An examination of marine animals for the presence of carbon-bound phosphorus

Thirty-one marine animals from nine different phyla were analyzed for the presence of carbon-bound phosphorus…

LATERAL LOAD RESISTANCE BEHAVIOR OF WOOD-PLASTIC-TO METAL SINGLE-BOLT CONNECTIONS IN OUTDOOR FURNITURE

The lateral load resistance behavior of an unconstrained, two-member, single-bolt connection in outdoor furniture applications was investigated. The unconstrained connection consisted of a wood-plastic composite (WPC) main member fastened to a metal plate as a side member through a 6.35-mm-diameter bolt without a nut or washer used. Experimental results indicated that unconstrained WPC-to-metal single-bolt connections had a significantly higher lateral resistance load if the WPC main member is loaded in the direction perpendicular to the WPC material extrusion direction than the parallel direction. Tested connections failed with bolts having one plastic hinge bent, which occurred at the interface between the metal plate and WPC main member, accompanied by the WPC main members having a compressive yield fracture at their sides close to the metal plate, but no obvious compressive mark was observed at the opposite sides. Proposed linear and yield mechanical models were verified experimentally as a valid means for deriving estimation equations of lateral resistance loads of unconstrained WPC-to-metal single-bolt connections

On the discovery of genes involved in metabolism-based resistance to herbicides using RNA-Seq transcriptome analysis in Lolium rigidum

Weed control failures due to herbicide resistance are an increasing and worldwide problem significantly impacting crop yields. Herbicide resistance due to increased herbicide metabolism in weeds is not well characterized at the genetic level. An RNA-Seq transcriptome analysis was used to identify genes conferring metabolism-based herbicide resistance (MBHR) in a population (R) of a major global weed (Lolium rigidum), in which resistance to the herbicide diclofop-methyl was experimentally evolved through recurrent selection from a susceptible (S) progenitor population. A reference transcriptome of 19,623 contigs was assembled using 454 sequencing technology on a cDNA library and annotated using UniProt and Pfam databases. Transcriptomic-level gene expression was measured using Illumina 100 bp reads from untreated control, mock, and diclofop-methyl treatments of R and S. Due to the established importance of cytochrome P450 (CytP450), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and glucosyltransferase (GT) genes in MBHR, 11 contigs with these annotations and higher constitutive expression in untreated R than in untreated S were selected as candidate genes for hypothesis testing, along with 17 additional differentially expressed contigs with annotations related to metabolism or signal transduction. In a forward genetics validation experiment, higher constitutive expression of nine contigs co-segregated with the resistance phenotype in an F2 population, including 3 CytP450, 3 GST, and 1 GT. At least nine genes with heritable increased constitutive expression are associated with MBHR trait. In a physiological validation experiment where 2, 4-D pre-treatment induced diclofop-methyl protection in S individuals due to increased metabolism, seven of the nine genetically-validated contigs were significantly induced. These data help explain accumulation of resistance-endowing genes and rapid evolution of MBHR, and provide the opportunity to improve diagnostics of MBHR using molecular tools such as transcriptional markers. Keywords: 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), diclofop-methyl, evolution, herbicide metabolism, herbicide resistance, next-generation sequencing, transcriptional markers Zur Entdeckung der beteiligten Gene an der metabolischen Herbizidresistenz in Lolium rigidum durch RNA-Seq Transkriptom Analyse. Zusammenfassung Herbizidresistenz ist weltweit ein zunehmendes Problem in der Landwirtschaft, vor allem der enzymatische Abbau von Wirkstoffen bzw. die metabolische Herbizidresistenz (MBHR) ist bislang noch weitgehend unbekannt, besonders auf genetischer Ebene. Um die an einer MBHR beteiligten Gene zu identifizieren wurde das Transkriptom von Herbizid-resistenten und sensitiven Weidelgräsern (Lolium rigidum) in einem RNA-Seq-Ansatz verglichen. Die verwendete Diclofop-Methyl herbizidresistente Population wurde experimentell aus einer sensitiven Population rekurrent selektiert. Ein 19623 Contig umfassendes Referenztranskriptom wurde aus einer cDNA Bibliothek der resistenten Pflanzen durch 454 Sequenzierung erstellt und mit Hilfe von UniProt und Pfam annotiert. Mit 100 bp Illumina-Reads wurde die Genexpression in unbehandelten, mit Blindformulierung und mit formuliertem Herbizid Diclofop-methyl behandelten resistenten und sensitiven Pflanzen untersucht. Es ist bekannt, dass Cytochrom P450 (CytP450), Glutathion-S-transferasen (GST) oder Glycosyltransferasen (GT) eine wichtige Rolle in der MBHR spielen. Elf Contigs, die als solche annotiert und in unbehandelten resistenten Pflanzen konstitutiv höher exprimiert sind als in Sensitiven, wurden als Kandidatengene ausgewählt und getestet. Zusätzlich wurden 17 weitere Contigs untersucht, die zwischen resistenten und sensitiven Pflanzen unterschiedlich exprimiert und durch ihre Annotation in Metabolismus oder Signaltransduktion eingebunden sind. Eine höhere konstitutive Expression konnte in neun selektierten Contigs (u.a. 3 CytP450, 3 GST, 1 GT) auch in der F2 Generation bestätigt werden, cosegregierend mit den resistenten Phänotypen. Daher ist die Expression von mindestens neun Genen mit metabolischer Diclofop-methyl Herbizidresistenz gekoppelt und vererbbar. Eine Vorbehandlung sensitiver Weidelgras-Pflanzen mit 2,4-D induziert metabolische Resistenz gegenüber dem ACCase Inhibitor Diclofop-methyl. Dies wurde verwendet, um die Expression der 28 selektierten Contigs zusätzlich physiologisch zu validieren. Sieben der neun zuvor beschriebenen Contigs sind in der physiologischen Validierung auch in sensitiven Pflanzen durch 2, 4-D induziert. Diese Ergebnisse bieten neue Diagnosemöglichkeiten und verdeutlichen den Zusammenhang zwischen einer vererbbaren Expressionsregulierung von Resistenz vermittelnden Genen und der schnellen Entwicklung von MBHR. Stichwörter: 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyessig Säure (2, 4-D), Diclofop-Methyl, Evolution, Herbizidmetabolisierung, Herbizidresistenz, Next-Generation Sequenzierung, transkriptionelle Marker, Transkriptomi

