be involved in, the kidney function of mice, wich carry a complete deficiency of the Sorla gene, was analyzed. These animals show defects in ion handling: they are wasting Na+, Cl-, K+, and Ca2+ (under normal conditions and/or after water deprivation). The salt loss phenotype is accompanied by decreased mean arterial pressure and heart rate as well as mis-regulated secretion of aldosterone. In line with this observation, SORLA is also expressed in the adrenal gland, particularly in the zona glomerulosa, the place of aldosterone synthesis. Additionally, a significant down-regulation of several genes of the epinephrine synthesis pathway in mice lacking SORLA was found. This defect results in lower adrenal levels of the hormone. In the kidney, the lack of SORLA results especially in altered phosphorylation of the two cation-chloride cotransporters NCC and NKCC2, as their activity is regulated by phosphorylation. The signaling kinase SPAK has been reported to regulate the activity of NKCC2 and NCC. The transporters’ abnormal phosphorylation coincides with the atypical distribution of the kinase in TAL of Sorla-/- mice, suggesting a role of the receptor in establishing the localization of SPAK. This hypothesis was further substantiated by the identification of putative SORLA-interacting proteins involved in trafficking

A review of the Papua New Guinea marine aquarium fishery

The marine aquarium trade is characterised by numerous source countries that collect a diversity of coral reef associated fishes and invertebrates primarily destined for private and public aquaria worldwide. While aquaculture accounts for a few species entering the trade, the bulk of diversity must still be collected from wild populations. With most organisms being sourced from economically marginalised countries in the Indo-Pacific region, the marine aquarium trade has potential to offer a sustainable livelihood opportunity to the custodians of these source habitats. However, in the absence of appropriate management, unsustainable practices can flourish, including use of anaesthetising chemicals (i.e., sodium cyanide) and physical reef damage to collect organisms. In order for long-term benefits of the marine aquarium trade to be accrued by local custodians, effective management systems must be in place. The marine aquarium fishery of Papua New Guinea (PNG) first opened in 2008 and was relatively short lived, closing in 2012. The fishery operated under both a government funded consultancy (2008-2010) and a private commercial entity (2011-2012). Since then, no further commercial exports of marine aquarium organisms have occurred. The apparent lack of viability in this fishery has not yet been evaluated. It is uncertain to what extent government management, operator practices, or consumer attitudes impacted the viability of initial operations. This thesis examines those factors anticipated to impact on the viability of marine aquarium fishery operations within PNG and extends these findings to marine aquarium fisheries at a regional and global level. The existing system of management, encompassing spatial restrictions of fishing effort, limited entry through licensing, gear restrictions, bans on destructive fishing methods, and species-specific Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for 369 species created an unsustainable management burden bourne by the fishery. The collection practices of the PNG fishery were found to be highly selective, collecting fishes disproportionate to their availability (i.e., TAC), rendering many of the established species-specific TACs obsolete. Specifically, 53.2 % (n = 142) of fish species and 87.3 % (n = 89) of invertebrate species with assigned TACs were never collected by the commercial fishery in 2011-2012. A further 124 fish species were collected in the absence of assigned TACs. Of the fish and invertebrate species collected, only three fish species (Amphiprion percula, Paracanthurus hepatus, and Hemiscyllium hallstromi) were found to merit species-specific TACs. By narrowing the focus of species-specific management to those species actually requiring such management attention this refinement of TAC use will reduce the management burden posed by the fishery. The selectivity of the marine aquarium fishery was found to extend beyond species to specific colour morphs of species. This was true for two of the most collected species, A. percula and Premnas biaculeatus. The export price of rare colour morphs was found to increase with decreasing natural abundance (y = 4.73x-0.53, R2 = 0.97), but were well below the value-for-rarity threshold (y = 4.21x-1.00) derived from the price of regular morphs. This suggests the observed targeted exploitation of rare clownfish morphs in the PNG fishery was a less profitable fishing strategy than opportunistic exploitation, where fishes are collected by random encounters. Supply-chain losses attributed to both quality control rejections and mortality were high in 2010. Quality control rejections accounted for a supply-chain loss of 24.2 % of fishes and 11.5 % of non-CITES invertebrates. Among the accepted catch, a mortality of 27.3 % of fishes and 30.6 % of invertebrates occurred prior to export. Where losses occur after purchasing organisms from fishers, this comes as an economic loss to the exporting operator. The loss of one out of every three purchased organisms would have greatly impacted on the economic viability of the fishery. This finding also raises concern over the accuracy of trade data (i.e., export invoices) to accurately monitor exploitation of the trade and raises ethical concerns in regards to humanitarian standards for the treatment of animals. In the absence of prior reviews of practice, the PNG marketing approach of "sustainability" appears to have engendered consumer support for PNG marine aquarium fishery products. In an online survey, consumers were found to show preference for buying a PNG fish over fish sourced from Vietnam, Indonesia, or the Philippines. However, consumers were more likely to purchase fish independently certified for themes of environmentally sustainable, industry best practice, or revenue supporting indigenous fishers compared to purchasing fish from any of the specific countries included in the survey. This suggests consumers want product information validated by a trustworthy third-party. At a global scale, there is minimal evidence that media influences consumer demand, with consumer demand appearing to be more dependent on global economy and advancements in captive husbandry technology. The viability of the marine aquarium trade in PNG appears to have been largely hindered by supply chain losses. While this was empirically evaluated in 2010, there appears to have been little improvement within the fishery as export invoices underestimated catch by 29.3 % in 2012. As such, a direct comparison of the PNG fishery is made to a long-running Fijian supply chain. This identifies areas requiring improvement for better viability of future marine aquarium trade operations in PNG. The research contained within this Thesis is likely to be of interest to PNG, regional marine aquarium fisheries, and the global marine aquarium community

