MicroRNA-204-5p modulates mitochondrial biogenesis in C2C12 myotubes and associates with oxidative capacity in humans

Using an unbiased high-throughput microRNA (miRNA)-silencing screen combined with functional readouts for mitochondrial oxidative capacity in C2C12 myocytes, we previously identified 19 miRNAs as putative regulators of skeletal muscle mitochondrial metabolism. In the current study, we highlight miRNA-204-5p, identified from this screen, and further studied its role in the regulation of skeletal muscle mitochondrial function. Following silencing of miRNA-204-5p in C2C12 myotubes, gene and protein expression were assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, microarray analysis, and western blot analysis, while morphological changes were studied by confocal microscopy. In addition, miRNA-204-5p expression was quantified in human skeletal muscle biopsies and associated with in vivo mitochondrial oxidative capacity. Transcript levels of PGC-1α (3.71-fold; p <.01), predicted as an miR-204-5p target, as well as mitochondrial DNA copy number (p <.05) and citrate synthase activity (p =.06) were increased upon miRNA-204-5p silencing in C2C12 myotubes. Silencing of miRNA-204-5p further resulted in morphological changes, induced gene expression of autophagy marker light chain 3 protein b (LC3B; q =.05), and reduced expression of the mitophagy marker FUNDC1 (q =.01). Confocal imaging revealed colocalization between the autophagosome marker LC3B and the mitochondrial marker OxPhos upon miRNA-204-5p silencing. Finally, miRNA-204-5p was differentially expressed in human subjects displaying large variation in oxidative capacity and its expression levels associated with in vivo measures of skeletal muscle mitochondrial function. In summary, silencing of miRNA-204-5p in C2C12 myotubes stimulated mitochondrial biogenesis, impacted on cellular morphology, and altered expression of markers related to autophagy and mitophagy. The association between miRNA-204-5p and in vivo mitochondrial function in human skeletal muscle further identifies miRNA-204-5p as an interesting modulator of skeletal muscle mitochondrial metabolism.</p

The Dynamic Human Vehicle Relationship through Robotic Interaction Systems: An exploratory look into how robots can add value to the interaction with fully autonomous vehicles

With the imminent rise of vehicle automation the human driver will have increasingly less responsibility for driving. At one point this will even mean that cars will be able to fully drive themselves, so that the driver is relieved of all driving related tasks. In this situation the car effectively becomes a robot, resulting in a novel relationship between human and car. This project explored that relationship by looking at the possible overlap between autonomous vehicles and robotics, aiming to answer the following research questions:What emerging phenomena can be identified from the combination of AVs and robotics?In what way could the combination of AVs and robotics add value to humans’ lives?The project started by reviewing previous shifts in this relationship that came about with technological developments, and a similar analysis of robotics and its relationship to humans. After providing historical context and formulating the current state, the project continued with an exploration of existing work in academia and industry. The findings from this initial exploration helped define a further focus into the relationship between an AV and a community of people that surrounds it. To gain user insights a co-creation workshop was conducted. In these workshops the participants were all part of a certain community, and their task was to envision how a ‘shared mobile space’ (an abstract term used in substitution of AV) and robotics could add value to their lives. The outcomes of these workshops were analysed and together with insights from the related work review they served as input for finding a design analogy for the envisioned future role of the AV. The selected analogy was that of a language buddy, which acts as a sort of catalyst for expats or refugees to be included in a community. To finally bring all findings together and link them to the envisioned future role, a set of design principles was created. After iteration with mobility-related experts they were formulated as follows: when researchers and designers are working on future AVs, they should keep in mind that AVs should be considered shared mobile spaces rather than self-driving cars. Because of the robotic characteristics of the AV, its use-opportunities are far greater than just an evolution of current-day car use. To help with this notion, the following principles should be followed.AVs provide opportunities for interest-based communities to be nonsimultaneously connected in a physical space;Tailored NDRAs should be used to catalyse community inclusion;Adaptability should be a core characteristic of an AV, therefore also of its design process.The work that is presented aims to contribute to both academia and industry. Firstly by shining light on the overlooked community perspective on AV design. By providing the aforementioned design principles this work advocates researchers and practitioners to take on this perspective, to ensure a positive impact on the community level as well. Secondly, by promoting a less car-centric approach to AV design, broader and more experience-focused AV use opportunities may arise.Integrated Product Desig

