Moderate Changes Research Articles

Impact of Lagrangian Sea Surface Temperature Variability on Southern Ocean Phytoplankton Community Growth Rates

AbstractOcean phytoplankton play a critical role in the global carbon cycle, contributing ∼50% of global photosynthesis. As planktonic organisms, phytoplankton encounter significant environmental variability as they are advected throughout the ocean. How this variability impacts phytoplankton growth rates and population dynamics remains unclear. Here, we systematically investigated the impact of different rates and magnitudes of sea surface temperature (SST) variability on phytoplankton community growth rates using surface drifter observations from the Southern Ocean (>30°S) and a phenotype‐based ecosystem model. Short‐term SST variability (<7 days) had a minimal impact on phytoplankton community growth rates. Moderate SST changes of 3–4°C over 7–45 days produced a large time lag between the temperature change and the biological response. The impact of SST variability on community growth rates was nonlinear and a function of the rate and magnitude of change. Additionally, the nature of variability generated in a Lagrangian reference frame (following trajectories of surface water parcels) was larger than that within an Eulerian reference frame (fixed point), which initiated different phytoplankton responses between the two reference frames. Finally, we found that these dynamics were not captured by the Eppley growth model commonly used in global biogeochemical models and resulted in an overestimation of community growth rates, particularly in dynamic, strong frontal regions of the Southern Ocean. This work demonstrates that the timescale for environmental selection (community replacement) is a critical factor in determining community composition and takes a first step towards including the impact of variability and biological response times into biogeochemical models.

Biodegradation of metoprolol in oxic and anoxic hyporheic zone sediments: unexpected effects on microbial communities

Metoprolol is widely used as a beta-blocker and considered an emerging contaminant of environmental concern due to pseudo persistence in wastewater effluents that poses a potential ecotoxicological threat to aquatic ecosystems. Microbial removal of metoprolol in the redox-delineated hyporheic zone (HZ) was investigated using streambed sediments supplemented with 15 or 150 μM metoprolol in a laboratory microcosm incubation under oxic and anoxic conditions. Metoprolol disappeared from the aqueous phase under oxic and anoxic conditions within 65 and 72 days, respectively. Metoprolol was refed twice after initial depletion resulting in accelerated disappearance under both conditions. Metoprolol disappearance was marginal in sterile control microcosms with autoclaved sediment. Metoprolol was transformed mainly to metoprolol acid in oxic microcosms, while metoprolol acid and α-hydroxymetoprolol were formed in anoxic microcosms. Transformation products were transient and disappeared within 30 days under both conditions. Effects of metoprolol on the HZ bacterial community were evaluated using DNA- and RNA-based time-resolved amplicon Illumina MiSeq sequencing targeting the 16S rRNA gene and 16S rRNA, respectively, and were prominent on 16S rRNA rather than 16S rRNA gene level suggesting moderate metoprolol-induced activity-level changes. A positive impact of metoprolol on Sphingomonadaceae and Enterobacteriaceae under oxic and anoxic conditions, respectively, was observed. Nitrifiers were impaired by metoprolol under oxic and anoxic conditions. Collectively, our findings revealed high metoprolol biodegradation potentials in the hyporheic zone under contrasting redox conditions associated with changes in the active microbial communities, thus contributing to the attenuation of micropollutants.Key points• High biotic oxic and anoxic metoprolol degradation potentials in the hyporheic zone.• Key metoprolol-associated taxa included Sphingomonadaceae, Enterobacteraceae, and Promicromonosporaceae.• Negative impact of metoprolol on nitrifiers.

