Evaluation of Ecotypes of Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus cornicultaus L.) and Marsh Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus uliginosus Schk.)

Ninety-seven ecotypes of birdsfoot trefoil and 75 of marsh birdsfoot trefoil were collected at Olsztyn-Kortowo (north-east Poland). In the years 1987-1991 some morphological and phenological characters of the collected natural populations were examined. The results showed the high differentiation in plant habit, flowering period, thousand­seed weight and number of seeds per pod

Influence of Extensive Management on Botanical Composition of Permanent Meadow Sward

The aim of undertaken investigations was to find the possibilities of grassland management with special respect to the biodiversity and the landscape conservation. Changes in botanical composition of the meadow sward against a background of different mowing utilization were examined on the semi-natural meadows situated on the peat-mursh soil in Masurian Landscape Park (north-east Poland). The areas mown with biennial pause and completely turned off from uses followed gradual simplifying of species composition and increasing of bog species participation. Results show on advisability of passing one harvest each year or with one-year pauses

Quality and Nutritive Value of Alfalfa and Grass Silages with Biological Additives

The present study satisfactorily utilized some food industry byproducts for improving fermentation characteristics, quality and nutritive value of silages. Five kinds of preparations were made: sugar-enzymes based (beet molasses and brewer’s yeast, mycelium of Aspergillus niger, malted barley at 3:3:3:1); enzymes-bacteria based (mycelium of Aspergillus niger, malted barley, acidic whey, fermentation broth and lactic acid bacteria or skim milk powder at 3:0.9:3:0.1); sugar based (molasses and brewer’s yeast at 1:1) and concentrate of lactic acid bacteria only. Untreated or additive-treated first-cut low sugar (60g kg-1DM, 19.4% DM) alfalfa ( Medicago sativa) plus grasses (Phleum pratense and Dactylis glomerata) was ensiled. The percentage of forage in the mixture was 80:15:5, respectively. Data are given on chemical composition, energy content, PDI value, fermentation characteristics and quality of silages

Theoretical Engineering of the Gut Micro biome for the Purpose of Creating Superior Soldiers

The purpose of this review is to highlight research raising the possibility of exploiting the host-microbiome gut axis for military purposes. Through optimizing the gut-microbiome environment it is possible to enhance nutritional access to indigestible material, provide local and systemic analgesia, enhance psychological robustness to battlefield stress, produce endogenous steroids, reduce muscle fatigue, and promote peripheral wound healing. However, this approach is still in its early stages and thus has not been explored to its full potential. The challenges that are currently preventing the practical use of gut bacteria include the following: inconsistency of clinical outcomes, transient effects requiring continuous supplementation, the type of regimen selected, the initiation and cessation of regimen, and the broader clinical studies needed to validate this research. This review is intended to shed light on the numerous and varied positive impacts such an approach could have for the military if further developed

Chromosome Painting Reveals Asynaptic Full Alignment of Homologs and HIM-8–Dependent Remodeling of X Chromosome Territories during Caenorhabditis elegans Meiosis

During early meiotic prophase, a nucleus-wide reorganization leads to sorting of chromosomes into homologous pairs and to establishing associations between homologous chromosomes along their entire lengths. Here, we investigate global features of chromosome organization during this process, using a chromosome painting method in whole-mount Caenorhabditis elegans gonads that enables visualization of whole chromosomes along their entire lengths in the context of preserved 3D nuclear architecture. First, we show that neither spatial proximity of premeiotic chromosome territories nor chromosome-specific timing is a major factor driving homolog pairing. Second, we show that synaptonemal complex-independent associations can support full lengthwise juxtaposition of homologous chromosomes. Third, we reveal a prominent elongation of chromosome territories during meiotic prophase that initiates prior to homolog association and alignment. Mutant analysis indicates that chromosome movement mediated by association of chromosome pairing centers (PCs) with mobile patches of the nuclear envelope (NE)–spanning SUN-1/ZYG-12 protein complexes is not the primary driver of territory elongation. Moreover, we identify new roles for the X chromosome PC (X-PC) and X-PC binding protein HIM-8 in promoting elongation of X chromosome territories, separable from their role(s) in mediating local stabilization of pairing and association of X chromosomes with mobile SUN-1/ZYG-12 patches. Further, we present evidence that HIM-8 functions both at and outside of PCs to mediate chromosome territory elongation. These and other data support a model in which synapsis-independent elongation of chromosome territories, driven by PC binding proteins, enables lengthwise juxtaposition of chromosomes, thereby facilitating assessment of their suitability as potential pairing partners

