Biological feedbacks as cause and demise of Neoproterozoic icehouse : astrobiological prospects for faster evolution and importance of cold conditions

Several severe glaciations occurred during the Neoproterozoic eon, and especially near its end in the Cryogenian period (630-850 Ma). While the glacial periods themselves were probably related to the continental positions being appropriate for glaciation, the general coldness of the Neoproterozoic and Cryogenian as a whole lacks specific explanation. The Cryogenian was immediately followed by the Ediacaran biota and Cambrian Metazoan, thus understanding the climate-biosphere interactions around the Cryogenian period is central to understanding the development of complex multicellular life in general. Here we present a feedback mechanism between growth of eukaryotic algal phytoplankton and climate which explains how the Earth system gradually entered the Cryogenian icehouse from the warm Mesoproterozoic greenhouse. The more abrupt termination of the Cryogenian is explained by the increase in gaseous carbon release caused by the more complex planktonic and benthic foodwebs and enhanced by a diversification of metazoan zooplankton and benthic animals. The increased ecosystem complexity caused a decrease in organic carbon burial rate, breaking the algal-climatic feedback loop of the earlier Neoproterozoic eon. Prior to the Neoproterozoic eon, eukaryotic evolution took place in a slow timescale regulated by interior cooling of the Earth and solar brightening. Evolution could have proceeded faster had these geophysical processes been faster. Thus, complex life could theoretically also be found around stars that are more massive than the Sun and have main sequence life shorter than 10 Ga. We also suggest that snow and glaciers are, in a statistical sense, important markers for conditions that may possibly promote the development of complex life on extrasolar planets.Several severe glaciations occurred during the Neoproterozoic eon, and especially near its end in the Cryogenian period (630-850 Ma). While the glacial periods themselves were probably related to the continental positions being appropriate for glaciation, the general coldness of the Neoproterozoic and Cryogenian as a whole lacks specific explanation. The Cryogenian was immediately followed by the Ediacaran biota and Cambrian Metazoan, thus understanding the climate-biosphere interactions around the Cryogenian period is central to understanding the development of complex multicellular life in general. Here we present a feedback mechanism between growth of eukaryotic algal phytoplankton and climate which explains how the Earth system gradually entered the Cryogenian icehouse from the warm Mesoproterozoic greenhouse. The more abrupt termination of the Cryogenian is explained by the increase in gaseous carbon release caused by the more complex planktonic and benthic foodwebs and enhanced by a diversification of metazoan zooplankton and benthic animals. The increased ecosystem complexity caused a decrease in organic carbon burial rate, breaking the algal-climatic feedback loop of the earlier Neoproterozoic eon. Prior to the Neoproterozoic eon, eukaryotic evolution took place in a slow timescale regulated by interior cooling of the Earth and solar brightening. Evolution could have proceeded faster had these geophysical processes been faster. Thus, complex life could theoretically also be found around stars that are more massive than the Sun and have main sequence life shorter than 10 Ga. We also suggest that snow and glaciers are, in a statistical sense, important markers for conditions that may possibly promote the development of complex life on extrasolar planets.Several severe glaciations occurred during the Neoproterozoic eon, and especially near its end in the Cryogenian period (630-850 Ma). While the glacial periods themselves were probably related to the continental positions being appropriate for glaciation, the general coldness of the Neoproterozoic and Cryogenian as a whole lacks specific explanation. The Cryogenian was immediately followed by the Ediacaran biota and Cambrian Metazoan, thus understanding the climate-biosphere interactions around the Cryogenian period is central to understanding the development of complex multicellular life in general. Here we present a feedback mechanism between growth of eukaryotic algal phytoplankton and climate which explains how the Earth system gradually entered the Cryogenian icehouse from the warm Mesoproterozoic greenhouse. The more abrupt termination of the Cryogenian is explained by the increase in gaseous carbon release caused by the more complex planktonic and benthic foodwebs and enhanced by a diversification of metazoan zooplankton and benthic animals. The increased ecosystem complexity caused a decrease in organic carbon burial rate, breaking the algal-climatic feedback loop of the earlier Neoproterozoic eon. Prior to the Neoproterozoic eon, eukaryotic evolution took place in a slow timescale regulated by interior cooling of the Earth and solar brightening. Evolution could have proceeded faster had these geophysical processes been faster. Thus, complex life could theoretically also be found around stars that are more massive than the Sun and have main sequence life shorter than 10 Ga. We also suggest that snow and glaciers are, in a statistical sense, important markers for conditions that may possibly promote the development of complex life on extrasolar planets.Peer reviewe