Discovery of an intermediate-luminosity red transient in M51 and its likely dust-obscured, infrared-variable progenitor

We present the discovery of an optical transient (OT) in Messier 51, designated M51 OT2019-1 (also ZTF19aadyppr, AT 2019abn, ATLAS19bzl), by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF). The OT rose over 15 days to an observed luminosity of $M_r=-13$ (${\nu}L_{\nu}=9\times10^6~L_{\odot}$), in the luminosity gap between novae and typical supernovae (SNe). Spectra during the outburst show a red continuum, Balmer emission with a velocity width of $\approx400$ km s$^{-1}$, Ca II and [Ca II] emission, and absorption features characteristic of an F-type supergiant. The spectra and multiband light curves are similar to the so-called "SN impostors" and intermediate-luminosity red transients (ILRTs). We directly identify the likely progenitor in archival Spitzer Space Telescope imaging with a $4.5~\mu$m luminosity of $M_{[4.5]}\approx-12.2$ and a $[3.6]-[4.5]$ color redder than 0.74 mag, similar to those of the prototype ILRTs SN 2008S and NGC 300 OT2008-1. Intensive monitoring of M51 with Spitzer further reveals evidence for variability of the progenitor candidate at [4.5] in the years before the OT. The progenitor is not detected in pre-outburst Hubble Space Telescope optical and near-IR images. The optical colors during outburst combined with spectroscopic temperature constraints imply a higher reddening of $E(B-V)\approx0.7$ mag and higher intrinsic luminosity of $M_r\approx-14.9$ (${\nu}L_{\nu}=5.3\times10^7~L_{\odot}$) near peak than seen in previous ILRT candidates. Moreover, the extinction estimate is higher on the rise than on the plateau, suggestive of an extended phase of circumstellar dust destruction. These results, enabled by the early discovery of M51 OT2019-1 and extensive pre-outburst archival coverage, offer new clues about the debated origins of ILRTs and may challenge the hypothesis that they arise from the electron-capture induced collapse of extreme asymptotic giant branch stars.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures, published in ApJ

