Linking carbon and nitrogen metabolism to depth distribution of submersed macrophytes using high ammonium dosing tests and a lake survey

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Restoration of a subtropical eutrophic shallow lake in China: effects on nutrient concentrations and biological communities

Disturbances caused by rainfall are common in streams with the impact on stream inhabitants determined by the frequency, intensity, and predictability of the event. Here, we examine the response of winter-emerging Chironomidae (Diptera) to extreme flooding disturbance. In August of 2007, a severe flood impacted southeastern Minnesota, imparting stress on aquatic communities. Chironomid pupal exuviae collections were obtained biweekly from 18 southeast Minnesota streams during the following winter to assess resistance and resilience of winter-active chironomids to flooding. Streams examined were divided into moderate (2.5–10 cm), heavy (10–20 cm), or extreme (20+ cm) rainfall categories with rainfall amounts in each category representing total precipitation during the 3-day storm. Post-flood samples were compared to samples obtained from the same localities during prior winters. Our findings contradict studies of responses by Chironomidae to flooding during warmer-water conditions and show that winter-emerging Chironomidae are resistant to stress imposed by summer spates. Significantly more taxa emerged during winter after flooding as compared to historic collections, and the number of species emerging in winter was positively correlated with rainfall severity, indicating that 15 species responded opportunistically to disturbance. This indicates that winter-active Chironomidae may be resistant to increased severity of summer spates associated with climate change predictions.     

The effect of benthic algae on phosphorus exchange between sediment and overlying water in shallow lakes: a microcosm study using 32P as a tracer

Sediments are of key importance in determining the nutrient levels of water in shallow lakes as they can act as either source or sink for phosphorus (P) depending on environmental conditions, sediment characteristics, and external nutrient loading. We examined the role of benthic algae in the P cycling between sediment and overlying water in experiments using ³²P as a tracer. Sediment and water samples were collected from Huizhou West Lake, a shallow, eutrophic waterbody located in Huizhou City, South China. Laboratory cultured benthic algae were transferred to cover the sediment core in tubes. When ³²P was added to the water in experimental tubes containing sediment cores with and without benthic algae, ³²P activity after 48 h was significantly lower in the tubes with algae, indicating that benthic algae removed P from the overlying water. When the tracer was injected into the sediment, ³²P activity in the water overlying sediment with benthic algae was substantially lower than in tubes with naked sediment, suggesting that benthic algae reduce the release of sediment P. Oxygen levels were significantly higher in the upper 3 mm of the sediments covered by benthic algae; thus, we hypothesized that oxygen produced by the algae helps inhibit the release of P from the sediment. Our study demonstrates that benthic algae are capable of reducing P levels in water overlying the sediment, suggesting that loss of benthic algae during eutrophication triggered by impoverished light conditions may accelerate the shift in shallow lakes from a clear water to a turbid state.     

Variation in fish community structure, richness, and diversity in 56 Danish lakes with contrasting depth, size, and trophic state: does the method matter?

Organisms inhabiting shallow near-shore waters are at risk of desiccation during water level fluctuations. Using laboratory experiments, we investigated the survival and behavioural defences of four freshwater amphipod species during substratum drying: three Ponto-Caspian invaders (Pontogammarus robustoides, Dikerogammarus haemobaphes and Dikerogammarus villosus) and the native Gammarus fossarum. We hypothesized that they would be able to survive air exposure events as well as to adjust their behaviour by following the decreasing water level and/or burying in the sediments. To test these hypotheses, we examined survival of each species on gradually drying sandy substratum as well as their horizontal and vertical migration behaviours. P. robustoides was most resistant to substratum drying and was the only species burying into the substratum. On the other hand, G. fossarum exhibited distinct horizontal migrations following the retreating waterline. These two species seem to be particularly well adapted to the drying environment. Defence mechanisms of D. haemobaphes and D. villosus were less efficient, though the former species also followed the retreating waterline to some extent. Our study demonstrates that exotic and native gammarids have several adaptations that enable them to invade and persist in habitats experiencing common water level fluctuations.     