Moderate And Vigorous Physical Activity Predict 10-year Weight Change In 12,974 U.S. Adults

Moderate And Vigorous Physical Activity Predict 10-year Weight Change In 12,974 U.S. Adults

Impact Of Activity Monitoring On Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, And Weight During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Emerging evidence has reported decreases in individuals’ physical activity and increases in sedentary behavior and bodyweight during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study sought to assess the ability of physical activity monitoring to mitigate these negative outcomes. Such devices may promote physical activity and discourage sedentary behavior by providing feedback to the users. Therefore, individuals who do not use physical activity monitoring may report greater pandemic-related reductions in physical activity and greater increases in sedentary behavior and bodyweight relative to individuals who use monitors. PURPOSE: To assess the ability of physical activity monitoring to moderate potential changes in physical activity, sedentary behavior, and bodyweight due to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A sample of adults from a public, American university (N = 404, 40.3 ± 15.3 years old) completed an online survey consisting of validated questionnaires assessing self-reported mild, moderate, and strenuous physical activity (Godin), sedentary behavior (IPAQ), and bodyweight. Participants reported these variables for two separate time points: prior to the closure of campus due to the pandemic in March of 2020 and again at the time of the survey administration (May-June 2020). Participants also reported whether they did (n = 172) or did not (n = 232) regularly use physical activity monitoring devices. RESULTS: Two group (monitors, no monitors) by two time point (pre-, post-campus closure) ANOVAs revealed significant (p < 0.001) main effects of time for sitting and bodyweight but not for any measure of physical activity (p ≥ 0.15). On average, participants increased sitting by 67.8 ± 156.6 min/day and gained 1.4 ± 7.6 lbs. from pre- to post-campus closure. There were also significant (p ≤ 0.02) main effects of group as participants who used monitors reported 58% greater strenuous physical activity, 11% lower mild physical activity and 10% less sitting than those that did not use monitors. However, there were no significant (p ≥ 0.15) group by time interactions for any variable. CONCLUSIONS: While physical activity was not affected, participants reported significant increases in sedentary behavior and bodyweight during the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of a physical activity monitor did not moderate these effects.

Right Arm Dystonia In A Former Baseball Pitcher

HISTORY: A 58-year-old right-hand dominant former baseball pitcher presented with right forearm pain. It started 1 year ago after he fell down the stairs and caught himself with his right arm. It feels like “tightness”, is localized to the ulnar side of the wrist, and radiates up the forearm. Since the fall, he also reports repetitive involuntary movements of the right upper extremity provoked by rest and improved with external rotation of the shoulder. Denies numbness, tingling, or weakness. He has a history of depression treated with fluoxetine; he was took lurasidone for this in the past but developed tic-like movements in his hands, legs, and mouth due to this medication which resolved with stopping it. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: He is in no acute distress. He repeatedly involuntarily elevates and internally rotates the right shoulder. Cervical spine, elbow, and wrist have full range of motion; shoulder has decreased internal and external rotation. Right levator scapulae is hypertrophic; other neck muscles have normal tone. Upper and lower extremity muscle groups have 5/5 strength bilaterally. Sensation is intact to light touch bilaterally. Reflexes are 2+ in the upper extremities and at the Achilles tendons and 3+ at the patellar tendons. Spurling's and Hoffman’s signs were negative and he had no clonus. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS: 1. Cervical myelopathy 2. Tardive dyskinesia 3. Medication-induced dystonia 4. Cervical radiculopathy TEST AND RESULTS:Right shoulder x-rays: Moderate degenerative changes of the glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joints. Cervical spine x-rays: Multilevel degenerative changes of the cervical spine. MRI cervical spine: Multilevel degenerative changes with facet arthropathy, slight retrolisthesis from C3-C7, and loss of disc height from C4-C7. Moderate-to-severe right foraminal stenosis at C3-C4 and C4-C5. Spinal cord appears normal. FINAL WORKING DIAGNOSIS: Post-traumatic dystonia TREATMENT AND OUTCOMES: 1. No structural lesion was identified to explain the patient’s symptoms. 2. He was referred to neurology for possible medication-induced dystonia. 3. Neurology diagnosed him with post-traumatic dystonia based on his history of a fall down the stairs, dystonic movements in the affected limb, and right levator scapulae hypertrophy. 4. He was treated with botox injections.

