Canopy tree mortality depends on the proportion of crown exposed to sunlight,but this effect varies with species' wood density

Understanding what drives changes in tree mortality as well as the covariates influencing trees' response is a research priority to predict forest responses to global change. Here, we combined drone photogrammetry and ground-based data to assess the influence of crown exposure to light (relative to total crown area), growth deviations (relative to conspecifics), tree size, and species' wood density (as a surrogate for light-demanding and shade-tolerant life-history strategies) on the mortality of 984 canopy trees in an Amazon terra firme forest. Trees with lower wood density were less prone to die when their proportion of crown was more exposed to sunlight, but this relationship with relative crown exposure weakened and slightly reversed as wood density increased. Trees growing less than their species average had higher mortality, especially when the species' wood density decreased. The role of wood density in determining the survival of canopy trees under varying light conditions indicates differential responses of light-demanding versus shade-tolerant species. Our results highlight the importance of accounting for life-history strategies, via plant functional types, in vegetation dynamic models aiming to predict forest demography under a rapidly changing climate. Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.     

Dihydroisocoumarins and phthalide from wood samples infested by fungi

Wood samples, infested by fungi during storage, were shown to contain, besides the known 5-methyl-mellein, additional (3R)-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarins substituted by 7-methyl, 5-formyl, 5-carboxy, 5-hydroxy, 5-methoxy, 6-methoxy-5-methyl and 6,7-dimethoxy-5-methyl groups, as well as 6-formyl-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-4-methylphthalide. Several 2-methylchromanones were synthesized in order to show that this class of compounds can be distinguished from 3-methyl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarins by MS.     

Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity-mediated serotherapy against murine neuroblastoma

Summary The in vitro and in vivo activity has been investigated of antisera prepared against a murine (C-1300) neuroblastoma line (MNB) capable of differentiation. An antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) reaction was employed using rat spleen cells (RSC). ADCC activity in vitro (using ⁵¹Cr-release) was shown, but a maximum of only 50% of the immunologically releasable ⁵¹Cr was achieved. Nevertheless, in vivo (syngeneic mouse-tumor flank assay) significant delays were obtained in tumor onset and lethality. Under ideal circumstances, i.e., coating of tumor cells prior to inoculation and high RSC effector cell ratios, a significant number of animals could be cured of substantial tumor burdens (10⁶ cells). While close proximity of the site of injection of effector cells was required (ectopic injections of RSC were ineffective), the anti-MNB ADCC was shown to be quite active in vivo without external precoating of the cells with antisera. RCS obtained from BCG-treated rats were more numerous and slightly more effective. RSC obtained from -radiated animals retained normal activity. With appropriate antisera this approach could be useful under selected clinical circumstances.     

Life cycle assessment of electricity transmission and distribution—part 1: power lines and cables

Purpose  

The purpose of this study is to provide life cycle inventory data and results for components of electrical grids to the larger community of life cycle assessment practitioners. This article is the first in a series of two, each focusing on different components of power grids. In part 1, the objects under scope are power lines and cables. Systems for overhead, underground, and subsea transmission are modeled here, including HVDC systems used in long-distance transmission.     

Imatinib mesylate affects extracellular ATP catabolism and expression of NTPDases in a chronic myeloid leukemia cell line

Purinergic Signalling - Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm, characterized by the occurrence of the t(9;22)(q34;q11) translocation. First-line therapy for CML consists...     

E-cadherin deregulation in breast cancer

E-cadherin protein (CDH1 gene) integrity is fundamental to the process of epithelial polarization and differentiation. Deregulation of the E-cadherin function plays a crucial role in breast cancer metastases, with worse prognosis and shorter overall survival. In this narrative review, we describe the inactivating mechanisms underlying CDH1 gene activity and its possible translation to clinical practice as a prognostic biomarker and as a potential targeted therapy.     

Acidithiobacillus ferrianus sp. nov.: an ancestral extremely acidophilic and facultatively anaerobic chemolithoautotroph

Strain MG, isolated from an acidic pond sediment on the island of Milos (Greece), is proposed as a novel species of ferrous iron- and sulfur-oxidizing Acidithiobacillus. Currently, four of the eight validated species of this genus oxidize ferrous iron, and strain MG shares many key characteristics with these four, including the capacities for catalyzing the oxidative dissolution of pyrite and for anaerobic growth via ferric iron respiration. Strain MG also grows aerobically on hydrogen and anaerobically on hydrogen coupled to ferric iron reduction. While the 16S rRNA genes of the iron-oxidizing Acidi-thiobacillus species (and strain MG) are located in a distinct phylogenetic clade and are closely related (98–99% 16S rRNA gene identity), genomic relatedness indexes (ANI/dDDH) revealed strong genomic divergence between strain MG and all sequenced type strains of the taxon, and placed MG as the first cultured representative of an ancestral phylotype of iron oxidizing acidithiobacilli. Strain MG is proposed as a novel species, Acidithiobacillus ferrianus sp. nov. The type strain is MG^T (= DSM 107098^T = JCM 33084^T). Similar strains have been found as isolates or indicated by cloned 16S rRNA genes from several mineral sulfide mine sites.

     

The Galactose-Binding Lectin Isolated from Vatairea macrocarpa Seeds Enhances the Effect of Antibiotics Against Staphylococcus aureus–Resistant Strain

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - The use of natural products together with standard antimicrobial drugs has recently received more attention as a strategy to combat infectious diseases...     

Evolutionary history of the European free-tailed bat,a tropical affinity species spanning across the Mediterranean Basin

The Mediterranean Basin is a global biodiversity hotspot, hosting a number of native species belonging to families that are found almost exclusively in tropical climates. Yet, whether or not these taxa were able to survive in the Mediterranean region during the Quaternary climatic oscillations remains unknown. Focusing on the European free-tailed bat (Tadarida teniotis), we aimed to (a) identify potential ancient populations and glacial refugia; (b) determine the post-glacial colonization routes across the Mediterranean; and (c) evaluate current population structure and demography. Mitochondrial and nuclear markers were used to understand T. teniotis evolutionary and demographic history. We show that T. teniotis is likely restricted to the Western Palearctic, with mitochondrial phylogeny suggesting a split between an Anatolian/Middle East clade and a European clade. Nuclear data pointed to three genetic populations, one of which is an isolated and highly differentiated group in the Canary Islands, another distributed across Iberia, Morocco, and France, and a third stretching from Italy to the east, with admixture following a pattern of isolation by distance. Evolutionary and demographic reconstruction supports a pre-Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) colonization of Italy and the Anatolian/Middle East, while the remaining populations were colonized from Italy after the Younger Dryas. We also found support for demographic expansion following the Iberian colonization. The results show that during the LGM T. teniotis persisted in Mediterranean refugia and has subsequently expanded to its current circum-Mediterranean range. Our findings raise questions regarding the physiological and ecological traits that enabled species with tropical affinities to survive in colder climates.