Einfluss der, durch die Brände in Russland/Osteuropa 2010 emittierten Aerosole, auf die kurzwellige, nach unten gerichtete solare Strahlung

In dieser Arbeit geht es um den Einfluss von Aerosolen, die durch Brände emittiert werden, auf die kurzwellige, abwärts gerichtete, solare Strahlung, am Beispiel der Analyse der Brände in Russland/Osteuropa 2010 in den Monaten Juli-August. Dazu wurden einerseits Messdaten aus AERONET Bodenstationen und andererseits Daten des Messinstruments MODIS, von den Satelliten TERRA und AQUA, verwendet. Als AERONET Stationen wurden drei, in den, von den Bränden betroffenen Gebieten liegenden Stationen, ausgewählt: Toravere, Moskau und Yekaterinburg. Im Zuge der Analyse dieser Daten konnte an allen drei AERONET Messstationen eine deutliche Erhöhung der AOD, während der Brände im Jahr 2010, im Vergleich zu anderen Jahren, festgestellt werden. AERONET Daten zeigen, dass die Aerosol optische Dicke bei 500nm in Moskau, Spitzenwerte um die 4,5, zur Zeit der stärksten Belastung, um den 7.August herum, erreichte. Mit Hilfe dieser Messdaten wurden über das Strahlungstransfermodell UVspec, des libRadtran-Paketes, Tagesgänge der Bestrahlungsstärke mit Hilfe von AERONET Daten der drei verschiedenen Stationen, für ausgewählte Tage der Monate Juli und August, berechnet. Die Satellitendaten ermöglichten die Berechnung der Bestrahlungsstärken über eine größere Fläche betrachtet. Zuvor aber wurde in einem ersten Schritt eine Validierung der Modellberechnungen durchgeführt. Für die Berechnungen der Bestrahlungsstärken mit AERONET Daten wurde ein Vergleich mit BSRN Daten, der Messstationen Toravere und XiangHe herangezogen. Am 7.August ergaben die Modellberechnungen mit AERONET Daten der Station Moskau eine errechnete Reduktion der kurzwelligen, abwärts gerichteten solaren Strahlung, um ca. 30-48\%. Die Satellitendaten wurden dazu verwendet großflächigere Bereiche, der betroffenen Gebiete zu untersuchen. Mit den Berechnungen mit MODIS Daten, kommt man durch die Modellberechnungen auf ähnliche Reduktionen der kurzwelligen, abwärts gerichteten solaren Strahlung, mit Werten im Gebiet um Moskau herum, zu einer Zeit, als die Belastung durch die Feuer sehr groß war, um die 50%

Comparative genomics explains the evolutionary success of reef-forming corals

Transcriptome and genome data from twenty stony coral species and a selection of reference bilaterians were studied to elucidate coral evolutionary history. We identified genes that encode the proteins responsible for the precipitation and aggregation of the aragonite skeleton on which the organisms live, and revealed a network of environmental sensors that coordinate responses of the host animals to temperature, light, and pH. Furthermore, we describe a variety of stress-related pathways, including apoptotic pathways that allow the host animals to detoxify reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that are generated by their intracellular photosynthetic symbionts, and determine the fate of corals under environmental stress. Some of these genes arose through horizontal gene transfer and comprise at least 0.2% of the animal gene inventory. Our analysis elucidates the evolutionary strategies that have allowed symbiotic corals to adapt and thrive for hundreds of millions of years.This work was made possible by grants from the National Science Foundation, EF-1041143/RU 432635 and EF-1416785 awarded to PGF, DB, and TM, respectively. RDG, HMP, and AJS were supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, NIMHD P20MD006084, the Hawaii Community Foundation, Leahi Fund 13ADVC-60228 and NSF OCE PRF 1323822 and National Science Foundation Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Hawaii: EPS- 0903833. CRV and MA acknowledge funding by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)

Realistic behavioral model for ReRAMs capturing non-idealities

Memristors are a class of emerging electronic devices for in-memory computation systems, which promise to overcome the von Neumann bottleneck in traditional computer architectures. Simulation plays a critical role in designing circuits for memristive in-memory computation systems. Fast and reliable simulations require a behavioral model that accurately emulates device characteristics, accounting for real-world non-idealities. In this work, we present a memristor behavioral model that incorporates key non-idealities, including cycle-to-cycle and device-to-device resistance variations, threshold voltage variations, resistance drift in the absence of external stimulus and variations in switching dynamics. The model has been fitted to experimental data from two types of real devices: vacuum-processed self-directed channel memristors and inkjet-printed electrochemical metallization memristors, showing good agreement with both datasets. This model is used to simulate memristive stateful logic gates. Our study highlights the significance of considering device non-idealities in the practical design of memristive circuits

