Phloem small RNAs, nutrient stress responses, and systemic mobility

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Nutrient availabilities and needs have to be tightly coordinated between organs to ensure a balance between uptake and consumption for metabolism, growth, and defense reactions. Since plants often have to grow in environments with sub-optimal nutrient availability, a fine tuning is vital. To achieve this, information has to flow cell-to-cell and over long-distance via xylem and phloem. Recently, specific miRNAs emerged as a new type of regulating molecules during stress and nutrient deficiency responses, and miR399 was suggested to be a phloem-mobile long-distance signal involved in the phosphate starvation response.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We used miRNA microarrays containing all known plant miRNAs and a set of unknown small (s) RNAs earlier cloned from <it>Brassica </it>phloem sap <abbrgrp><abbr bid="B1">1</abbr></abbrgrp>, to comprehensively analyze the phloem response to nutrient deficiency by removing sulfate, copper or iron, respectively, from the growth medium. We show that phloem sap contains a specific set of sRNAs that is distinct from leaves and roots, and that the phloem also responds specifically to stress. Upon S and Cu deficiencies phloem sap reacts with an increase of the same miRNAs that were earlier characterized in other tissues, while no clear positive response to -Fe was observed. However, -Fe led to a reduction of Cu- and P-responsive miRNAs. We further demonstrate that under nutrient starvation miR399 and miR395 can be translocated through graft unions from wild type scions to rootstocks of the miRNA processing <it>hen1-1 </it>mutant. In contrast, miR171 was not transported. Translocation of miR395 led to a down-regulation of one of its targets in rootstocks, suggesting that this transport is of functional relevance, and that miR395, in addition to the well characterized miR399, could potentially act as a long-distance information transmitter.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Phloem sap contains a specific set of sRNAs, of which some specifically accumulate in response to nutrient deprivation. From the observation that miR395 and miR399 are phloem-mobile in grafting experiments we conclude that translocatable miRNAs might be candidates for information-transmitting molecules, but that grafting experiments alone are not sufficient to convincingly assign a signaling function.</p

(Tissue) P Systems with Vesicles of Multisets

We consider tissue P systems working on vesicles of multisets with the very simple operations of insertion, deletion, and substitution of single objects. With the whole multiset being enclosed in a vesicle, sending it to a target cell can be indicated in those simple rules working on the multiset. As derivation modes we consider the sequential mode, where exactly one rule is applied in a derivation step, and the set maximal mode, where in each derivation step a non-extendable set of rules is applied. With the set maximal mode, computational completeness can already be obtained with tissue P systems having a tree structure, whereas tissue P systems even with an arbitrary communication structure are not computationally complete when working in the sequential mode. Adding polarizations (-1, 0, 1 are sufficient) allows for obtaining computational completeness even for tissue P systems working in the sequential mode.Comment: In Proceedings AFL 2017, arXiv:1708.0622

The pulsating soft coral Xenia umbellata shows high resistance to warming when nitrate concentrations are low

The resistance of hard corals to warming can be negatively affected by nitrate eutrophication, but related knowledge for soft corals is scarce. We thus investigated the ecophysiological response of the pulsating soft coral Xenia umbellata to different levels of nitrate eutrophication (control = 0.6, medium = 6, high = 37 μM nitrate) in a laboratory experiment, with additional warming (27.7 to 32.8 °C) from days 17 to 37. High nitrate eutrophication enhanced cellular chlorophyll a content of Symbiodiniaceae by 168%, while it reduced gross photosynthesis by 56%. After additional warming, polyp pulsation rate was reduced by 100% in both nitrate eutrophication treatments, and additional polyp loss of 7% d−1 and total fragment mortality of 26% was observed in the high nitrate eutrophication treatment. Warming alone did not affect any of the investigated response parameters. These results suggest that X. umbellata exhibits resistance to warming, which may facilitate ecological dominance over some hard corals as ocean temperatures warm, though a clear negative physiological response occurs when combined with nitrate eutrophication. This study thus confirms the importance of investigating combinations of global and local factors to understand and manage changing coral reefs

The pulsating soft coral Xenia umbellata shows high resistance to warming when nitrate concentrations are low

The resistance of hard corals to warming can be negatively affected by nitrate eutrophication, but related knowledge for soft corals is scarce. We thus investigated the ecophysiological response of the pulsating soft coral Xenia umbellata to different levels of nitrate eutrophication (control = 0.6, medium = 6, high = 37 μM nitrate) in a laboratory experiment, with additional warming (27.7 to 32.8 °C) from days 17 to 37. High nitrate eutrophication enhanced cellular chlorophyll a content of Symbiodiniaceae by 168%, while it reduced gross photosynthesis by 56%. After additional warming, polyp pulsation rate was reduced by 100% in both nitrate eutrophication treatments, and additional polyp loss of 7% d−1 and total fragment mortality of 26% was observed in the high nitrate eutrophication treatment. Warming alone did not affect any of the investigated response parameters. These results suggest that X. umbellata exhibits resistance to warming, which may facilitate ecological dominance over some hard corals as ocean temperatures warm, though a clear negative physiological response occurs when combined with nitrate eutrophication. This study thus confirms the importance of investigating combinations of global and local factors to understand and manage changing coral reefs