Anatomopathological, ultrastructural, immunohistochemical and molecular characterization of infectious laryngotracheitis outbreaks in poultry farms in Egypt (2018–2020)

Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is a severe respiratory disease, which causes high morbidity and mortality in affected birds. In our study, ILT were reported in 42 farms from nine governates over two years (2018–2020) that showed clinical signs of ILT including dyspnea, blood expectoration of, excessive lacrimation, rattling, conjunctivitis. The disease affected different chicken breeds and age groups despite vaccination with licensed and commonly used vaccines. Samples of larynx, trachea, lungs and air sacs were examined and collected for histopathological, ultrastructural, immunohistochemical examination and molecular detection. Gross examination of laryngeal and tracheal lumen revealed different types of exudate varied from catarrhal to fibrinonecotric, also pneumonia and airsacculitis were detected. Histopathological examination showed different alternation in larynx, trachea, lung and air sac as characteristic syncytial cells containing intranuclear inclusion body hanged in fibrinoheterphilic exudate that precent in laryngeal, tracheal, bronchial and parabronchial lumen and air sacs. Tracheal lesion scoring system was used to categorize the severity of lesion in different governates. Tracheal lesion score showed that 6.02%, 26.5%, 43.3% of the birds exhibited mild, moderate, and severe changes, respectively, while 24.18% of the birds exhibited very severe changes. Furthermore, severe cases were related to the Qalyubia , Fayoum then Sharkia Governorate. Moreover, immunohistochemistry was used to detect viral particles in syncytial cells, inflammatory cells beside epithelium of trachea and lung. Transmission electron microscopy enabled the detection of virus particles and demonstrated that heterophils could be infected. PCR targeting a region in the thymidine kinase gene and glycoprotein gJ gene confirmed the presence of infectious laryngotracheitis ILT virus-specific DNA. In conclusion, anatomopathological, immunohistochemical, molecular and ultrastructural findings showed increased of ILTV severity in Egypt. Larynx, trachea, lungs and air sac should be collected and examined that aid in diagnosis. Importance of good biosecurity level to be considered.

Effect of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on Road Transport Asset Management Practice in Nigeria

Poor management practices of road transport assets posed a challenge to the sustainable development of the transport system in developing countries like Nigeria. Studies in the past focused mainly on the performance of road construction process. However, few studies have evaluated the effect of the fourth Industrial Revolution (4.0IR) on the road transport assets in developing countries such as Nigeria. The current study aimed at assessing the effect of the 4.0IR towards improving the management practice of road transport assets. Survey instruments were administered to project and facility managers in the Nigerian road construction sector of the economy using a proportionate random sampling technique. Partial least square structural equation modelling was used for data analysis utilising the Warp 7.0 partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) software algorithm. The software calculates p-values with WarpPLS based on non-parametric algorithms, resampling or stable algorithms and thus does not require that the variables to be normally distributed. The study concluded that the 4.0IR drivers have a moderate effect change on the management practice of road transport assets in Nigeria at the moment. The findings imply that management of road assets in Nigeria would moderately improve due to the 4.0IR technologies resulting in transport, safety and general efficiency and effectiveness of road networks in Nigeria. The study identified the 4.0IR drivers to include robotics, mobility, virtual and augmented reality, Internet of things and cloud computing, machine learning, artificial intelligence, blockchain, three-dimensional (3D) printing drones that are built with an attached 3D printer (the drone hangs a 3D printing nozzle that has fed plastic, concrete mix or other material from a tube connected to the top of the drone's printing path that precisely plotted by software, for a promised printing accuracy of 0.1 mm) and digital engineering. This study emanated from the government reports and past studies in the area of road transport asset management practice which the study investigated the major causes of poor practices and assessed the effect of the 4.0IR on the practice.

Psychosocial Impact of COVID-19 among Young Bangladeshi Adults (18-34 years): An Online-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

SummaryObjectivesCOVID-19 pandemic is at the fourth stage of boundless local transmission in Bangladesh. The objective of this study was to assess the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on adult Bangladeshi population.DesignOnline-based cross-sectional study.SettingsData were collected from different parts of the Bangladesh.ParticipantsInformation was collected from 213 young adults who were aged 18-34 years old using convenient sampling technique.ResultsMore than 90% of participants were responded to possess a good awareness of COVID-19. However, the behavioral characteristics of young individuals in Bangladesh were not impressive. In this cohort, 24.4% of participants showed moderate change and 5.2%-little changes in their behavior due to COVID-19. Approximately 58.2% of participants had some symptoms of mental distress while 59.7% of participants were somewhat worried about COVID-19.ConclusionIn order to control the spread of Covid-19, existing unconsciousness in young adult could turn this situation into a disaster throughout the nation which therefore must be understood by the government and policymakers to incorporate successful measures.