Draft genome sequence and genetic transformation of the oleaginous alga Nannochloropis gaditana

The potential use of algae in biofuels applications is receiving significant attention. However, none of the current algal model species are competitive production strains. Here we present a draft genome sequence and a genetic transformation method for the marine microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana CCMP526. We show that N. gaditana has highly favourable lipid yields, and is a promising production organism. The genome assembly includes nuclear (~29 Mb) and organellar genomes, and contains 9,052 gene models. We define the genes required for glycerolipid biogenesis and detail the differential regulation of genes during nitrogen-limited lipid biosynthesis. Phylogenomic analysis identifies genetic attributes of this organism, including unique stramenopile photosynthesis genes and gene expansions that may explain the distinguishing photoautotrophic phenotypes observed. The availability of a genome sequence and transformation methods will facilitate investigations into N. gaditana lipid biosynthesis and permit genetic engineering strategies to further improve this naturally productive alga

Simple, Rapid and Cost-Effective Method for High Quality Nucleic Acids Extraction from Different Strains of Botryococcus braunii

This study deals with an effective nucleic acids extraction method from various strains of Botryococcus braunii which possesses an extensive extracellular matrix. A method combining freeze/thaw and bead-beating with heterogeneous diameter of silica/zirconia beads was optimized to isolate DNA and RNA from microalgae, especially from B. braunii. Eukaryotic Microalgal Nucleic Acids Extraction (EMNE) method developed in this study showed at least 300 times higher DNA yield in all strains of B. braunii with high integrity and 50 times reduced working volume compared to commercially available DNA extraction kits. High quality RNA was also extracted using this method and more than two times the yield compared to existing methods. Real-time experiments confirmed the quality and quantity of the input DNA and RNA extracted using EMNE method. The method was also applied to other eukaryotic microalgae, such as diatoms, Chlamydomonas sp., Chlorella sp., and Scenedesmus sp. resulting in higher efficiencies. Cost-effectiveness analysis of DNA extraction by various methods revealed that EMNE method was superior to commercial kits and other reported methods by >15%. This method would immensely contribute to area of microalgal genomics

Transcriptome sequencing of three Pseudo-nitzschia species reveals comparable gene sets and the presence of Nitric Oxide Synthase genes in diatoms

Diatoms are among the most diverse eukaryotic microorganisms on Earth, they are responsible for a large fraction of primary production in the oceans and can be found in different habitats. Pseudo-nitzschia are marine planktonic diatoms responsible for blooms in coastal and oceanic waters. We analyzed the transcriptome of three species, Pseudo-nitzschia arenysensis, Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima and Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata, with different levels of genetic relatedness. These species have a worldwide distribution and the last one produces the neurotoxin domoic acid. We were able to annotate about 80% of the sequences in each transcriptome and the analysis of the relative functional annotations allowed comparison of the main metabolic pathways, pathways involved in the biosynthesis of isoprenoids (MAV and MEP pathways), and pathways putatively involved in domoic acid synthesis. The search for homologous transcripts among the target species and other congeneric species resulted in the discovery of a sequence annotated as Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS), found uniquely in Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata. The predicted protein product contained all the domains of the canonical metazoan sequence. Putative NOS sequences were found in other available diatom datasets, supporting a role for nitric oxide as signaling molecule in this group of microalgae

Bmp7 Regulates the Survival, Proliferation, and Neurogenic Properties of Neural Progenitor Cells during Corticogenesis in the Mouse

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are considered important regulators of neural development. However, results mainly from a wide set of in vitro gain-of-function experiments are conflicting since these show that BMPs can act either as inhibitors or promoters of neurogenesis. Here, we report a specific and non-redundant role for BMP7 in cortical neurogenesis in vivo using knockout mice. Bmp7 is produced in regions adjacent to the developing cortex; the hem, meninges, and choroid plexus, and can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid. Bmp7 deletion results in reduced cortical thickening, impaired neurogenesis, and loss of radial glia attachment to the meninges. Subsequent in vitro analyses of E14.5 cortical cells revealed that lack of Bmp7 affects neural progenitor cells, evidenced by their reduced proliferation, survival and self-renewal capacity. Addition of BMP7 was able to rescue these proliferation and survival defects. In addition, at the developmental stage E14.5 Bmp7 was also required to maintain Ngn2 expression in the subventricular zone. These data demonstrate a novel role for Bmp7 in the embryonic mouse cortex: Bmp7 nurtures radial glia cells and regulates fundamental properties of neural progenitor cells that subsequently affect Ngn2-dependent neurogenesis