Baseline glucose level is an individual trait that is negatively associated with lifespan and increases due to adverse environmental conditions during development and adulthood

High baseline glucose levels are associated with pathologies and shorter lifespan in humans, but little is known about causes and consequences of individual variation in glucose levels in other species. We tested to what extent baseline blood glucose level is a repeatable trait in adult zebra finches, and whether glucose levels were associated with age, manipulated environmental conditions during development (rearing brood size) and adulthood (foraging cost), and lifespan. We found that: (1) repeatability of glucose levels was 30%, both within and between years. (2) Having been reared in a large brood and living with higher foraging costs as adult were independently associated with higher glucose levels. Furthermore, the finding that baseline glucose was low when ambient temperature was high, and foraging costs were low, indicates that glucose is regulated at a lower level when energy turnover is low. (3) Survival probability decreased with increasing baseline glucose. We conclude that baseline glucose is an individual trait negatively associated with survival, and increases due to adverse environmental conditions during development (rearing brood size) and adulthood (foraging cost). Blood glucose may be, therefore, part of the physiological processes linking environmental conditions to lifespan

Effects of cattle grazing on Ixodes ricinus-borne disease risk in forest areas of the Netherlands.

Cattle grazing has been suggested to reduce the risk for Lyme borreliosis by decreasing the density of questing Ixodes ricinus infected with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. We tested the hypotheses that cattle grazing used in woodland management decreases the density of questing I. ricinus, and that it decreases the nympal infection prevalence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato. We further expected the nympal infection prevalence of tick-borne pathogens that utilize cattle as amplifying hosts, namely Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia sensu stricto, to increase. To test these hypotheses, we compared the densities of questing I. ricinus between twenty pairs of plots in grazed and ungrazed forest areas. The density of I. ricinus adults, but not nymphs, was lower in areas grazed by cattle than in ungrazed areas. Nymphs were tested for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia s.s. DNA from twelve paired areas. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia s.s. from qPCR-positive tick lysates were identified further to the ecotype and species level, respectively, by DNA sequencing. The infection prevalence of A. phagocytophilum was lower, and infection prevalence of Babesia s.s., identified as Babesia venatorum, was higher in grazed areas. In contrast, infection prevalence with B. burgdorferi s.l. or B. miyamotoi did not differ between grazed and ungrazed areas. As a consequence, conventional cattle grazing in forested areas had no effect on the densities of questing nymphs infected with B. burgdorferi s.l. and B. miyamotoi. Similarly, we found no effect of cattle grazing on the density of infected nymphs with B. venatorum. The marked difference in the densities of questing nymphs infected with A. phagocytophilum could potentially be explained by the presence of a higher density of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in ungrazed areas, as the majority of typed A. phagocytophilum from ungrazed areas were the non-zoonotic ecotype II, which is associated with roe deer.</p

Data from: Food quality and quantity is more important in explaining foraging of an intermediate-sized mammalian herbivore than predation risk or competition

During times of high activity by predators and competitors, herbivores may be forced to forage in patches of low-quality food. However, the relative importance in determining where and what herbivores forage still remains unclear, especially for small and intermediate-sized herbivores. Our objective was to test the relative importance of predator and competitor activity, and forage quality and quantity on the proportion of time spent in a vegetation type and the proportion of time spent foraging by the intermediate-sized herbivore European hare (Lepus europaeus). We studied red fox (Vulpes vulpes) as a predator species and European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as a competitor. We investigated the time spent at a location and foraging time of hare using GPS with accelerometers. Forage quality and quantity was analysed based on hand-plucked samples of a selection of the locally most important plant species in the diet of hare. Predator and competitor activity was investigated using a network of camera traps. Hares spent a higher proportion of time in vegetation types that contained a higher percentage of fibres (i.e., NDF). Besides, hares spent a higher proportion of time in vegetation types that contained relatively low food quantity and quality of forage (i.e., high percentage of fibres) during days that foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were more active. Also during days that rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were more active, hares spent a higher proportion of time foraging in vegetation types that contained a relatively low quality of forage. Although predation risk affected space use and foraging behaviour, and competition affected foraging behaviour, our study shows that food quality and quantity more strongly affected space use and foraging behaviour than predation risk or competition. It seems that we need to reconsider the relative importance of the landscape of food in a world of fear and competition