Long-term outcomes of patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis treated with cyclosporine rescue therapy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The early outcomes of ulcerative colitis (UC) after rescue therapy with cyclosporine A (CyA) are well known. Published data on the safety of this treatment in perioperative use and data on the long-term prognosis are scarce and are investigated here. METHODS: All UC patients treated with CyA in Tampere University Hospital between 2009 and 2018 were reviewed from patient records. RESULTS: A total of 182 patients were included with the median follow-up of 3.8 (range 0-13) years. Of all patients, 139 (76%) responded to CyA. A quarter of the responders achieved long-term remission and used thiopurines as maintenance therapy at the end of follow-up. Altogether 83 (46%) needed further enhancement of treatment with corticosteroids (Cs) and 57 (31%) with biologicals or small molecules. Of the nonresponders 27 (55%) were treated surgically within admission to index flare. Infliximab was used as a third-line rescue therapy for 16 patients of whom four benefitted. The overall colectomy rate in this series was 45%. When compared to Cs alone CyA did not increase the risk for severe postoperative complications in patients treated for severe treatment-refractory UC. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, despite the good initial response to CyA, a large proportion of patients relapsed during long-term follow-up and the colectomy rates remain high. Other therapy attempts after failure of CyA merely postpone surgery in many. We therefore recommend informing patients about the possibility of surgery prior to the initiation of rescue therapy.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Lignocellulose-converting enzyme activity profiles correlate with molecular systematics and phylogeny grouping in the incoherent genus Phlebia (Polyporales, Basidiomycota)

Background. The fungal genus Phlebia consists of a number of species that are significant in wood decay. Biotechnological potential of a few species for enzyme production and degradation of lignin and pollutants has been previously studied, when most of the species of this genus are unknown. Therefore, we carried out a wider study on biochemistry and systematics of Phlebia species. Methods. Isolates belonging to the genus Phlebia were subjected to four-gene sequence analysis in order to clarify their phylogenetic placement at species level and evolutionary relationships of the genus among phlebioid Polyporales. rRNA-encoding (5.8S, partial LSU) and two protein-encoding gene (gapdh, rpb2) sequences were adopted for the evolutionary analysis, and ITS sequences (ITS1 + 5.8S + ITS2) were aligned for in-depth species-level phylogeny. The 49 fungal isolates were cultivated on semi-solid milled spruce wood medium for 21 days in order to follow their production of extracellular lignocellulose-converting oxidoreductases and carbohydrate active enzymes. Results. Four-gene phylogenetic analysis confirmed the polyphyletic nature of the genus Phlebia. Ten species-level subgroups were formed, and their lignocellulose-converting enzyme activity profiles coincided with the phylogenetic grouping. The highest enzyme activities for lignin modification (manganese peroxidase activity) were obtained for Phlebia radiata group, which supports our previous studies on the enzymology and gene expression of this species on lignocellulosic substrates. Conclusions. Our study implies that there is a species-level connection of molecular systematics (genotype) to the efficiency in production of both lignocellulose-converting carbohydrate active enzymes and oxidoreductases (enzyme phenotype) on spruce wood. Thus, we may propose a similar phylogrouping approach for prediction of lignocellulose-converting enzyme phenotypes in new fungal species or genetically and biochemically less-studied isolates of the wood-decay Polyporales.Peer reviewe

Review on the validity of self-report to assess work-related diseases

Self-report is an efficient and accepted means of assessing population characteristics, risk factors, and diseases. Little is known on the validity of self-reported work-related illness as an indicator of the presence of a work-related disease. This study reviews the evidence on (1) the validity of workers' self-reported illness and (2) on the validity of workers' self-assessed work relatedness of an illness. A systematic literature search was conducted in four databases (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and OSH-Update). Two reviewers independently performed the article selection and data extraction. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated, levels of agreement and predictive values were rated against predefined criteria, and sources of heterogeneity were explored. In 32 studies, workers' self-reports of health conditions were compared with the "reference standard" of expert opinion. We found that agreement was mainly low to moderate. Self-assessed work relatedness of a health condition was examined in only four studies, showing low-to-moderate agreement with expert assessment. The health condition, type of questionnaire, and the case definitions for both self-report and reference standards influence the results of validation studies. Workers' self-reported illness may provide valuable information on the presence of disease, although the generalizability of the findings is limited primarily to musculoskeletal and skin disorders. For case finding in a population at risk, e.g., an active workers' health surveillance program, a sensitive symptom questionnaire with a follow-up by a medical examination may be the best choice. Evidence on the validity of self-assessed work relatedness of a health condition is scarce. Adding well-developed questions to a specific medical diagnosis exploring the relationship between symptoms and work may be a good strateg

Kun monikulttuurinen lapsi aloittaa päivähoidon : Monikulttuurisuusopas Paimion päivähoidon työntekijöille