Using a Human Challenge Model of Infection to Measure Vaccine Efficacy: A Randomised,Controlled Trial Comparing the Typhoid Vaccines M01ZH09 with Placebo and Ty21a

BackgroundTyphoid persists as a major cause of global morbidity. While several licensed vaccines to prevent typhoid are available, they are of only moderate efficacy and unsuitable for use in children less than two years of age. Development of new efficacious vaccines is complicated by the human host-restriction of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) and lack of clear correlates of protection. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the protective efficacy of a single dose of the oral vaccine candidate, M01ZH09, in susceptible volunteers by direct typhoid challenge.ConclusionsDespite successfully demonstrating the use of a human challenge study to directly evaluate vaccine efficacy, a single-dose M01ZH09 failed to demonstrate significant protection after challenge with virulent Salmonella Typhi in this model. Anti-Vi antibody detected prior to vaccination played a major role in outcome after challenge.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov ({"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01405521","term_id":"NCT01405521"}}NCT01405521) and EudraCT (number 2011-000381-35).     

Potential role of muscarinic receptors in schizophrenia

The role of muscarinic receptors in schizophrenia was investigated using the muscarinic agonist PTAC. PTAC was highly selective for muscarinic receptors, was a partial agonist at muscarinic M2/M4 receptors and an antagonist at M1, M3 and M5 receptors. PTAC was highly active in animal models predictive of antipsychotic behavior including inhibition of conditioned avoidance responding in rats and blockade of apomorphine-induced climbing behavior in mice. d-Amphetamine-induced Fos expression in rat nucleus accumbens was inhibited by PTAC, thus directly demonstrating the ability of PTAC to modulate DA activity. In electrophysiological studies in rats, PTAC acutely inhibited the firing of A10 DA cells and after chronic administration decreased the number of spontaneously firing DA cells in the A10 brain area. However, PTAC did not appreciably alter the firing of A9 DA cells. Thus, PTAC appears to have novel antipsychotic-like activity and these data suggest that muscarinic compounds such as PTAC may represent a new class of antipsychotic agents.     

2-(oxalylamino)-benzoic acid is a general, competitive inhibitor of protein-tyrosine phosphatases

Protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are critically involved in regulation of signal transduction processes. Members of this class of enzymes are considered attractive therapeutic targets in several disease states, e.g. diabetes, cancer, and inflammation. However, most reported PTP inhibitors have been phosphorus-containing compounds, tight binding inhibitors, and/or inhibitors that covalently modify the enzymes. We therefore embarked on identifying a general, reversible, competitive PTP inhibitor that could be used as a common scaffold for lead optimization for specific PTPs. We here report the identification of 2-(oxalylamino)-benzoic acid (OBA) as a classical competitive inhibitor of several PTPs. X-ray crystallography of PTP1B complexed with OBA and related non-phosphate low molecular weight derivatives reveals that the binding mode of these molecules to a large extent mimics that of the natural substrate including hydrogen bonding to the PTP signature motif. In addition, binding of OBA to the active site of PTP1B creates a unique arrangement involving Asp(181), Lys(120), and Tyr(46). PTP inhibitors are essential tools in elucidating the biological function of specific PTPs and they may eventually be developed into selective drug candidates. The unique enzyme kinetic features and the low molecular weight of OBA makes it an ideal starting point for further optimization.     

Effects of early weaning and housing conditions on the development of stereotypies in farmed mink