Compliance with medical regimen among hematological cancer patients and its association with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and adjustment disorder

BackgroundHematological cancer patients must comply with extensive medical instructions to prevent cancer progression or relapse. Psychological comorbidities and patient characteristics have been shown to affect compliance. However, the impact of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and adjustment disorder (AjD) on compliance in cancer patients remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate compliance in hematological cancer patients more comprehensively and to investigate its association with PTSD and AjD symptomatology as well as sociodemographic and medical factors.MethodsHematological cancer patients were cross-sectionally assessed via validated questionnaires for PTSD (PCL-5) and AjD (ADMN-20), and three internally developed items on compliance with medical regimen, with two referring to compliance behavior and one item assessing perceived difficulties with complying. Each compliance item was analyzed descriptively. Multiple linear regression models tested the association between compliance and PTSD and AjD symptomatology, sociodemographic and medical factors.ResultsIn total, 291 patients were included (response rate 58%). Nine out of ten patients reported to either never (67%) or rarely (25%) change their medical regimen. However, 8% reported to change it once in a while or often. Compliance behavior was mostly rated as very easy (36%) or easy (45%) to implement. Nevertheless, 19% perceived it to be partly difficult or difficult to follow medical regimen. Symptoms of AjD (β = 0.31, p &lt; 0.001) were associated with more difficulties to comply. Higher compliance behavior in turn was associated with stem cell transplantation (SCT) treatment (β = −0.21, p &lt; 0.001) and lower education (β = −0.19, p = 0.002).ConclusionAlthough most patients indicated that they comply with medical regimen, a considerable subgroup of patients indicated subjectively perceived difficulties and thus seem to require additional support in implementing medical instructions possibly through improved medical communication and patient health literacy or shared decision-making

Vergleichstypen 2014 : Aktualisierung der SGB-III-Typisierung

Um die Verhältnisse vor Ort bei der Steuerung und Zielkontrolle angemessen berücksichtigen zu können, nutzt die Bundesagentur für Arbeit (BA) seit 2003 Agenturtypisierungen, die das IAB eigens für diesen Zweck erstellt hat. Mit ihnen werden Agenturbezirke zu Gruppen, den sogenannten Vergleichstypen, zusammengefasst. Agenturbezirke eines Typs sind einander ähnlich hinsichtlich solcher Faktoren, die Einfluss haben auf die arbeitsmarktpolitische Zielerreichung - die jedoch ihrerseits zumindest mittelfristig von den Agenturen nicht beeinflusst werden können. Nach nur einem Jahr wurde die Typisierung der Agenturbezirke jetzt ein weiteres Mal aktualisiert. Der vorliegende Bericht informiert über Vorgehensweise und Ergebnisse der neuen SGB-III-Typisierung

Vergleichstypen 2014 : Aktualisierung der SGB-III-Typisierung

Um die Verhältnisse vor Ort bei der Steuerung und Zielkontrolle angemessen berücksichtigen zu können, nutzt die Bundesagentur für Arbeit (BA) seit 2003 Agenturtypisierungen, die das IAB eigens für diesen Zweck erstellt hat. Mit ihnen werden Agenturbezirke zu Gruppen, den sogenannten Vergleichstypen, zusammengefasst. Agenturbezirke eines Typs sind einander ähnlich hinsichtlich solcher Faktoren, die Einfluss haben auf die arbeitsmarktpolitische Zielerreichung - die jedoch ihrerseits zumindest mittelfristig von den Agenturen nicht beeinflusst werden können. Nach nur einem Jahr wurde die Typisierung der Agenturbezirke jetzt ein weiteres Mal aktualisiert. Der vorliegende Bericht informiert über Vorgehensweise und Ergebnisse der neuen SGB-III-Typisierung

DRadEsel – Schulungsmaterial Interviews

Das vorliegende Schulungsmaterial unterstützt die halbstandardisierte Interviewbefragung Radfahrender zu sicherheitskritischen Situationen mit Hilfe des DRadEsel-Interviewleitfadens

DRadEsel – Radverkehrszählungsbogen

Der vorliegende Radverkehrszählungsbogen kann begleitend zur standardisierten Beobachtung sicherheitskritischer Situation von Radfahrenden eingesetzt werden, um die Grundgesamtheit von Radfahrenden im beobachteten Bereich zu bestimmen. Zur korrekten Anwendung des Radverkehrszählungsbogens im Feld wird empfohlen, das zugehörige Schulungsmaterial vorbereitend zu nutzen

DRadEsel – Interviewleitfaden

Der vorliegende Interviewleitfaden kann zur halbstandardisierten Befragung Radfahrender zu sicherheitskritischen Situationen eingesetzt werden. Zur korrekten Anwendung des Interviewleitfadens im Feld wird empfohlen, das zugehörige Schulungsmaterial vorbereitend zu nutzen