149 research outputs found
Cross-border Data-sharing Pilots
The Danube Reference Data and Services Infrastructure (DRDSI) project currently provides access to more than 6 500 datasets, relevant for one or more Priority Areas of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR). These datasets can act as a solid foundation for integration of scientific knowledge into the policy making process on different levels (local, regional and international). From the perspective of macroregional strategies, this would only be possible if data can be used across borders and domains, and put in the right context. That is why the DRDSI project aims at establishing a series of pilot projects which would (i) fill existing gaps through the establishment of missing infrastructure components, such as discovery and view services, (ii) harmonise datasets for cross-border and cross-domains, and (iii) demonstrate the benefit of scientific data for policy support through the creation of value-added products. This JRC technical report aims to provide a synthesised overview of the pilot projects which will be finalised in 2016.JRC.H.6-Digital Earth and Reference Dat
IT Convergence between Data Centres Pilot Study
The purpose of this document is to report on the pilot portal developed for the IT Convergence between Data Centres Pilot Study. It details the data and services that have been included, illustrates how the services were developed, describes any problems that occurred during its development and highlights potential issues.JRC.DDG.H.6-Spatial data infrastructure
Danube Region data projects
The Danube Reference Data and Services Infrastructure (DRDSI) project currently provides access to more than 6,500 datasets, relevant for one or more Priority Areas of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR). These datasets can act as a solid foundation for integration of scientific knowledge into the policy making process on different levels (local, regional and international). From the perspective of macro-regional strategies, this would only be possible if data can be used across borders and domains, and put in the right context.
Projects at regional, national, cross-border and macro-regional levels present a useful container to uncover stakeholders, expertise and data creation/sharing capacity for policy-making and research. This JRC technical report investigates the existing project databases and similar resources related to the EUSDR that describe such projects, as well as how this information may be presented in the DRDSI platform.JRC.H.6-Digital Earth and Reference Dat
Induction of early Purkinje cell dendritic differentiation by thyroid hormone requires RORα
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The active form (T<sub>3</sub>) of thyroid hormone (TH) controls critical aspects of cerebellar development, such as migration of postmitotic neurons and terminal dendritic differentiation of Purkinje cells. The effects of T<sub>3 </sub>on early dendritic differentiation are poorly understood.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, we have analyzed the influence of T<sub>3 </sub>on the progression of the early steps of Purkinje cell dendritic differentiation in postnatal day 0 organotypic cerebellar cultures. These steps include, successively, regression of immature neuritic processes, a stellate cell stage, and the extension of several long and mature perisomatic protrusions before the growth of the ultimate dendritic tree. We also studied the involvement of RORα, a nuclear receptor controlling early Purkinje cell dendritic differentiation. We show that T<sub>3 </sub>treatment leads to an accelerated progression of the early steps of dendritic differentiation in culture, together with an increased expression of RORα (mRNA and protein) in both Purkinje cells and interneurons. Finally, we show that T<sub>3 </sub>failed to promote early dendritic differentiation in <it>staggerer </it>RORα-deficient Purkinje cells.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results demonstrate that T<sub>3 </sub>action on the early Purkinje cell dendritic differentiation process is mediated by RORα.</p
Secretion by Overexpression and Purification of the Water-Soluble Streptomyces K15 Dd-Transpeptidase/Penicillin-Binding Protein
Though synthesized with a cleavable signal peptide and devoid of membrane anchors, the 262-amino-acid-residue Streptomyces K15 DD-transpeptidase/penicillin-binding protein is membrane-bound. Overexpression in Streptomyces lividans resulted in the export of an appreciable amount of the synthesized protein (4 mg/litre of culture supernatant). The water-soluble enzyme was purified close to protein homogeneity with a yield of 75%. It requires the presence of 0.5 M-NaCl to remain soluble. It is indistinguishable from the detergent-extract wild-type enzyme with respect to molecular mass, thermostability, transpeptidase activity and penicillin-binding capacity
The peptidoglycan crosslinking enzyme system in Streptomyces R61, K15 and rimosus. Immunological studies
The exocellular DD-carboxypeptidases from Streptomyces R61, K 15, the lysozyme-releasable
DD-carboxypeptidases from Streptomyces R61, K15 and rimosus, and the membrane-bound
DD-carboxypeptidase of Streptomyces K15 are immunologically related to each other
Correction: Primary and predicted secondary structure of the actinomadura R39 extracellular DD-peptidase, a penicillin-binding protein (PBP) related to the escherichia coli PBP4 (Biochemical Journal(1992)282(786))
peer reviewe
Gene expression signature of cerebellar hypoplasia in a mouse model of Down syndrome during postnatal development
