Stop and Go – Waves of Tarsier Dispersal Mirror the Genesis of Sulawesi Island

The Indonesian island of Sulawesi harbors a highly endemic and diverse fauna sparking fascination since long before Wallace’s contemplation of biogeographical patterns in the region. Allopatric diversification driven by geological or climatic processes has been identified as the main mechanism shaping present faunal distribution on the island. There is both consensus and conflict among range patterns of terrestrial species pointing to the different effects of vicariant events on once co-distributed taxa. Tarsiers, small nocturnal primates with possible evidence of an Eocene fossil record on the Asian mainland, are at present exclusively found in insular Southeast Asia. Sulawesi is hotspot of tarsier diversity, whereby island colonization and subsequent radiation of this old endemic primate lineage remained largely enigmatic. To resolve the phylogeographic history of Sulawesi tarsiers we analyzed an island-wide sample for a set of five approved autosomal phylogenetic markers (ABCA1, ADORA3, AXIN1, RAG1, and TTR) and the paternally inherited SRY gene. We constructed ML and Bayesian phylogenetic trees and estimated divergence times between tarsier populations. We found that their arrival at the Proto-Sulawesi archipelago coincided with initial Miocene tectonic uplift and hypothesize that tarsiers dispersed over the region in distinct waves. Intra-island diversification was spurred by land emergence and a rapid succession of glacial cycles during the Plio-Pleistocene. Some tarsier range boundaries concur with spatial limits in other taxa backing the notion of centers of faunal endemism on Sulawesi. This congruence, however, has partially been superimposed by taxon-specific dispersal patterns.     

Correlation of C4ST-1 and ChGn-2 expression with chondroitin sulfate chain elongation in atherosclerosis

Subendothelial retention of lipoproteins by proteoglycans (PGs) is the initiating event in atherosclerosis. The elongation of chondroitin sulfate (CS) chains is associated with increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) binding and progression of atherosclerosis. Recently, it has been shown that 2 Golgi enzymes, chondroitin 4-O-sulfotransferase-1 (C4ST-1) and chondroitin N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-2 (ChGn-2), play a critical role in CS chain elongation. However, the roles of C4ST-1 and ChGn-2 during the progression of atherosclerosis are not known. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of C4ST-1 and ChGn-2 in atherosclerotic lesions in vivo and determine whether their expression correlated with CS chain elongation.Low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout (LDLr KO) mice were fed a western diet for 2, 4, and 8 weeks to stimulate development of atherosclerosis. The binding of LDL and CS PG in this mouse model was confirmed by chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) digestion and apolipoprotein B (apo B) staining. Gel filtration analysis revealed that the CS chains began to elongate as early as 2 weeks after beginning a western diet and continued as the atherosclerosis progressed. Furthermore, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) showed that the mRNA levels of C4ST-1 and ChGn-2 increased after 8 weeks of this diet. In contrast, the mRNA levels of their homologs, C4ST-2 and ChGn-1, were unchanged. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the expression of C4ST-1 and ChGn-2 appeared to have similar site-specific patterns and coincided with biglycan expression at the aortic root.Our results suggested that C4ST-1 and ChGn-2 may be involved in the elongation of CS chains in the arterial wall during the progression of atherosclerosis. Therefore, modulating their expression and activity might be a novel therapeutic strategy for atherosclerosis.     

The haemocytic origin of lymphoid organ spheroid cells in the penaeid prawn Penaeus monodon

Studies on lymphoid organ spheroid (LOS) cells of Penaeus monodon were undertaken. Phenoloxidase and peroxidase assays showed that LOS cells have characteristics similar to semi-granular and, in particular, large granular haemocytes. The mean percentage of LOS cells positive for phenoloxidase and peroxidase was 85 +/- 23 and 82 +/- 23%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the sites of phenoloxidase and peroxidase activity in LOS cells (t = 1.617, df = 29, p > 0.05). The relative sectional area occupied by LOS cells relative to that of the stromal matrix cells from both laboratory-held and farmed prawns was not correlated to increasing weight or total length of the prawns (p > 0.05). An apoptosis detection assay showed that LOS cells were often apoptotic whilst stromal matrix cells were not. There was a significant difference (t = -5.533, df = 58, p < 0.05) in the mean percentage of apoptotic spheroid cells between laboratory-held prawns (52 +/- 24%) and farmed prawns with midcrop mortality syndrome (MCMS) (80 +/- 12%). In conclusion, LOS cells have the characteristics of exocytosed, granular haemocytes that have phagocytosed foreign material, particularly viruses, and probably constitute a major mechanism for penaeid antiviral defense.     