Database_Hare_foraging behaviour_3_7_2018

collected in the field by collared aninmals, camera trap data and vegetation sample

Vliegbewegingen van jonge zeearenden in Windpark Zeewolde (Flevoland) in 2019-2022 : Variatie in ruimte en tijd van vliegbewegingen door het windpark

In de Provincie Flevoland staat een groot aantal turbines die overlappen met de vliegbewegingen van zeearenden in die provincie. Dat geldt ook voor Windpark Zeewolde, dat in een gebied ligt met een hoge dichtheid aan vliegbewegingen van zeearenden. Er is voor Windpark Zeewolde bepaald wat de ruimtelijk en temporele aspecten van vlieggedrag van jonge (1e-4e jaar) zeearenden (aantal vliegbewegingen en vlieghoogte in relatie tot periode van het jaar, tijd van de dag en weersomstandigheden) zijn ten aanzien van windturbines. Op basis hiervan identificatie van potentieel risicovolle windturbines voor zeearenden in Windpark Zeewolde, en is bepaald wat de daadwerkelijke en in de toekomst te verwachten vliegbewegingen zullen zijn door het park. De analyses zijn gebaseerd op een steekproef van 15 in Nederland geboren zeearenden die zijn uitgerust met gps-zenders en waarvan gps-gegevens zijn verzameld in de periode van zomer 2019 tot en met najaar 2022. Met de behaalde inzichten in vliegbewegingen is duidelijk dat zeearenden in potentie de hoogste risico’s lopen op aanvaringen met turbines in de Noordoosthoek van Windpark Zeewolde. De analyses laten een hoge dichtheid aan vliegbewegingen zien van gezenderde zeearenden door Windpark Zeewolde, die in werkelijkheid een kwart betreffen van de daadwerkelijke vliegbewegingen van zeearenden door het gebied

Effects of cattle grazing on Ixodes ricinus-borne disease risk in forest areas of the Netherlands

Cattle grazing has been suggested to reduce the risk for Lyme borreliosis by decreasing the density of questing Ixodes ricinus infected with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. We tested the hypotheses that cattle grazing used in woodland management decreases the density of questing I. ricinus, and that it decreases the nympal infection prevalence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato. We further expected the nympal infection prevalence of tick-borne pathogens that utilize cattle as amplifying hosts, namely Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia sensu stricto, to increase. To test these hypotheses, we compared the densities of questing I. ricinus between twenty pairs of plots in grazed and ungrazed forest areas. The density of I. ricinus adults, but not nymphs, was lower in areas grazed by cattle than in ungrazed areas. Nymphs were tested for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia s.s. DNA from twelve paired areas. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia s.s. from qPCR-positive tick lysates were identified further to the ecotype and species level, respectively, by DNA sequencing. The infection prevalence of A. phagocytophilum was lower, and infection prevalence of Babesia s.s., identified as Babesia venatorum, was higher in grazed areas. In contrast, infection prevalence with B. burgdorferi s.l. or B. miyamotoi did not differ between grazed and ungrazed areas. As a consequence, conventional cattle grazing in forested areas had no effect on the densities of questing nymphs infected with B. burgdorferi s.l. and B. miyamotoi. Similarly, we found no effect of cattle grazing on the density of infected nymphs with B. venatorum. The marked difference in the densities of questing nymphs infected with A. phagocytophilum could potentially be explained by the presence of a higher density of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in ungrazed areas, as the majority of typed A. phagocytophilum from ungrazed areas were the non-zoonotic ecotype II, which is associated with roe deer.</p