Biometrical characteristics of R2 generation of anther-derived pepper (Capsicum spp.) plants

Eight anther-derived DH lines of pepper hybrids: two red-fruited (AP14, AP15) and two yellow lines (AP25 and AP32) of C. annuum (ATZ1 × PO)F2, two lines of (C. frutescens × C. annuum)F1 (FA1, FA2), and two of (C. frutescens × C. chinense)F1 (FCH2, FCH3), were studied regarding important morphological plant and fruit characters. C. annuum breeding line 'ATZ1' was used as a standard. The following traits were evaluated: total fruit yield, fruit weight, weight of placenta with seeds, technological matter, pericarp thickness, extract content, dry matter content, weight and number of seeds per fruit. The level of homogeneity within the DH lines was analysed with a one-way analysis of variance, additionally the values of coefficient of variation (CV) were determined for the tested plant characters. The highest phenotypic uniformity was noted for the red-fruited lines obtained from anthers of (ATZ1 × PO)F2 and for the DH lines of (C. frutescens × C. annuum) F1, while the least uniform were FCH2 and FCH3 lines of (C. frutescens × C. chinense)F1. The DH lines AP14 and AP15, as well as FA1 and FA2 were phenotype homogeneous in respect of weight of fruit, technological matter, pericarp thickness and extract content. For these parameters, also the values of CV were the lowest. Statistically significant interline polymorphism between the androgenic lines of the same origin was detected among the lines of C. annuum (ATZ1 × PO)F2

Preparation and Characterization of Au/Pd Modified-TiO 2

Rutile loaded with Au/Pd nanoparticles was prepared using a water-in-oil microemulsion system of water/AOT/cyclohexane followed by calcination. The effect of calcination temperature (from 350 to 700°C) on the structure of Au/Pd nanoparticles deposited at rutile matrix and the photocatalytic properties of Au/Pd-TiO2 was investigated in two model reactions (toluene degradation in gas phase and phenol degradation in aqueous phase). Toluene was irradiated over Au/Pd-TiO2 using light emitting diodes (LEDs, λmax⁡ = 415 nm). The sample 0.5 mol% Pd/TiO2 exhibited the highest activity under visible light irradiation in gas and aqueous phase reaction among all photocatalysts calcined at 350°C, while the sample modified only with gold nanoparticles showed the lowest activity. The Au/Pd-TiO2 sample calcinated at 350°C possesses the highest photocatalytic activity when degrading phenol under visible light, which is 14 times higher than that of the one calcinated at 450°C. It was observed that increasing temperature from 350 to 700°C during calcination step caused segregation of metals and finally resulted in photoactivity drop

In Vivo Assembly of Photosystem I-Hydrogenase Chimera for In Vitro PhotoH2 Production

Funding Information: P.W., A.F., and J.A. contributed equally to this work. The authors are grateful to the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) in the framework of the project CyFun (03SF0652A). The authors also thank Prof. Wolfgang Lubitz (Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Mülheim an der Ruhr) for providing the DvMF[NiFe]-H2ase used for the fabrication of the H2 microsensor. Part of the project was funded by the research training group GRK2341 “Microbial Substrate Conversion (MiCon)” of the German research council (DFG) and the Dietmar Hopp Stiftung. P.W. is grateful for the financial support provided by the China Scholarship Council (CSC). F.C. is grateful to the support provided by FCT–Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. through MOSTMICRO-ITQB R&D Unit (UIDB/04612/2020, UIDP/04612/2020) and LS4FUTURE Associated Laboratory (LA/P/0087/2020). Open access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. Funding Information: P.W., A.F., and J.A. contributed equally to this work. The authors are grateful to the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) in the framework of the project CyFun (03SF0652A). The authors also thank Prof. Wolfgang Lubitz (Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Mülheim an der Ruhr) for providing the DvMF[NiFe]‐Hase used for the fabrication of the H microsensor. Part of the project was funded by the research training group GRK2341 “Microbial Substrate Conversion (MiCon)” of the German research council (DFG) and the Dietmar Hopp Stiftung. P.W. is grateful for the financial support provided by the China Scholarship Council (CSC). F.C. is grateful to the support provided by FCT–Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. through MOSTMICRO‐ITQB R&D Unit (UIDB/04612/2020, UIDP/04612/2020) and LS4FUTURE Associated Laboratory (LA/P/0087/2020). 2 2 Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors. Advanced Energy Materials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.Photosynthetic hydrogen (photoH2) production is an elegant approach to storing solar energy. The most efficient strategy is to couple the hydrogen-producing enzyme, the hydrogenase (H2ase), directly to photosystem I (PSI), which is a light-driven nanomachine found in photosynthetic organisms. PSI–H2ase fusions have been tested in vivo and in vitro. Both approaches have each their specific advantages and drawbacks. Here, a system to combine both approaches by assembling PSI–H2ase fusions in vivo for in vitro photoH2 production is established. For this, cyanobacterial PSI–H2ase fusion mutants are generated and characterized concerning photoH2 production in vivo. The chimeric protein is purified and embedded in a redox polymer on an electrode where it successfully produces photoH2 in vitro. The combination of in vivo and in vitro processes comes along with reciprocal benefits. The in vivo assembly ensures that the chimeric protein is fully functional and suited for the fabrication of bioelectrodes in vitro. At the same time, the photoelectrochemical in vitro characterization now permits to analyze the assemblies in detail. This will open avenues to optimize in vivo and in vitro approaches for photoH2 production in a target-oriented manner in the future.publishersversionpublishe