Leukemia-Induced Cellular Senescence and Stemness Alterations in Mesenchymal Stem Cells Are Reversible upon Withdrawal of B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells.

Leukemic cell growth in the bone marrow (BM) induces a very stressful condition. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), a key component of this BM niche, are affected in several ways with unfavorable consequences on hematopoietic stem cells favoring leukemic cells. These alterations in MSC during B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) have not been fully studied. In this work, we have compared the modifications that occur in an in vitro leukemic niche (LN) with those observed in MSC isolated from B-ALL patients. MSC in this LN niche showed features of a senescence process, i.e., altered morphology, increased senescence-associated β-Galactosidase (SA-βGAL) activity, and upregulation of p53 and p21 (without p16 expression), cell-cycle arrest, reduced clonogenicity, and some moderated changes in stemness properties. Importantly, almost all of these features were found in MSC isolated from B-ALL patients. These alterations rendered B-ALL cells susceptible to the chemotherapeutic agent dexamethasone. The senescent process seems to be transient since when leukemic cells are removed, normal MSC morphology is re-established, SA-βGAL expression is diminished, and MSC are capable of re-entering cell cycle. In addition, few cells showed low γH2AX phosphorylation that was reduced to basal levels upon cultivation. The reversibility of the senescent process in MSC must impinge important biological and clinical significance depending on cell interactions in the bone marrow at different stages of disease progression in B-ALL.

SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF CHANGING VEHICLE EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS AND RELEVANT VEHICLE PROPORTIONS

AbstractFor the user perception of vehicles and consequently the success of automobile design, the body layout and especially the proportions of vehicles are pivotal. In the present study, the SAE main dimensions length (L108), wheelbase (L101), height (H100) and width (W103) of 697 vehicles from different OEMs were examined. The analysis reveals a tendency of increasing length, wheelbase and especially width of vehicles in recent years. Regarding the ratios of these dimensions there are clear correlations, as revealed by an analysis with linear regression. We find particular strong synchrony in the increases of the pairs W103 - L108 and L101 - L108 and lesser so between the ratio E = L108/L101 and the vehicle length. The latter can be explained by vehicles with a high L108 being less compact, i.e. the proportion E increases. Finally, it is discussed whether technological changes lead to revolutionary or evolutionary changes in dimensions. The historical development and the moderate proportional changes of BEVs indicate a measurable but evolutionary development. In contrast, disruptive technologies such as automated driving can significantly change the vehicle layout and thus encourage a more revolutionary change in proportions.

Long Term Monitoring and Connection between Topography and Cloud Cover Distribution in Serbia

The use of weather satellite recordings has been growing rapidly over the last three decades. Determining the patterns between meteorological and topographical features is an important scientific job. Cloud cover analysis and properties can be of the utmost significance for potential cloud seeding. Here, the analysis of the cloud properties was conducted by means of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite recordings. The resolution of used data was 1 km2 within the period of 30 years (1989–2019). This research showed moderate changing of cloudiness in the territory of Serbia with a high cloudiness in February, followed by cloudiness in January and November. For the past three decades, May has been the month with the highest cloudiness. The regions in the east and south-west, and particularly in the west, have a high absolute cloudiness, which is connected with the high elevation of the country. By means of long term monitoring, the whole territory of Serbia was analyzed for the first time, in terms of cloudiness. Apart from the statistical and numerical results obtained, this research showed a connection between relief and clouds, especially in the winter season. Linear regression MK (Mann-Kendall test) has proven this theory right, connecting high elevation sides with high absolute cloudiness through the year.