Wood polymer composites and their contribution to cascading utilisation

Due to a shortage of resources and a growing competition of land use, sustainable and efficient resource utilisation becomes increasingly important. The application and multiple, cascading utilisation of renewable resources is aimed at to ensure an allocation and future availability of resources. Wood polymer composites (WPCs) are a group of innovative materials consisting of mainly renewable resources. By means of summarizing recent research, it is shown how WPC can potentially contribute to an enhanced cascading utilisation. For the production of WPC, waste materials and by-products from wood and agricultural industry, e.g. offcuts, sawdust, residues from board manufacturing, pulping sludge, can serve as a raw material. Furthermore, the cited literature presents the use of recycled polymers and biopolymers as a potential alternative for the polymer component of WPC. By using biodegradable polymers, a fully biodegradable composite can be formed. In addition to using recycled materials and potentially being biodegradable, it is pointed out that WPC furthermore offers the possibility of being recycled itself, therefore being considered as a “green composite”. Although the influence of contaminated waste streams and mixed filler and polymer types on the properties of WPC made with such recyclates is yet not fully understood and no collection systems exist for post-consumer WPC, in-house recycling on the production sites is identified as a promising option as it reduces production costs and enhances resource efficiency and cascading utilisation. On the basis of cited life cycle assessments, the eco friendliness of WPC is assessed resulting in the conclusion that WPC cannot compete with solid wood with respect to environmental impact but is an environmentally friendly alternative to neat plastics in several applications

Distribution of blue stain in untreated and DMDHEU treated Scots pine sapwood panels after six years of outdoor weathering

International audienceSurface coating and bulk treatment of wood are two effective measures which can, individually or conjointly, protect exterior wood from deterioration. This paper reports on the blue stain attack in coated wood, untreated and modified with DMDHEU, after six years of natural exposure

IL-6: Sinalização na Hipertrofia Muscular e efeitos Metabólicos Sistêmicos

The myokines are substances produced in skeletal muscle by muscle contraction induced by strengthening exercise. They have the ability to act locally on skeletal muscle itself and also in other organs and body tissues. In this review, we discuss relevant aspects presented in scientificliterature with a high degree of evidence signalling Interleukin - 6 (IL-6) in muscle hypertrophy induced by strenght training exercises, and also the action arising from its release by skeletal muscle in the bloodstream, exerting effects on other organs and tissues, demonstrating that it has an important role in the interaction of immunoneuroendocrine system and pro and anti-inflammatory effects in the human body

Assessment of wood microstructural changes after one-stage thermo-hydro treatment (THT) by micro X-ray computed tomography

The microstructural changes in a selection of softwoods and hardwoods resulting from thermo-hydro treatment (THT) at 160°C were examined by means of a state-of-the-art micro X-ray computed tomography. A dedicated X-ray scanning and volumetric processing protocol was developed. All reconstructed volumes had an approximate voxel pitch between 0.8 and 1.2 μm3. The microstructures of the same needle-shaped specimens before and after THT were visualized, and the individual parameters (maximum opening and lumen volume) for various cell types were quantified and compared. The highest values of substance volume were recorded for the ash sapwood (81%) and spruce specimens (72%). After THT, a significant correlation was found between the mass loss determined by gravimetry and the X-ray volume loss. The largest change occurred in the lumen volume of several tissue components, such as libriform fibers, tracheids, and ray parenchyma. The average aspen fiber volume reduction after THT was 31%, a value 2.6 times higher than the volume reduction of the average vessels. The porosity of ash sapwood increased from 41 to 56%, whereas the porosity of birch decreased from 34 to 29%