Functional analysis and transcriptional output of the Göttingen minipig genome

In the past decade the Göttingen minipig has gained increasing recognition as animal model in pharmaceutical and safety research because it recapitulates many aspects of human physiology and metabolism. Genome-based comparison of drug targets together with quantitative tissue expression analysis allows rational prediction of pharmacology and cross-reactivity of human drugs in animal models thereby improving drug attrition which is an important challenge in the process of drug development.; Here we present a new chromosome level based version of the Göttingen minipig genome together with a comparative transcriptional analysis of tissues with pharmaceutical relevance as basis for translational research. We relied on mapping and assembly of WGS (whole-genome-shotgun sequencing) derived reads to the reference genome of the Duroc pig and predict 19,228 human orthologous protein-coding genes. Genome-based prediction of the sequence of human drug targets enables the prediction of drug cross-reactivity based on conservation of binding sites. We further support the finding that the genome of Sus scrofa contains about ten-times less pseudogenized genes compared to other vertebrates. Among the functional human orthologs of these minipig pseudogenes we found HEPN1, a putative tumor suppressor gene. The genomes of Sus scrofa, the Tibetan boar, the African Bushpig, and the Warthog show sequence conservation of all inactivating HEPN1 mutations suggesting disruption before the evolutionary split of these pig species. We identify 133 Sus scrofa specific, conserved long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the minipig genome and show that these transcripts are highly conserved in the African pigs and the Tibetan boar suggesting functional significance. Using a new minipig specific microarray we show high conservation of gene expression signatures in 13 tissues with biomedical relevance between humans and adult minipigs. We underline this relationship for minipig and human liver where we could demonstrate similar expression levels for most phase I drug-metabolizing enzymes. Higher expression levels and metabolic activities were found for FMO1, AKR/CRs and for phase II drug metabolizing enzymes in minipig as compared to human. The variability of gene expression in equivalent human and minipig tissues is considerably higher in minipig organs, which is important for study design in case a human target belongs to this variable category in the minipig. The first analysis of gene expression in multiple tissues during development from young to adult shows that the majority of transcriptional programs are concluded four weeks after birth. This finding is in line with the advanced state of human postnatal organ development at comparative age categories and further supports the minipig as model for pediatric drug safety studies.; Genome based assessment of sequence conservation combined with gene expression data in several tissues improves the translational value of the minipig for human drug development. The genome and gene expression data presented here are important resources for researchers using the minipig as model for biomedical research or commercial breeding. Potential impact of our data for comparative genomics, translational research, and experimental medicine are discussed

Cryo-EM structure of a functional monomeric Photosystem I from Thermosynechococcus elongatus reveals red chlorophyll cluster

A high-resolution structure of trimeric cyanobacterial Photosystem I (PSI) from Thermosynechococcus elongatus was reported as the first atomic model of PSI almost 20 years ago. However, the monomeric PSI structure has not yet been reported despite long-standing interest in its structure and extensive spectroscopic characterization of the loss of red chlorophylls upon monomerization. Here, we describe the structure of monomeric PSI from Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1. Comparison with the trimer structure gave detailed insights into monomerization-induced changes in both the central trimerization domain and the peripheral regions of the complex. Monomerization-induced loss of red chlorophylls is assigned to a cluster of chlorophylls adjacent to PsaX. Based on our findings, we propose a role of PsaX in the stabilization of red chlorophylls and that lipids of the surrounding membrane present a major source of thermal energy for uphill excitation energy transfer from red chlorophylls to P700

Surgical treatment of rectal cancer in Poland — a report from a prospective, multi-centre observational study PSSO_01 conducted under the auspices of the Polish Society of Surgical Oncology

