Foliar dust on leaves of some perennials

Trees can deposit the air-borne dust on their leaves thus they can improve air quality in urban condition. The degree of deposition is also affected by the species, the shape and surface of leaves. In addition to the trees, we also find herbaceous plants, perennials, annual and shrubs in public place to imitate the forest ecosystems, and on their leaves the air-borne dust can also deposit. Next to a busy road (Astoria, VII. district, Budapest), there is a flower bed where we collected leaf-samples of some species to determine the amount of dust on their leaves. We chose the following species from the flowerbed: Coreopsis grandiflora, Gaillardia aristata, Tradescantia × andersoniana, Rosa sp. and Verbena bonariensis. The samples were prepared according to Margitai and Braun (2005). Beakers were weighed beforehand and the leaf samples were washed into the beakers with 80 ml of distilled water and shaken on a shaker for 2 hours. The leaves were then removed and the distilled water from the suspension containing the powder was evaporated in a drying oven at 115 Celsius-degrees. After that, beakers were weighed again and the amount of dust deposited by the leaves was calculated by subtracting the starting weight. Individual leaf area was determined by leaf scanner to count the total leaf area of species. The leaf surface of each species differs significantly, however, their ability to deposit dust depends on the surface of the leaves (hairiness, roughness, etc.). As in forest ecosystems, it is important for green surface in cities to have three levels (such as perennials, shrubs and trees). These levels can filter more effectively the dust from urban air. If we developed three-level plantings between roads and pathway, the filtering effect can also be increased. This solution not only satisfies our aesthetic needs but is also useful. Further studies are needed to prove this

The Contribution of Mitochondrial Ion Channels to Cancer Development and Progression

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Biophysical Characterization and Expression Analysis of Kv1.3 Potassium Channel in Primary Human Leukemic B Cells

Background/Aims: Pharmacological inhibition of the potassium channel Kv1.3 has been shown to selectively kill B cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). Here we aimed to biophysically characterize and compare Kv1.3 channel activity in B cells isolated either from healthy subjects or patients and investigated the mechanism accounting for the increased protein expression in B-CLL cells. Methods: Kv1.3 activity was measured by patch clamp, while expression of the channel protein was assessed by Western blot and FACS analysis. B-CLL cells were co-cultured with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) and Kv1.3 inhibitor-induced apoptosis was assessed. Results: We demonstrate that Kv1.3 is highly expressed and is more active at resting membrane potential in human B-CLL cells than in healthy cells. Channel expression in pathologic cells decreased by the B-RAF kinase inhibitor PLX-4720, while it increased with Doxazosin, an α1-adrenoceptor antagonist. Kv1.3 inhibitors induced death in B-CLL cells also when co-cultured with MSC. Conclusion: Our results contribute to the characterization of B-CLL cells, as it shows that upregulation of Kv1.3 in pathologic B lymphocytes is linked to the oncogenic B-RAF signalling. We also conclude that Kv1.3 inhibitors represent a valuable tool to induce apoptosis of B-CLL cells even in the presence of MSC

F-ATPase ofDrosophila melanogasterForms 53-Picosiemen (53-pS) Channels Responsible for Mitochondrial Ca2+-induced Ca2+Release

Mitochondria of Drosophila melanogaster undergo Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release through a putative channel (mCrC) that has several regulatory features of the permeability transition pore (PTP). The PTP is an inner membrane channel that forms from F-ATPase, possessing a conductance of 500 picosiemens (pS) in mammals and of 300 pS in yeast. In contrast to the PTP, the mCrC of Drosophila is not permeable to sucrose and appears to be selective for Ca2+ and H+. We show (i) that like the PTP, the mCrC is affected by the sense of rotation of F-ATPase, by Bz-423, and by Mg2+/ADP; (ii) that expression of human cyclophilin D in mitochondria of Drosophila S2R+ cells sensitizes the mCrC to Ca2+ but does not increase its apparent size; and (iii) that purified dimers of D. melanogaster F-ATPase reconstituted into lipid bilayers form 53-pS channels activated by Ca2+ and thiol oxidants and inhibited byMg(2+)/gamma-imino ATP. These findings indicate that the mCrC is the PTP of D. melanogaster and that the signature conductance of F-ATPase channels depends on unique structural features that may underscore specific roles in different species