Impacts of light rail in a mid-sized city: Evidence from Olsztyn, Poland

Investments in light rail transit (LRT) have become increasingly popular solutions to promote sustainable urban transportation. However, their impacts on cities are still subject to discussion in the academic community. There is a clear need to better understand the potential impacts of LRT projects, particularly in contexts other than major cities. In this study, we focus on the Olsztyn tram project, which has been implemented in a city of 173,000 residents situated in northeastern Poland. The paper combines different perspectives and data sources, including a study of residents’ stated preferences concerning travel behavior and modelling of housing price effects using the difference-in-differences approach. Our results suggest that the Olsztyn tram project led to a moderate change in travel behavior by increasing the frequency of public transport use but did not result in a substantial shift away from car commuting. Concerning the property market, a decline in prices was observed during the construction phase, but no statistically significant effects were found after completion.

Epileptiform activity in mouse hippocampal slices induced by moderate changes in extracellular Mg2+, Ca2+, and K+

BackgroundRodent brain slices—particularly hippocampal slices—are widely used in experimental investigations of epileptiform activity. Oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) is used to maintain slices in vitro. Physiological or standard ACSF containing 3–3.5 mM K+, 1–2 mM Mg2+, and 1–3 mM Ca2+ generally does not induce population epileptiform activity, which can be induced by ACSF with high K+ (8–10 mM), low Mg2+, or low Ca2+ alone or in combination. While low-Mg2+ ACSF without intentionally added Mg salt but with contaminating Mg2+ (≤ 50–80 µM) from other salts can induce robust epileptiform activity in slices, it is unclear whether such epileptiform activity can be achieved using ACSF with moderately decreased Mg2+. To explore this issue, we examined the effects of moderately modified (m)ACSF with 0.8 mM Mg2+, 1.3 mM Ca2+, and 5.7 mM K+ on induction of epileptiform discharges in mouse hippocampal slices.ResultsHippocampal slices were prepared from young (21–28 days old), middle-aged (13–14 months old), and aged (24–26 months old) C57/BL6 mice. Conventional thin (0.4 mm) and thick (0.6 mm) slices were obtained using a vibratome and pretreated with mACSF at 35–36 °C for 1 h prior to recordings. During perfusion with mACSF at 35–36 °C, spontaneous or self-sustained epileptiform field potentials following high-frequency stimulation were frequently recorded in slices pretreated with mACSF but not in those without the pretreatment. Seizure-like ictal discharges were more common in thick slices than in thin slices.ConclusionsProlonged exposure to mACSF by pretreatment and subsequent perfusion can induce epileptiform field potentials in mouse hippocampal slices.

Screening of Fabry disease in patients with chronic kidney disease in Japan.

BackgroundFabry disease (FD), an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency in alfa-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) activity due to mutations in the GLA gene, has a prevalence of 0–1.69% in patients undergoing haemodialysis; however, its prevalence in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stages 1–5 is unknown.MethodsSerum α-Gal A activity analysis and direct sequencing of GLA were used to screen for FD in 2122 male patients with CKD, including 1703 patients with CKD Stage 5D and 419 with CKD Stages 1–5. The correlation between serum α-Gal A activity and confounding factors in patients with CKD Stages 1–5 was evaluated.ResultsFD prevalence rates in patients with CKD Stage 5D and CKD Stages 1–5 were 0.06% (1/1703) and 0.48% (2/419), respectively. A patient with CKD Stage 5D exhibited a novel GLA mutation, p.Met208Arg, whereas two patients with CKD Stages 1–5 had c.370delG and p.Met296Ile. p. Met208Arg caused moderate structural changes in the molecular surface region near the substituted amino acid residue but did not affect the catalytic residues Asp170 and Asp231 in α-Gal A. Serum α-Gal A activity in patients with CKD Stages 1–5 was inversely correlated with age (P < 0.0001) but directly correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (P < 0.0001).ConclusionsFD prevalence was much higher in male patients with CKD Stages 1–5 than in those with CKD Stage 5D. FD screening in patients with CKD Stages 1–5 may improve patient survival, decreasing the number of patients with CKD Stage 5D.