Introduction. Since 2016, as part of the PSSO_01 multi-centre research project conducted under the auspices of the Polish Society of Surgical Oncology, clinical data on rectal cancer treatment have been collected. The objective of the study was to illustrate the state of early results of surgical treatment. Material and methods. The research project is multi-centre in nature. Data shall be collected electronically. The study protocol does not impose or suggest any course of procedure. It only systematizes the way data are collected for scientific purposes. The analysis of early results of surgical treatment was compared with the results of population studies from other European countries (Netherlands, Belgium). Results. By the end of June 2018, 736 patients were registered in the study. In 399 (54.2%) an anterior resection was performed. More than half of patients undergoing subsequent surgical treatment (54.2%) receive neoadjuvant treatment, with the percentage of patients undergoing radiotherapy or radiochemical treatment for lower rectal cancer being about 70%. Most patients (96%) are operated in elective procedure. The percentage of laparoscopic surgeries is low (8.6%). Postoperative complications are observed in 21.1% of patients. Severe complications (grades III–V according to Clavien-Dindo classification) occur in 7.6% of patients undergoing surgery. Postoperative mortality is 1.1%. Discussion. Although the project does not have the character of a registry and does not allow for drawing wider conclusions concerning the compliance with the standards of qualification for neoadjuvant treatment, the important information is that more than half of rectal cancer patients receive preoperative treatment, and the percentage of severe postoperative complications does not exceed 10%. Conclusions. The results of the PSSO_01 project are representative and reflect the actual situation concerning surgical treatment of rectal cancer patients in Poland

Leczenie chirurgiczne raka odbytnicy w Polsce — raport z prospektywnego, wieloośrodkowego badania obserwacyjnego PSSO_01 prowadzonego pod auspicjami Polskiego Towarzystwa Chirurgii Onkologicznej

Wstęp. Od 2016 roku w ramach wieloośrodkowego projektu badawczego PSSO_01 prowadzonego pod auspicjami Polskiego Towarzystwa Chirurgii Onkologicznej, gromadzone są dane kliniczne dotyczące leczenia raka odbytnicy. Celem pracy było zobrazowanie stanu dotyczącego wczesnych wyników leczenia chirurgicznego. Materiał i metody. Projekt badawczy ma charakter wieloośrodkowy. Dane gromadzone są elektronicznie. Protokół badania nie narzuca ani nie sugeruje żadnego sposobu postępowania, systematyzuje jedynie sposób zbierania danych w celach naukowych. Analiza dotycząca wczesnych wyników leczenia chirurgicznego została porównana z rezultatami populacyjnych badań z innych krajów europejskich (Holandia, Belgia). Wyniki. Do końca czerwca 2018 roku w badaniu zarejestrowano 736 chorych. U 399 (54,2%) wykonano resekcję przednią. Leczenie neoadiuwantowe otrzymała ponad połowa chorych, poddanych następnie leczeniu operacyjne­mu (54,2%), przy czym odsetek pacjentów poddanych radio- bądź radiochemioterapii z powodu raka dolnej części odbytnicy wyniósł około 70%. Większość chorych (96%) operowana była w trybie planowym. Odsetek operacji wykonanych techniką laparoskopową jest niski (8,6%). Powikłania pooperacyjne zaobserwowano u 21,1% chorych. Ciężkie powikłania (III–V st. wg klasyfikacji Claviena-Dindo) sięgały 7,6% operowanych chorych. Śmiertelność po­operacyjna wyniosła 1,1%. Dyskusja. Chociaż projekt nie ma charakteru rejestru i nie pozwala na wyciągniecie szerszych wniosków dotyczących przestrzegania standardów kwalifikacji do leczenia neoadiuwantowego, istotną informacją jest to, że ponad połowa chorych na raka odbytnicy otrzymuje leczenie przedoperacyjne, a odsetek ciężkich powikłań pooperacyjnych nie przekracza 10%. Wnioski. Wyniki projektu PSSO_01 są reprezentatywne i odzwierciedlają faktyczną sytuację dotyczącą leczenia chirurgicznego chorych na raka odbytnicy w Polsce

Mediterranean winter rainfall in phase with African monsoons during the past 1.36 million years

Mediterranean climates are characterized by strong seasonal contrasts between dry summers and wet winters. Changes in winter rainfall are critical for regional socioeconomic development, but are difficult to simulate accurately1 and reconstruct on Quaternary timescales. This is partly because regional hydroclimate records that cover multiple glacial–interglacial cycles2,3 with different orbital geometries, global ice volume and atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations are scarce. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms of change and their persistence remain unexplored. Here we show that, over the past 1.36 million years, wet winters in the northcentral Mediterranean tend to occur with high contrasts in local, seasonal insolation and a vigorous African summer monsoon. Our proxy time series from Lake Ohrid on the Balkan Peninsula, together with a 784,000-year transient climate model hindcast, suggest that increased sea surface temperatures amplify local cyclone development and refuel North Atlantic low-pressure systems that enter the Mediterranean during phases of low continental ice volume and high concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases. A comparison with modern reanalysis data shows that current drivers of the amount of rainfall in the Mediterranean share some similarities to those that drive the reconstructed increases in precipitation. Our data cover multiple insolation maxima and are therefore an important benchmark for testing climate model performance