MONIKULTTUURINEN KASVATUSKUMPPANUUS VARHAISKASVATUKSESSA : Monikulttuuristen perheiden vanhempien näkemyksiä

Opinnäytetyön tarkoituksena on kuvailla monikulttuuristen perheiden vanhempien kokemuksia ja toiveita kasvatuskumppanuudesta varhaiskasvatuksessa. Opinnäytetyö on kvalitatiivinen ja se on toteutettu teemahaastatteluiden avulla. Haastattelut on tehty yksilöhaastatteluina. Opinnäytetyön toimeksiantajana toimi oululainen päiväkoti. Teoreettinen viitekehys opinnäytetyössä pohjautuu vahvasti kasvatuskumppanuuden periaatteisiin, joita ovat kuuleminen, kunnioitus, luottamus ja dialogi. Lisäksi opinnäytetyössä on teoriaa kulttuurista ja monikulttuurisuudesta. Haastattelurunko sisälsi lähinnä avoimia kysymyksiä, jotka pohjautuivat tietoperustaan. Haastattelut on analysoitu teemoittelun avulla. Teemat olivat samat kuin tietoperustassa. Opinnäytetyön pääteemoja ovat kasvatuskumppanuus ja monikulttuurisuus, jotka sisältävät vielä alateemoja. Tuloksissa nousee esiin pääosin positiiviset kokemukset kasvatuskumppanuudesta varhaiskasvatuksessa. Kasvatuskumppanuus koetaan tärkeänä ja kasvatusvastuuta jaetaan mielellään. Kulttuurieroja ei arjessa huomata juurikaan, mutta perheen kulttuuritausta toivotaan huomioitavan hienovaraisesti, liikaa korostamatta. Johtopäätöksenä voidaan sanoa, että varhaiskasvatukseen ja kasvatuskumppanuuden toteutumiseen ollaan tyytyväisiä.The purpose of this thesis is to describe experiences and wishes of parents of multicultural families about educational partnership in early childhood education. This thesis is qualitative and the material for it was collected with individual theme interviews. The thesis was commissioned by a certain kindergarten from Oulu. The theoretical frame of this thesis includes principles of educational partnership such as hearing, respect, trust and dialog. There is also theory of culture and multiculturalism in this thesis. Open questions of the interview were based on the theoretical frame. The interviews were analyzed by thematic analyzing. Themes were same as in theoretical frame. The main themes of this thesis are educational partnership and multiculturalism which includes subthemes. The results of our thesis show positive experiences in educational partnership and early childhood education. The parents feel the importance of educational partnership and responsibility of raising a child is shared gladly. The parents do not feel cultural differences in everyday life, but there is a wish for sensitive consideration of culture which does not overemphasize the culture. In summary it can be said, that the parents are satisfied with educational partnership and early childhood education

Cryptic genetic diversity and cytonuclear discordance characterize contact among Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) morphotypes in western North America

Accepted author manuscriptThree distinct Canada jay (Perisoreus canadensis) morphotypes with easily recognizable plumage traits come into contact in western North America. Recent work demonstrated high genetic structure across the species’ range; however, patterns of genetic variation in these contact zones remain unknown. We categorized 605 individuals into one of three morphotypes (Pacific, Rocky Mountain, and Boreal) based on plumage, and genotyped individuals at the mtDNA control region and 12 microsatellite loci to assess the extent of hybridization between morphotypes. Our data showed cryptic genetic diversity and high cytonuclear discordance among morphotypes within contact zones, which is likely the result of recent and historical admixture. The distributions of the Boreal and Pacific morphotypes each showed a strong association with a single, distinct genetic group, whereas the Rocky Mountain morphotype exhibited higher genetic diversity and was associated with multiple genotypes. Our analyses show the importance of considering both plumage and genetic traits when examining contact zones between closely related taxa. Finally the data presented in this study reaffirm that the Pacific morphotype is distinct from the Boreal and Rocky Mountain morphotypes based on genetic, phenotypic and ecological data, indicating that the Pacific morphotype should be re-elevated to a full species.Ye

Genetic Variability of Thermal Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) Populations Based on ISSR Markers: Implications on Relationships, Hybridization, and Conservation

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Inhibition of PI-3-K and AKT Amplifies Kv1.3 Inhibitor-Induced Death of Human T Leukemia Cells

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