Multi-Modal Proteomic Analysis of Retinal Protein Expression Alterations in a Rat Model of Diabetic Retinopathy

As a leading cause of adult blindness, diabetic retinopathy is a prevalent and profound complication of diabetes. We have previously reported duration-dependent changes in retinal vascular permeability, apoptosis, and mRNA expression with diabetes in a rat model system. The aim of this study was to identify retinal proteomic alterations associated with functional dysregulation of the diabetic retina to better understand diabetic retinopathy pathogenesis and that could be used as surrogate endpoints in preclinical drug testing studies.A multi-modal proteomic approach of antibody (Luminex)-, electrophoresis (DIGE)-, and LC-MS (iTRAQ)-based quantitation methods was used to maximize coverage of the retinal proteome. Transcriptomic profiling through microarray analysis was included to identify additional targets and assess potential regulation of protein expression changes at the mRNA level. The proteomic approaches proved complementary, with limited overlap in proteomic coverage. Alterations in pro-inflammatory, signaling and crystallin family proteins were confirmed by orthogonal methods in multiple independent animal cohorts. In an independent experiment, insulin replacement therapy normalized the expression of some proteins (Dbi, Anxa5) while other proteins (Cp, Cryba3, Lgals3, Stat3) were only partially normalized and Fgf2 and Crybb2 expression remained elevated.These results expand the understanding of the changes in retinal protein expression occurring with diabetes and their responsiveness to normalization of blood glucose through insulin therapy. These proteins, especially those not normalized by insulin therapy, may also be useful in preclinical drug development studies

Discovery of an Intermediate-luminosity Red Transient in M51 and Its Likely Dust-obscured, Infrared-variable Progenitor

We present the discovery of an optical transient (OT) in Messier 51, designated M51 OT2019-1 (also ZTF 19aadyppr, AT 2019abn, ATLAS19bzl), by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF). The OT rose over 15 days to an observed luminosity of M_r = −13 (νL ν = 9 × 10^6 L_⊙), in the luminosity gap between novae and typical supernovae (SNe). Spectra during the outburst show a red continuum, Balmer emission with a velocity width of ≈400 km s^(−1), Ca II and [Ca II] emission, and absorption features characteristic of an F-type supergiant. The spectra and multiband light curves are similar to the so-called "SN impostors" and intermediate-luminosity red transients (ILRTs). We directly identify the likely progenitor in archival Spitzer Space Telescope imaging with a 4.5 μm luminosity of M_([4.5]) ≈ −12.2 mag and a [3.6]–[4.5] color redder than 0.74 mag, similar to those of the prototype ILRTs SN 2008S and NGC 300 OT2008-1. Intensive monitoring of M51 with Spitzer further reveals evidence for variability of the progenitor candidate at [4.5] in the years before the OT. The progenitor is not detected in pre-outburst Hubble Space Telescope optical and near-IR images. The optical colors during outburst combined with spectroscopic temperature constraints imply a higher reddening of E(B − V) ≈ 0.7 mag and higher intrinsic luminosity of M_r ≈ −14.9 mag (νL_ν = 5.3 × 10^7 L⊙) near peak than seen in previous ILRT candidates. Moreover, the extinction estimate is higher on the rise than on the plateau, suggestive of an extended phase of circumstellar dust destruction. These results, enabled by the early discovery of M51 OT2019-1 and extensive pre-outburst archival coverage, offer new clues about the debated origins of ILRTs and may challenge the hypothesis that they arise from the electron-capture induced collapse of extreme asymptotic giant branch stars

Creating and curating an archive: Bury St Edmunds and its Anglo-Saxon past

This contribution explores the mechanisms by which the Benedictine foundation of Bury St Edmunds sought to legitimise and preserve their spurious pre-Conquest privileges and holdings throughout the Middle Ages. The archive is extraordinary in terms of the large number of surviving registers and cartularies which contain copies of Anglo-Saxon charters, many of which are wholly or partly in Old English. The essay charts the changing use to which these ancient documents were put in response to threats to the foundation's continued enjoyment of its liberties. The focus throughout the essay is to demonstrate how pragmatic considerations at every stage affects the development of the archive and the ways in which these linguistically challenging texts were presented, re-presented, and represented during the Abbey’s history