Female mink pups were weaned at 6, 8 or 10 weeks of age and subjected to two different housing conditions. They were either kept together with a single male sibling in traditional mink cages (30x45x90 cm) or housed socially with all litter-mates in an alternative system consisting of three adjoining traditional cages (90x45x90 cm). All cages were supplied with nest boxes. At 5 months of age, the siblings were removed leaving the females socially isolated in the two different cage systems. Females' stereotypies were quantified by repeated scanning observations under the social housing conditions immediately before removal of the siblings, and again at the age of 7 and 9 months, when the animals had stayed solitary in the two systems for 2 and 4 months. Solitary females showed significantly more stereotypies than females under social housing conditions in both cage systems. Stereotypies were more frequent in the smaller traditional cages. Stereotypies declined from 7 to 9 months of age among solitary animals in traditional cages but not in alternative cages. Early-weaned solitary females in traditional cages showed more stereotypies than later-weaned animals, but only when measured at the age of 7 months. It is suggested that early weaning, individual housing and small cages promote the development of stereotypies in farmed mink. The influence of early weaning on stereotypies seems to decline with age, while effects related to individual housing and small cages appear to be more persistent.     

Biomanipulation as an Application of Food-Chain Theory: Constraints, Synthesis, and Recommendations for Temperate Lakes

The aim of this review is to identify problems, find general patterns, and extract recommendations for successful biomanipulation. An important conclusion is that the pelagic food chain from fish to algae may not be the only process affected by a biomanipulation. Instead, this process should be viewed as the “trigger” for secondary processes, such as establishment of submerged macrophytes, reduced internal loading of nutrients, and reduced resuspension of particles from the sediment. However, fish reduction also leads to a high recruitment of young-of-the-year (YOY) fish, which feed extensively on zooplankton. This expansion of YOY the first years after fish reduction is probably a major reason for less successful biomanipulations. Recent, large-scale biomanipulations have made it possible to update earlier recommendations regarding when, where, and how biomanipulation should be performed. More applicable recommendations include (1) the reduction in the biomass of planktivorous fish should be 75% or more; (2) the fish reduction should be performed efficiently and rapidly (within 1–3 years); (3) efforts should be made to reduce the number of benthic feeding fish; (4) the recruitment of YOY fish should be reduced; (5) the conditions for establishment of submerged macrophytes should be improved; and (6) the external input of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) should be reduced as much as possible before the biomanipulation. Recent biomanipulations have shown that, correctly performed, the method also achieves results in large, relatively deep and eutrophic lakes, at least in a 5-year perspective. Although repeated measures may be necessary, the general conclusion is that biomanipulation is not only possible, but also a relatively inexpensive and attractive method for management of eutrophic lakes, and in particular as a follow-up measure to reduced nutrient load. Received 14 April 1998; accepted 31 August 1998     

Higher Serum Concentrations of N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Associate with Prevalent Hypertension whereas Lower Associate with Incident Hypertension

BackgroundThe role of the natriuretic peptides (NPs) in hypertension is complex. Thus, a higher blood NP concentration is a robust marker of pressure-induced cardiac damage in patients with hypertension, whereas genetically elevated NP concentrations are associated with a reduced risk of hypertension and overweight individuals presumably at high risk of hypertension have lower NP concentrations.ObjectiveTo investigate the associations between serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), used as a surrogate marker for active BNP, and prevalent as well as 5-year incident hypertension in a Danish general population sample.MethodsCross-sectional and prospective population-based study.ResultsAt baseline, among 5,307 participants (51.3% women, mean age 46.0±7.9 years) with a complete set of data, we recorded 1,979 cases with prevalent hypertension (PHT). Among 2,389 normotensive participants at baseline with a complete set of data, we recorded 324 cases with incident hypertension (IHT) on follow-up 5 years later. In models adjusted for age, sex, lifestyle, social, dietary, anthropometric, pulmonic, lipid, metabolic and renal risk factors, as well as heart rate and baseline blood pressure (only incident model), one standard deviation increase in baseline log-transformed NT-proBNP concentrations was on one side associated with a 21% higher risk of PHT (odds ratio [OR]: 1.21 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-1.30], P<0.001), and on the other side with a 14% lower risk of IHT (OR: 0.86 [95%CI:0.76-0.98], P = 0.020).ConclusionsHigher serum concentrations of NT-proBNP associate with PHT whereas lower concentrations associate with IHT. This suggests that a lower amount of circulating BNP, resulting in diminished vasodilation and natriuresis, could be involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension in its early stages.