Частота формирования синдрома «сухого глаза» в зависимости от длительности применения гипотензивных капель у пациентов с первичной открытоугольной глаукомой

Aim. To conduct a clinical assessment of the incidence of dry eye syndrome (DES) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), depending on the timing of the use of local antihypertensive therapy. Methods. The main group included 45 patients (45 eyes) with POAG. Inclusion criteria - use of local antihypertensive therapy for at least one month; absence of previous laser and microsurgery operations, systemic pathology that can cause DES (thyroid lesions, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune and rheumatoid diseases). The patients’ age averaged 61.2±8.7 years (from 47 to 82 years). There were 29 men and 16 women. The design of the work consisted of a comparative assessment of the frequency of DES formation in the studied groups and subgroups, as well as the degree of its severity. Results. The results of the study showed that with an increase in the duration of the use of local antihypertensive drugs by patients with POAG the incidence of DES development increases. Moderate changes in the studied functional parameters of the ocular surface were recorded as early as 1-3 years from the start of antihypertensive therapy. Especially often DES was formed in the 3rd subgroup and proceeded in more severe clinical forms. Conclusion. The initial statistically insignificant changes in the indicators of the state of the ocular surface in patients with POAG using local antihypertensive therapy took place at the time of their instillation from 1 to 3 years. Most often, according to our data, DES developed in patients with POAG after three years of using antihypertensive drugs (9 out of 15 patients). Key words: dry eye syndrome; glaucoma; antihypertensive therapy.

Патоморфологічні зміни у домашніх голубів за експериментального зараження Eimeria species

Goal. To establish pathomorphological changes in the internal organs of domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica Linnaeus, 1758) in experimental eimeriosis. Methods. Methods used: clinical observation, coprological examination, pathological autopsy of experimental pigeons, analysis of sectional studies, histopathological examination of samples of selected organs (intestine, liver, spleen and bursa of Fabricius). Experimental clinically healthy pigeons were experimentally infested orally by sporulated culture of Eimeria spp. (E. labbeana — 74.6%, E. columbae — 21.9%, E. columbarum — 3.5%). Then for 8 days they studied the dynamics of oocyst secretion by the Fulleborn method, after which birds were euthanized with subsequent pathomorphological studies. Results. The data obtained indicate that in experimental eimeriosis in adult pigeons develop: moderate hyperplasia of lymphoid nodules of the villi of the duodenum, diffuse superficial desquamative duodenojeunitis with serous edema and lymphocytic infiltration of intestinal hemorrhage and lymphocytic infiltration of intestinal villi, spleen congestion with the development of local or diffuse hemosiderosis, delayed involutional atrophy of nodules in the bursa of Fabricius, hyperplasia of lymphoid nodules of the liver, the development of moderate degenerative changes in hepatocytes, hemostasis in the central and interparticle veins. Conclusions. In pigeons with acute experimental eimeriosis, according to the results of the study, dominated the hyperplastic processes of lymphoid structures located in the intestinal villi of the duodenum, spleen, Fabricius bursa, and liver. Signs of delay of involutionary processes are revealed in Fabricius’s bursa. In the intestinal tract, the most severe pathologies were localized within the duodenum and small intestine.

Structure-Properties relationships in renewable composites based on polylactide filled with Tannin and Kraft Lignin - Crystallization and molecular mobility

Calorimetry and dielectric spectroscopy supplemented by polarized light microscopy, X-ray, infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy are employed here to assess the crystallization, interactions and molecular mobility in polylactide (PLA) filled with Tannin and kraft-Lignin prepared by melt extrusion. The direct and indirect effects of the fillers are investigated within two states of the polymer, namely, amorphous and semicrystalline (melt-crystallization annealed). The extremely slow and weak crystallization of PLA is enhanced by the fillers, mainly in the rate, via the combined effects of providing sites for crystallization and moderately enhancing polymer mobility (chains diffusion). Interestingly, the crystal structure and semicrystalline morphology were found altered in the composites as compared to the unfilled PLA. The effect on crystallization was found slightly stronger in PLA/Tannin, whereas the overall results were found in accordance to previously proposed models on the role of weak or absent interfacial interactions on promoting nucleation, such as in our case. Dielectric spectroscopy enabled the recording of the overall molecular dynamics mapping. Local dynamics was found to consist mainly of two individual processes. Regarding segmental mobility of PLA, the presence of tannin and lignin was found to impose moderate changes, namely, slight acceleration, narrowing of relaxation times range and suppression in fragility, however, not systematic changes in the calorimetric or dielectric strengths. The overall data could be rationalized exploiting known models involving as an indirect filler effect the increase in free volume. Despite the weak effects, Tannin was found again more effective and this seems to correlate with their smaller size and moderately better distribution as compared to lignin. The involvement of crystallization resulted in an expected blocking of ions transport, which, along the recorded potential for tuning semicrystalline morphology, make these materials interesting and worth to be further studied with regard to their permeation, mechanical and antioxidation performance.

