"Water, Water, Every Where": Nuances for a Water Industry Critical Infrastructure Specification Exemplar

The water infrastructure is critical to human life, but little attention has been paid to the nuances of the water industry. Without such attention, evaluating security innovation in this domain without compromising the productivity goals when delivering water services is difficult. This paper proposes four nuances that need to be incorporated into a representative specification exemplar for the water industry; these provided input to the exemplar based on a fictional water company

The age-related slow increase in amyloid pathology in APP.V717I mice activates microglia, but does not alter hippocampal neurogenesis

In Alzheimer's disease, the hippocampus is characterized by abundant deposition of amyloid peptides (amyloid β [Aβ]) and neuroinflammation. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) is a form of plasticity that contributes to cognition and can be influenced by either or both pathology and neuroinflammation. Their interaction has been studied before in rapidly progressing transgenic mouse models with strong overexpression of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and/or presenilin 1. So far, changes in AHN and neuroinflammation remain poorly characterized in slower progressing models at advanced age, which approach more closely sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Here, we analyzed 10- to 26-month-old APP.V717I mice for possible correlations between Aβ pathology, microglia, and AHN. The age-related increase in amyloid pathology was closely paralleled by microglial CD68 upregulation, which was largely absent in age-matched wild-type littermates. Notably, aging reduced the AHN marker doublecortin, but not calretinin, to a similar extent in wild-type and APP.V717I mice between 10 and 26 months. This demonstrates that AHN is influenced by advanced age in the APP.V717I mouse model, but not by Aβ and microglial activation

Анализ составляющих теплового баланса системы "прокатный стан - прокатываемая полоса" и пути снижения энергозатрат в процессе сортовой прокатки

Выполнен анализ составляющих теплового баланса системы «прокатный стан – прокатываемая полоса». Рассмотрены основные направления решения температурной задачи сортовой прокатки. Предложен ряд мероприятий, позволяющих снизить расход энергоресурсов на прокатку и уменьшить расходную часть теплового баланса системы «прокатный стан – прокатываемая полоса»

Landscape change and biodiversity values of floodplains along the River Vistula, Poland.

Item does not contain fulltext20 oktober 200

In Vivo Inflammation Does Not Impair ABCA1-Mediated Cholesterol Efflux Capacity of HDL

HDL provides atheroprotection by facilitating cholesterol efflex from lipid-laden macrophages in the vessel wall. In vitro studies have suggested impaired efflux capacity of HDL following inflammatory changes. We assessed the impact of acute severe sepsis and mild chronic inflammatory disease on the efflux capacity of HDL. We hypothesize that a more severe inflammatory state leads to stronger impaired cholesterol efflux capacity. Using lipid-laden THP1 cells and fibroblasts we were able to show that efflux capacity of HDL from both patients with severe sepsis or with Crohn's disease (active or in remission), either isolated using density gradient ultracentrifugation or using apoB precipitation, was not impaired. Yet plasma levels of HDL cholesterol and apoA-I were markedly lower in patients with sepsis. Based on the current observations we conclude that inflammatory disease does not interfere with the capacity of HDL to mediate cholesterol efflux. Our findings do not lend support to the biological relevance of HDL function changes in vitro

Distinct actions of the fermented beverage kefir on host behaviour, immunity and microbiome gut-brain modules in the mouse

peer-reviewedBackground Mounting evidence suggests a role for the gut microbiota in modulating brain physiology and behaviour, through bi-directional communication, along the gut-brain axis. As such, the gut microbiota represents a potential therapeutic target for influencing centrally mediated events and host behaviour. It is thus notable that the fermented milk beverage kefir has recently been shown to modulate the composition of the gut microbiota in mice. It is unclear whether kefirs have differential effects on microbiota-gut-brain axis and whether they can modulate host behaviour per se. Methods To address this, two distinct kefirs (Fr1 and UK4), or unfermented milk control, were administered to mice that underwent a battery of tests to characterise their behavioural phenotype. In addition, shotgun metagenomic sequencing of ileal, caecal and faecal matter was performed, as was faecal metabolome analysis. Finally, systemic immunity measures and gut serotonin levels were assessed. Statistical analyses were performed by ANOVA followed by Dunnett's post hoc test or Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Mann-Whitney U test. Results Fr1 ameliorated the stress-induced decrease in serotonergic signalling in the colon and reward-seeking behaviour in the saccharin preference test. On the other hand, UK4 decreased repetitive behaviour and ameliorated stress-induced deficits in reward-seeking behaviour. Furthermore, UK4 increased fear-dependent contextual memory, yet decreased milk gavage-induced improvements in long-term spatial learning. In the peripheral immune system, UK4 increased the prevalence of Treg cells and interleukin 10 levels, whereas Fr1 ameliorated the milk gavage stress-induced elevation in neutrophil levels and CXCL1 levels. Analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that both kefirs significantly changed the composition and functional capacity of the host microbiota, where specific bacterial species were changed in a kefir-dependent manner. Furthermore, both kefirs increased the capacity of the gut microbiota to produce GABA, which was linked to an increased prevalence in Lactobacillus reuteri. Conclusions Altogether, these data show that kefir can signal through the microbiota-gut-immune-brain axis and modulate host behaviour. In addition, different kefirs may direct the microbiota toward distinct immunological and behavioural modulatory effects. These results indicate that kefir can positively modulate specific aspects of the microbiota-gut-brain axis and support the broadening of the definition of psychobiotic to include kefir fermented foods. Video abstract

The nursery function of artificial floodplain habitats in the lower Rhine and Meuse for riverine fish

Contains fulltext : 202317.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)14th NCR-days 201

Sediment deficit and morphological change of the Rhine–Meuse river mouth attributed to multi-millennial anthropogenic impacts

Many delta systems worldwide are becoming increasingly urbanized following a variety of processes, including land reclamation, embanking, major engineering and port constructions, dredging and more. Here, we trace the development of one system, the Rhine–Meuse delta in the Netherlands (RMD) from two natural estuaries (the RME fed by the Rhine river and the HVL fed by the Meuse river) to a densely urbanized delta and the effect human activities have had on its morphology through time. Estuary outlines determined from palaeogeographical and old maps and tidal range at the estuary mouth were used to reconstruct basic estuary parameters. Depth distribution was predicted with a morphological tool. We have determined that the northern estuary, where port activities dominate, shows a stepwise deepening due to dredging for navigation. The southern port shows stepwise shallowing as humans closed off this branch from tidal action. Both estuaries show narrowing and loss of intertidal width over the past five centuries. The total loss of water volume has been -5.5 m3×109 since 1500 AD coinciding with major human intervention in the system, driven by the rapid economic boom during the mid 16th century. This has led to a reduction of intertidal areas and floodplains and long-term sediment shortage resulting in a myriad of problems, including increased flood risk, threats to bank protection and infrastructure and loss of nature areas. These problems will be exacerbated in coming centuries by predicted sea-level rise. Other urban deltas, unrestricted by engineering and dredging innovations which took place more gradually in earlier centuries, are now undergoing rapid changes in mere decades, changes which took hundreds of years in the RMD. Future predictions indicate that by 2050 the RMD will experience the highest loss of sediment in the 3500 year history of the system, despite these changes only occurring vertically (deepening) and not laterally (narrowing or embanking). This shows an urgent need to reconsider sediment management and spatial planning of port expansion in urbanized systems and the fate of such systems under climate change and rising sea-levels