Overcoming the blood–brain barrier: the role of nanomaterials in treating neurological diseases

Therapies directed toward the central nervous system remain difficult to translate into improved clinical outcomes. This is largely due to the blood–brain barrier (BBB), arguably the most tightly regulated interface in the human body, which routinely excludes most therapeutics. Advances in the engineering of nanomaterials and their application in biomedicine (i.e., nanomedicine) are enabling new strategies that have the potential to help improve our understanding and treatment of neurological diseases. Herein, the various mechanisms by which therapeutics can be delivered to the brain are examined and key challenges facing translation of this research from benchtop to bedside are highlighted. Following a contextual overview of the BBB anatomy and physiology in both healthy and diseased states, relevant therapeutic strategies for bypassing and crossing the BBB are discussed. The focus here is especially on nanomaterial‐based drug delivery systems and the potential of these to overcome the biological challenges imposed by the BBB. Finally, disease‐targeting strategies and clearance mechanisms are explored. The objective is to provide the diverse range of researchers active in the field (e.g., material scientists, chemists, engineers, neuroscientists, and clinicians) with an easily accessible guide to the key opportunities and challenges currently facing the nanomaterial‐mediated treatment of neurological diseases

PTEN as a Prognostic and Predictive Marker in Postoperative Radiotherapy for Squamous Cell Cancer of the Head and Neck

BACKGROUND: Tumor suppressor PTEN is known to control a variety of processes related to cell survival, proliferation, and growth. PTEN expression is considered as a prognostic factor in some human neoplasms like breast, prostate, and thyroid cancer. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study we analyzed the influence of PTEN expression on the outcome of a randomized clinical trial of conventional versus 7-days-a-week postoperative radiotherapy for squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. The patients with cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, and larynx were randomized to receive 63 Gy in fractions of 1.8 Gy given 5 days a week (CF) or 7 days a week (p-CAIR). Out of 279 patients enrolled in the study, 147 paraffin blocks were available for an immunohistochemical assessment of PTEN. To evaluate the prognostic value of PTEN expression and the effect of fractionation relative to PTEN, the data on the outcome of a randomized clinical trial were analyzed. Tumors with a high intensity of PTEN staining had significant gain in the loco-regional control (LRC) from p-CAIR (5-year LRC 92.7% vs. 70.8%, for p-CAIR vs. CF, p = 0.016, RR = 0.26). By contrast, tumors with low intensity of PTEN did not gain from p-CAIR (5-year LRC 56.2% vs. 47.2%, p = 0.49, RR = 0.94). The intensity of PTEN highly affected the LRC in a whole group of 147 patients (5-year LRC 80.9% vs. 52.3% for high vs. low PTEN, p = 0.0007, RR = 0.32). In multivariate Cox analysis, including neck node involvement, EGFR, nm23, Ki-67, p53, cyclin D1, tumor site and margins, PTEN remained an independent predictor of LRC (RR = 2.8 p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These results suggest that PTEN may serve as a potent prognostic and predictive marker in postoperative radiotherapy for high-risk squamous cell cancer of the head and neck

Grassland Management in Central Area of the Masurian Landscape Park

Permanent grassland occupy some 12% of the area of the Masurian Landscape Park. The Cirsio-Polygonetum plant association was distinguished on the semi-natural meadows situated on the peat-marsh soil. Changes in botanical composition of the meadow sward and the productivity of DM, against a background of different mineral fertilization, were examined in a medium-scale plot experiment. It was concluded that both aspects ofutilization must be accorded high priority in the case of extensively managed meadows: medium level of forage production and the landscape conservation