Background Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder caused by the presence of three copies of chromosome 21. The mechanisms by which this aneuploidy produces the complex and variable phenotype observed in people with Down syndrome are still under discussion. Recent studies have demonstrated an increased transcript level of the three-copy genes with some dosage compensation or amplification for a subset of them. The impact of this gene dosage effect on the whole transcriptome is still debated and longitudinal studies assessing the variability among samples, tissues and developmental stages are needed. Results We thus designed a large scale gene expression study in mice (the Ts1Cje Down syndrome mouse model) in which we could measure the effects of trisomy 21 on a large number of samples (74 in total) in a tissue that is affected in Down syndrome (the cerebellum) and where we could quantify the defect during postnatal development in order to correlate gene expression changes to the phenotype observed. Statistical analysis of microarray data revealed a major gene dosage effect: for the three-copy genes as well as for a 2 Mb segment from mouse chromosome 12 that we show for the first time as being deleted in the Ts1Cje mice. This gene dosage effect impacts moderately on the expression of euploid genes (2.4 to 7.5% differentially expressed). Only 13 genes were significantly dysregulated in Ts1Cje mice at all four postnatal development stages studied from birth to 10 days after birth, and among them are 6 three-copy genes. The decrease in granule cell proliferation demonstrated in newborn Ts1Cje cerebellum was correlated with a major gene dosage effect on the transcriptome in dissected cerebellar external granule cell layer. Conclusion High throughput gene expression analysis in the cerebellum of a large number of samples of Ts1Cje and euploid mice has revealed a prevailing gene dosage effect on triplicated genes. Moreover using an enriched cell population that is thought responsible for the cerebellar hypoplasia in Down syndrome, a global destabilization of gene expression was not detected. Altogether these results strongly suggest that the three-copy genes are directly responsible for the phenotype present in cerebellum. We provide here a short list of candidate genes
Supporting an Innovation Agenda for the Western Balkans - Tools and Methodologies
The Western Balkan region has significantly improved in terms of innovation performance in the
last ten years. However, in catching up with other European regions, the focus of innovation efforts
should be enhanced. Exports are still far more focused on medium- and low-technology products.
Innovative efforts mostly accommodate traditionally strong sectors, which do not necessarily reflect
the ideal competitiveness paths for economies in the region. Although some Western Balkan
economies record increases in patent activity, patent intensity in the region is still low, while, on the
other hand, scientific publication production displays a stable growth trend.
While Western Balkan economies are at different stages in the formation of research and innovation
(R&I) policy governance systems, national research and innovation policy frameworks are
continuously being improved. The enhancement of governance in the area of R&I came as the
result of increased capacity building activities in the region, as well as of the real needs emerging
as a result of social and economic transformation. On the other hand, R&I systems in the Western
Balkan economies need to continue shifting their focus towards businesses to provide better balance
between public and private sector orientation.
The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission is committed to supporting the shift in
innovation policies and improvement of R&I efforts and governance in the Western Balkan economies
through a number of tools and activities, allowing policy instruments to be matched with
the specific needs of the economy. This approach seeks efficient governance mechanisms for R&I
policy by reaching out to the business sector and other important actors of the innovation ecosystem.
It determines sustainable development directions for economies and ensures the continuity
of policy monitoring and evaluation cycles. This ambitious challenge is translated into four specific
lines of activity: (i) the application of the smart specialisation methodology to design and implement
innovation strategies; (ii) capacity-building activities for technology transfer, in particular
through specialised workshops, tools and instruments specifically designed to assist the academic
institutions in the regional economies; (iii) support to transnational collaboration and linkages in the
context of EU macro-regional strategies; and (iv) data quality enhancement.
The analysis of the development potential of the Western Balkan region in terms of economic,
innovative and scientific capabilities in this report is supported with the good practices addressing
specific challenges in the region.JRC.B.3-Territorial Developmen
Acyltransferase activities of the high-molecular-mass essential penicillin-binding proteins
The high-molecular-mass penicillin-binding proteins (HMM-PBPs), present in the cytoplasmic membranes of all eubacteria, are involved in important physiological events such as cell elongation, septation or shape determination. Up to now it has, however, been very difficult or impossible to study the catalytic properties of the HMM-PBPs in vitro. With simple substrates, we could demonstrate that several of these proteins could catalyse the hydrolysis of some thioesters or the transfer of their acyl moiety on the amino group of a suitable acceptor nucleophile. Many of the acyl-donor substrates were hippuric acid or benzoyl-D-alanine derivatives, and their spectroscopic properties enabled a direct monitoring of the enzymic reaction. In their presence, the binding of radioactive penicillin to the PBPs was also inhibited
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