Acetylcholine mediates protective immune responses against the rodent filarial nematode <em>Litomosoides sigmodontis</em>

Tropical infectious diseases are caused by parasitic helminths, such as lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis (river blindness). Filariae have the ability to modulate the immune response of their host in order to be tolerated for many years. For a better understanding of the protective immune response against filariae and their ability to modulate immune mechanisms of the host, the rodent filarial nematode Litomosoides sigmodontis was used. Previous studies showed that the immune system and the nervous system interact with each other to ensure proper regulation of inflammatory processes. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the contribution of acetylcholine (ACh) signalling through muscarinic receptors in regulating the immune response against L. sigmodontis. ACh was produced by immune cells such as CD4+ T cells, B cells and neutrophils, which are essential for the protective immune responses against filariae. Cholinergic inhibition during natural infection with L. sigmodontis resulted in an increased worm recovery at day 9 when L3 larvae reached the thoracic cavity. Circumventing the migration of L3 larvae through the skin by an intravenous injection led to a comparable worm burden in mice treated with or without muscarinic inhibitor, indicating that the protective immune responses within the skin were compromised by the inhibition of ACh signalling. Confirmation of the involvement of ACh in protective immune responses against L. sigmodontis was further provided in muscarinic receptor type 3 (M3R) knockout mice. M3R-/- mice had a delayed arrival of L3 larvae in the thoracic cavity with lower worm numbers at day 9, but a higher worm recovery at 15 and 37 days post natural infection in comparison to wild-type mice. The reduced worm burden was abolished by an intravenous injection, which was accompanied by a lower histamine release 30 min after L3 injection. Furthermore, the vascular permeability was investigated as it is known that histamine induces vasodilation, which facilitates larval migration due to an increased vascular permeability. Basophils are the main producers of histamine in the plasma. Vascular permeability was examined for confirmation, however a significantly increased vascular permeability in the M3R deficient mice was noticed. In vitro analysis further revealed that activation is impaired in neutrophils and basophils derived from M3R-/- mice. These data suggest that ACh is involved in protective immune responses against filariae and associated with granulocyte activation and recruitment

Epigenetic chromatin modification by amber suppression technology

The genetic incorporation of unnatural amino acids (UAAs) into proteins by amber suppression technology provides unique avenues to study protein structure, function and interactions both in vitro and in living cells and organisms. This approach has been particularly useful for studying mechanisms of epigenetic chromatin regulation, since these extensively involve dynamic changes in structure, complex formation and posttranslational modifications that are difficult to access by traditional approaches. Here, we review recent achievements in this field, emphasizing UAAs that help to unravel protein-protein interactions in cells by photo-crosslinking or that allow the biosynthesis of proteins with defined posttranslational modifications for studying their function and turnover in vitro and in cells

Interviewgestützte Evaluation von Umweltbildungsveranstaltungen für Biolandwirte

This paper discusses the effects of environmental education for organic farmers on the implementation of conservation measurements in farm management. By means of a telephone survey, a sample of 62 farmers was interviewed to evaluate the success of an education program, which consisted of theoretical lectures in winter as well as excursions in summer. The results of the interviews prove a positive feedback of farmers on the environmental education. However, concerning implementation of more comprehensive nature conservation measures appropriate (agricultural) political and financial frame conditions are essential

Partial Verifiability in POLYAS for the GI Elections

We discuss the use of POLYAS, an Internet voting system, in GI elections before 2010, in 2010 and 2011, as well as in future. We briefly describe how the system was extended in 2010 to provide partial verifiability and how the integrity of the GI election result was verified in the 2010 and 2011 elections. Information necessary for partial verifiability has so far only been made available to a small group of researchers. In future it would be ideal to make this, and more information, available to the general public, or to GI members, in order to increase the level of verifiability. We highlight legal considerations accompanying these possibilities, including publishing more details about the election results, the requirement for secret elections and avoiding vote buying, and how to handle complaints. Motivated by legal constraints, we propose further improvements to the POLYAS system. Finally, we generalize our findings to any partially verifiable Internet voting system

Cortical bone loss is an early feature of nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis

Background: In the present study, we investigated bone geometry, microstructure, and volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) in a cohort of patients with nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) in order to define the early bone changes occurring in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and to define potential factors for deterioration of bone microstructure. Methods: Patients with axSpA (n = 107) and healthy control subjects (n = 50) of similar age and sex were assessed for geometric, volumetric, and microstructural parameters of bone using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) at the radius. Additionally, demographic and disease-specific characteristics of patients with axSpA were recorded. Results: Patients with nr-axSpA and control subjects were comparable in age, sex, and body mass index. Geometric and microstructural analysis by HR-pQCT revealed a significantly reduced cortical area (p = 0.022) and cortical thickness (p = 0.006) in patients with nr-axSpA compared with control subjects. Total and cortical vBMD were significantly reduced in patients with nr-axSpA (p = 0.042 and p = 0.007, respectively), whereas there was no difference in trabecular vBMD. Patients with a short disease duration ( 2 years (n = 55) additionally developed a decrease of cortical and total vBMD. Multiple regression models identified male sex to be associated with lower cortical vBMD and female sex to be associated with lower trabecular vBMD. Conclusions: Bone microstructure in patients with nr-axSpA is characterized primarily by deterioration of cortical bone. Cortical bone loss starts early and is evident within the first 2 years of the disease

6.-7. klasside õpilaste Eesti taimede tundmine enne ja pärast õuesõppe looduspraktikumi Lääne-ja Ida-Virumaa koolide näitel

http://tartu.ester.ee/record=b2654999~S6*es

Recognition Memory for High and Low Associative Stimuli in Autistic Individuals with Outstanding Memory Skill

Individuals with autism exhibit typical recognition memory performance, but they show a reduced use of context and relational processing in more complex memory tasks. It is unclear whether the same is true for autistic individuals with exceptional memory skill for whom superior rote memory skill has been assumed.In this study, we investigated recognition memory for high and low associative stimuli in autistic memory experts. In accord with the rote memory notion, we expected an equal recognition performance for high and low associative stimuli and superior memorizing of nonsense material compared to control participants.Seven autistic memory experts and seven typically developed control subjects, matched according to age, sex, handedness, and full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ), were examined on a continuous old-new recognition paradigm, including high or low associative pseudowords and shapes. Memory expertise was characterized as a currently present outstanding memory skill above the subject's general level of ability and above the general population and was validated through direct clinical observation or some form of credible evidence.Our hypotheses were partially corroborated with autistic memory experts recognizing high and low associative shapes equally well in contrast to control participants who showed superior recognition of high associative shapes. However, memory experts did not outperform control participants in the recognition of low associative shapes. There were no differences for the recognition of pseudowords.Findings do not indicate enhanced memory for nonsense material, but a failure to make use of semantic features of abstract stimuli as assumed for autism as a whole

Participatory comprehensive planning to handle competing land-use priorities in the sparsely populated rural context

Rural areas supply the planet's natural resources while simultaneously harbor refuges for most of the world's remaining biodiversity and intact, resilient ecosystems. Since traditional extractive activities must increasingly co-exist with non-exploitative activities such as tourism and conservation, sustainable land use planning is essential for managing trade-offs between incompatible interests in rural areas. With "communicative planning" being promoted since decades, participation is considered crucial for reconciling different planning interests. However, the implementation of participation remains patchy and uneven, not least in sparsely populated regions with low capacity where participation could be a game-changer. Here, we consider municipal comprehensive planning as an existing arena to explore participatory planning approaches potentially capable of simultaneously managing competing land uses and promoting sustainable development in sparsely populated rural contexts. Collaborative work between researchers and public managers resulted in the co-development of an approach based on qualitative village- and interest-based focus groups that facilitated the formulation, negotiation, and legitimization of concrete and detailed local guidelines that prioritize between different land uses. Consequently, the resulting comprehensive plan draft was more readily adopted than the output of a traditional planning process. We found that citizens in sparsely populated municipalities seem willing to actively contribute to rural development processes if they have significant influence

Readiness and planning for more wind power: municipalities as key actors implementing national strategies

In the global context of rapidly developing wind-power technology, local governments have to balance local interests with larger scale targets when implementing national and international strategies. An implication of a new Swedish national strategy for wind-power development is considerable intrusion into natural resource-rich northern landscapes, where municipalities already strive to manage diverse surface demanding and legally valued land-use interests. Municipalities will thus play a key role in wind-power development. Results of our survey suggest that most municipalities have functioning wind-power plans, linked to their municipal comprehensive planning (MCP). However, so far, relatively few wind-power farms have been established, and municipalities have rarely used their right to veto, suggesting that most have not yet experienced significant problems linked to wind-power development. The municipalities rely on their right to veto, and only a third highlighted planning as a tool for handling the increasing demand for wind-power developments. Legislative changes regarding the right to veto and the status of MCP could affect local self-government considerably. Wind-power development could have major consequences for local landscapes and governments, and a municipal-wide policy regarding future wind-power development and MCP as a mediating tool must be secured to balance local interests with national ambitions