Tämän kehittämistyön tavoitteena oli kehittää kasvattajien osaamista ja yhtenäistää kasvatushenkilöstön työkäytäntöjä monikulttuurisen lapsen ja perheen kanssa työskennellessä. Tarkoituksena oli luoda Paimion kaupungin kasvatushenkilöstön tarpeiden, näkemysten ja tiedon pohjalta opas Paimion päivähoidolle siitä, miten toimitaan monikulttuurisen lapsen aloittaessa päivähoidon. Kehittämistyöni on osa seudullista kotouttamisohjelmaa, jonka yhtenä tavoitteena on kehittää varhaiskasvatusta monikulttuurisuutta tukevaksi. Suomi monikulttuuristuu ja maahanmuuttajien osuus väestössä kasvaa. Tällä hetkellä Paimiossa on vain vähän monikulttuurisia lapsia, mutta tulevaisuudessa monikulttuuristen lasten määrä todennäköisesti lisääntyy. Tulevaisuuden haasteita ajatellen on tärkeää kehittää kotoutumispalveluita ja edistää erityisesti pienten lasten kotoutumista. Kehittämistyö toteutettiin yhteistyössä Paimion päivähoidon ammattilaisista koostuvan ohjausryhmän kanssa. Kehittämistyön menetelminä käytettiin dialogisuutta ja hyvien käytäntöjen dialogia. Päivähoitoyksiköissä käytyjen dialogien tavoitteena oli selvittää kasvatushenkilöstön valmiuksia ja osaamista, kun monikulttuurinen lapsi aloittaa päivähoidon. Oppaasta kehitettiin sähköinen kansio jaettavaksi kasvatushenkilöstölle. Oppaan sisällön aihealueiksi valittiin dialogien ja ohjasryhmätyöskentelyn perusteella yleiskatsaus, toimintaverkosto Paimiossa ja monikulttuurisen lapsen kasvun ja oppimisen tukeminen. Ensimmäinen kansio sisältää ajankohtaista tietoa seudullisesta kotouttamisohjelmasta, käsitteistä ja laeista. Toisessa kansiossa on tietoa monikulttuurisen perheen kannalta olennaisista palveluista ja käytännöistä. Kolmannessa kansiossa on tietoa kasvatuskumppanuudesta, työyhteisön tehtävistä, suomen kielen opettamisesta ja kulttuureista.The object of this development study was to grow day care professionals’ competence and standardize work practices when working with a multicultural child and his or her family. The aim was to create a guide for the employees of Paimio municipality based on the requirements, perceptions and existing knowledge of the day care professionals. The guide is about how to work with the multicultural child and his or her family when the child starts day care in Paimio. My development study is part of a regional integration program, which aims among other things to develop early education services to support multiculturalism. Finland turning more and more multicultural and the amount of immigrants in the population is increasing. At present there are only few multicultural children in day care in Paimio. In the future it is likely that there will be more multicultural children in Paimio as well. When thinking about future challenges, the development of immigration services and multicultural day care services is important. A team of day care professionals from Paimio municipality was co-operating in developing the guide. The methods used in this development study, were dialogue and the dialogue of known good practices. Dialogue was used in the team and the dialogues of known good practice were used with the day care professionals from Paimio municipality. The aim was to recognize the current level of readiness and the competence of the day care professionals when a multicultural child joins day care service in Paimio. The guide was developed to be an electronic file, which will be shared for all the day care professionals. Based on the dialogues had in the team of day care professional and on the dialogues had of existing known good practices, the guide was decided to have three parts: general overview, network of services in Paimio municipality and the supporting growth and learning of a multicultural child. The first part consists information on the current existing program, the terms and the laws related to multiculturalism. The second part has information on the relevant services and practices targeted to multicultural children and their families. The third part has information on the educational partnership, the tasks of the work community, teaching Finnish language and cultures

Mitochondrial Genome of Phlebia radiata Is the Second Largest (156 kbp) among Fungi and Features Signs of Genome Flexibility and Recent Recombination Events

Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) Volume: 9Mitochondria are eukaryotic organelles supporting individual life-style via generation of proton motive force and cellular energy, and indispensable metabolic pathways. As part of genome sequencing of the white rot Basidiomycota species Phlebia radiata, we first assembled its mitochondrial genome (mtDNA). So far, the 156 348 bp mtDNA is the second largest described for fungi, and of considerable size among eukaryotes. The P. radiata mtDNA assembled as single circular dsDNA molecule containing genes for the large and small ribosomal RNAs, 28 transfer RNAs, and over 100 open reading frames encoding the 14 fungal conserved protein subunits of the mitochondrial complexes I, III, IV, and V. Two genes (atp6 and tRNA-IleGAU) were duplicated within 6.1 kbp inverted region, which is a unique feature of the genome. The large mtDNA size, however, is explained by the dominance of intronic and intergenic regions (sum 80% of mtDNA sequence). The intergenic DNA stretches harness short (≤200 nt) repetitive, dispersed and overlapping sequence elements in abundance. Long self-splicing introns of types I and II interrupt eleven of the conserved genes (cox1,2,3; cob; nad1,2,4,4L,5; rnl; rns). The introns embrace a total of 57 homing endonucleases with LAGLIDADGD and GYI-YIG core motifs, which makes P. radiata mtDNA to one of the largest known reservoirs of intron-homing endonucleases. The inverted duplication, intergenic stretches, and intronic features are indications of dynamics and genetic flexibility of the mtDNA, not fully recognized to this extent in fungal mitochondrial genomes previously, thus giving new insights for the evolution of organelle genomes in eukaryotes.Peer reviewe