Arthroscopic Tenotomy of the Long Head of the Biceps Tendon and Section of the Anterior Joint Capsule Produce Moderate Osteoarthritic Changes in an Experimental Sheep Model.

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the glenohumeral (GH) joint is a common cause of shoulder pain, resulting in considerable invalidity. Unfortunately, the study of its pathogenesis is challenging. Models of OA are necessary to identify specific targets for therapy and to be able to interfere with the development and evolution of OA. This study aims to assess the effect of an arthroscopic tenotomy of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) and section of the anterior glenohumeral joint capsule on the ovine glenohumeral joint. In addition, the authors aim to validate and evaluate the reliability of a modified semi-quantitative MRI score to assess joint degeneration in a sheep’s shoulder. Eight skeletally mature sheep received an arthroscopic tenotomy of the LHBT and section of the anterior joint capsule and were euthanized four months after surgery. All animals tolerated the surgery well, and no complication was recorded for six weeks. Moderate degenerative changes to the ovine shoulder joint were found on MRI and histological evaluation. The arthroscopic tenotomy of the LHBT and the anterior glenohumeral joint capsule section caused moderate degenerative changes to the ovine shoulder joint.

Introduction of the Carotenoid Biosynthesis α-Branch Into Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 for Lutein Production.

Lutein, made by the α-branch of the methyl-erythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway, is one of the most abundant xanthophylls in plants. It is involved in the structural stabilization of light-harvesting complexes, transfer of excitation energy to chlorophylls and photoprotection. In contrast, lutein and the α-branch of the MEP pathway are not present in cyanobacteria. In this study, we genetically engineered the cyanobacterium Synechocystis for the missing MEP α-branch resulting in lutein accumulation. A cassette comprising four Arabidopsis thaliana genes coding for two lycopene cyclases (AtLCYe and AtLCYb) and two hydroxylases (AtCYP97A and AtCYP97C) was introduced into a Synechocystis strain that lacks the endogenous, cyanobacterial lycopene cyclase cruA. The resulting synlut strain showed wild-type growth and only moderate changes in total pigment composition under mixotrophic conditions, indicating that the cruA deficiency can be complemented by Arabidopsis lycopene cyclases leaving the endogenous β-branch intact. A combination of liquid chromatography, UV-Vis detection and mass spectrometry confirmed a low but distinct synthesis of lutein at rates of 4.8 ± 1.5 nmol per liter culture at OD730 (1.03 ± 0.47 mmol mol–1 chlorophyll). In conclusion, synlut provides a suitable platform to study the α-branch of the plastidic MEP pathway and other functions related to lutein in a cyanobacterial host system.

Moderate Alcohol Intake Changes Visual Perception by Enhancing V1 Inhibitory Surround Interactions.

Moderate alcohol consumption is considered to enhance the cortical GABA-ergic inhibitory system and it also variously affects visual perception. However, little behavioral evidence indicates changes of visual perception due to V1 modulated by alcohol intoxication. In this study, we investigated this issue by using center-surround tilt illusion (TI) as a probe of V1 inhibitory interactions, by taking into account possible higher-order effects. Participants conducted TI measures under sober, moderate alcohol intoxication, and placebo states. We found alcohol significantly increased repulsive TI effect and weakened orientation discrimination performance, which is consistent with the increase of lateral inhibition between orientation sensitive V1 neurons caused by alcohol intoxication. We also observed no visible changes in the data for global orientation processing but a presence of global attentional modulation. Thus, our results provide psychophysics evidence that alcohol changed V1 processing, which affects visual perception of contextual stimuli.