Correlation of C4ST-1 and ChGn-2 expression with chondroitin sulfate chain elongation in atherosclerosis

Mxi1, a member of the Myc–Max–Mad network, is an antagonist of the c-Myc oncogene and is associated with excessive cell proliferation. Abnormal cell proliferation and tumorigenesis are observed in organs of Mxi1−/− mice. However, the Mxi1-reltaed mechanism of proliferation is unclear. The present study utilized microarray analysis using Mxi1 mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) to identify genes associated with cell proliferation. Among these genes, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) was selected as a candidate gene for real-time PCR to ascertain whether IGFBP-3 expression is regulated by Mxi1. Expression of IGFBP-3 was decreased in Mxi1−/− MEFs and Mxi1−/− mice, and the gene was regulated by Mxi1 in Mxi1 MEFs. Furthermore, proliferation pathways related to IGFBP-3 were regulated in Mxi1−/− mice compared to Mxi1+/+ mice. To determine the effect of Mxi1 inactivation on the induction of cell proliferation, a proliferation assay is performed in both Mxi1 MEFs and Mxi1 mice. Cell viability was regulated by Mxi1 in Mxi1 MEFs and number of PCNA-positive cells was increased in Mxi1−/− mice compared to Mxi1+/+ mice. Moreover, the IGFBP-3 level was decreased in proliferation defect regions in Mxi1−/− mice. The results support the suggestion that inactivation of Mxi1 has a positive effect on cell proliferation by down-regulating IGFBP-3.     

The Relevance of Circular Economy Practices to the Sustainable Development Goals

This paper identifies the extent to which circular economy (CE) practices are relevant for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The results of a literature review and a matching exercise to determine the relationship between CE practices and SDG targets show that CE practices, potentially, can contribute directly to achieving a significant number of SDG targets. The strongest relationships exist between CE practices and the targets of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The paper also explores synergies that can be created through CE practices among several of the SDG targets. Furthermore, it identifies several potential trade‐offs between targets for decent work, safe working environments, human health and current CE practices relating to recycling of municipal waste, e‐waste and wastewater, and provides suggestions how these can be overcome. The paper concludes that CE practices can be applied as a “toolbox” and specific implementation approaches for achieving a sizeable number of SDG targets. Further empirical research is necessary to determine which specific types of partnerships and means of implementation are required to apply CE practices in the SDG context.     

Ovitrap surveillance of dengue vector mosquitoes in Bandung City,West Java Province,Indonesia

Larval surveillance is the central approach for monitoring dengue vector populations in Indonesia. However, traditional larval indices are ineffective for measuring mosquito population dynamics and predicting the dengue transmission risk. We conducted a 14-month ovitrap surveillance. Eggs and immature mosquitoes were collected on a weekly basis from an urban village of Bandung, namely Sekejati. Ovitrap-related indices, namely positive house index (PHI), ovitrap index (OI), and ovitrap density index (ODI), were generated and correlated with environmental variables, housing type (terraced or high-density housing), ovitrap placement location (indoor or outdoor; household or public place), and local dengue cases. Our results demonstrated that Aedes aegypti was significantly predominant compared with Aedes albopictus at each housing type and ovitrap placement location. Ovitrap placement locations and rainfall were the major factors contributing to variations in PHI, OI, and ODI, whereas the influences of housing type and temperature were subtle. Indoor site values were significantly positively correlated to outdoor sites’ values for both OI and ODI. OI and ODI values from households were best predicted with those from public places at 1- and 0-week lags, respectively. Weekly rainfall values at 4- and 3-week lags were the best predictors of OI and ODI for households and public places, respectively. Monthly mean PHI, OI, and ODI were significantly associated with local dengue cases. In conclusion, ovitrap may be an effective tool for monitoring the population dynamics of Aedes mosquitoes, predicting dengue outbreaks, and serving as an early indicator to initiate environmental clean-up. Ovitrap surveillance is easy for surveyors if they are tasked with a certain number of ovitraps at a designated area, unlike the existing larval surveillance methodology, which entails identifying potential breeding sites largely at the surveyors’ discretion. Ovitrap surveillance may reduce the influence of individual effort in larval surveillance that likely causes inconsistency in results.     

Characterization of Bacillus halodurans alpha-galactosidase Mel4A encoded by the mel4A gene (BH2228)

A family-4 alpha-galactosidase Mel4A of Bacillus halodurans was expressed in Escherichia coli and characterized. Recombinant enzyme rMel4A depended on NAD+, some divalent cations such as Mn2+, and reducing reagents such as dithiothreitol. rMel4A was active on small saccharides such as raffinose but not on highly polymerized galactomannan. Immunological analysis indicated that raffinose induced the production of Mel4A in B. halodurans.     

Characterization and Modeling of Thermostable GH50 Agarases from Microbulbifer elongatus PORT2

Marine Biotechnology - Viewing the considerable potential of marine agar as a source for the sustainable production of energy as well as nature-derived pharmaceutics, this work investigated the...     

The Fishery Performance Indicators: A Management Tool for Triple Bottom Line Outcomes

Pursuit of the triple bottom line of economic, community and ecological sustainability has increased the complexity of fishery management; fisheries assessments require new types of data and analysis to guide science-based policy in addition to traditional biological information and modeling. We introduce the Fishery Performance Indicators (FPIs), a broadly applicable and flexible tool for assessing performance in individual fisheries, and for establishing cross-sectional links between enabling conditions, management strategies and triple bottom line outcomes. Conceptually separating measures of performance, the FPIs use 68 individual outcome metrics—coded on a 1 to 5 scale based on expert assessment to facilitate application to data poor fisheries and sectors—that can be partitioned into sector-based or triple-bottom-line sustainability-based interpretative indicators. Variation among outcomes is explained with 54 similarly structured metrics of inputs, management approaches and enabling conditions. Using 61 initial fishery case studies drawn from industrial and developing countries around the world, we demonstrate the inferential importance of tracking economic and community outcomes, in addition to resource status.