Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Journalistic views on post-violent peacebuilding in Bosnia and Herzegovina

In this chapter we focus on the media portrayal content of a specific ­traumatic event and journalists’ discourse about it in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH). Despite the growing role and authority of journalists in shaping our understanding of collective pasts, the possible role of journalists as active agents in contributing to heightening tensions has been marginalized. Analyzing media texts can demonstrate how a “specific, limited truth” about the start of war in BIH is being selected, instrumentalized, and legitimized in the public awareness. Focus on journalists’ perceptions of war and positive post-violence offers an understanding of different views about the start of the war, and guilt. This is why the basic research questions here deal with how journalists in BIH represent the violent past. Specifically, how do they cover a specific traumatic event and what are their perceptions about possibilities of realizing positive post-violence? Research on post-conflict processes looks at the ways in which people attempt to recreate their social fabric in ways appropriated to the changes in their social environment. Thus, the larger question that we are interested in here is whether journalists, like storytellers, frame their stories according to their ethnical belonging and the cultural environment? Furthermore, what media conditions might make possible positive post-violence after violent conflict

Effects of physical forcing on COastal ZOoplankton community structure: study of the unusual case of a MEDiterranean ecosystem under strong tidal influence (Project COZOMED-MERMEX).

International audienceThe COZOMED-MERMEX project aims at understanding how hydrodynamic forcing (currents, tides, winds)combine with anthropogenic forcing and climate to affect the variability of coastal Mediterranean zooplanktoncommunities under contrasting tidal influence. This study includes (i) a zero state of knowledge via a literaturereview of existing data and (ii) a case study on the system Boughrara lagoon - Gulf of Gabes. This ecosystemgives major services for Tunisia (about 65% of national fish production) but is weakened by its situation in aheavily anthropized area and under influence of urban, industrial and agricultural inputs. Besides this regionis subject to specific climate forcing (Sahelian winds, scorching heat, intense evaporation, flooding) whichpossible changes will be considered. The expected issues are (i) to improve our knowledge of hydrodynamicforcing on zooplankton and ultimately on the functioning of coastal Mediterranean ecosystems impacted byanthropogenic and climatic effects and (ii) to elaborate management tools to help preserving good ecologicalstatus of these ecosystems: hydrodynamic circulation model, mapping of isochrones of residence times, mappingof the areas of highest zooplankton abundances (swarms), and sensitive areas, etc. This project strengthensexisting scientific collaborations within the MERMEX program (The MerMex Group, 2011) and in the frameof an international joint laboratory (COSYS-Med) created in 2014. A first field mulidisciplinary campaign wasperformed in October 2016. The strategy combined measurements of sea level and currents (mooring of ADCP,Argonaute and tidal gauges), hydrological description of water masses (horizontal and vertical transect with aMinibat equipped with CTD, fluorescence and turbidity sensors) and discrete sampling of nutrients, DOC, POC,pico, nano, microphytoplankton and mesozooplankton. The first results allow a description of water currents andshows a good coupling between tidal cycles (ebb-flood and spring tide neap tide) and the dynamics of planktoniccompartments in the lagoon

Structural investigations on cell walls of Nocardia sp. The wall lipid and peptidoglycan moieties of Nocardia kirovani

The walls of Nocardia kirovani are composed of three main constituents: the peptidoglycan matrix, a polysaccharide polymer and a variety of free and bound lipids. The free lipids represent 17.5% (dry weight) of the walls and consist for the major part of C16–18 fatty acids and nocardic acids, and for the minor part, of nocardones, triglycerides and carotenoid pigments. The nocardic acids were identified as tri- and tetra-unsaturated, α-branched, β-hydroxylated compounds C58H110O3—C66H124O3 the nocardones as tri-and tetra-unsaturated ketones C57H106O—C63H1180O, and the main carotenoid pigment as phlei-xantophylle palmitate. Esters of glycerol with C14, C16, C18 fatty acids and, for some of them, with odd numbered poly-unsaturated acids containing 35 to 45 carbon atoms, were also identified. Bound lipids represent about 20% (dry weight) of the walls and consist mainly of nocardic acids probably ester-linked to an arabinogalactan polymer. The peptidoglycan (about 40% dry weight) is composed of β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyl-N-glycolylmuramic acid disaccharide units that are substituted by diamidated L-Ala-D-αGln-(L)-A2pm-(D)-NH2 tripeptides and diamidated l-Ala-d-αGln-(L)-A2pm-(D)-NH2-(L)-d-Ala tetrapeptides, where A2pm is meso-diaminopimelic acid. Crosslinking between some of the peptide units is mediated through D-Ala-(D)-A2pm linkages (peptidoglycan of chemotype I)