Climate change fingerprints in recent European plant phenology

A paper published in Global Change Biology in 2006 revealed that phenological responses in 1971–2000 matched the warming pattern in Europe, but a lack of chilling and adaptation in farming may have reversed these findings. Therefore, for 1951–2018 in a corresponding data set, we determined changes as linear trends and analysed their variation by plant traits/groups, across season and time as well as their attribution to warming following IPCC methodology. Although spring and summer phases in wild plants advanced less (maximum advances in 1978–2007), more (~90%) and more significant (~60%) negative trends were present, being stronger in early spring, at higher elevations, but smaller for nonwoody insect‐pollinated species. These trends were strongly attributable to winter and spring warming. Findings for crop spring phases were similar, but were less pronounced. There were clearer and attributable signs for a delayed senescence in response to winter and spring warming. These changes resulted in a longer growing season, but a constant generative period in wild plants and a shortened one in agricultural crops. Phenology determined by farmers’ decisions differed noticeably from the purely climatic driven phases with smaller percentages of advancing (~75%) trends, but farmers’ spring activities were the only group with reinforced advancement, suggesting adaptation. Trends in farmers’ spring and summer activities were very likely/likely associated with the warming pattern. In contrast, the advance in autumn farming phases was significantly associated with below average summer warming. Thus, under ongoing climate change with decreased chilling the advancing phenology in spring and summer is still attributable to warming; even the farmers’ activities in these seasons mirror, to a lesser extent, the warming. Our findings point to adaptation to climate change in agriculture and reveal diverse implications for terrestrial ecosystems; the strong attribution supports the necessary mediation of warming impacts to the general public.     

Modelling time‐varying low‐temperature‐induced mortality rates for pupae of Tuta absoluta (Gelechiidae,Lepidoptera)

In a series of laboratory experiments, acclimated pupae of Tuta absoluta were exposed to various constant low temperatures in order to estimate their maximum survival times (Kaplan–Meier, Lt_99.99). A Weibull function was fitted to the data points, describing maximum survival time as a function of temperature. In another experiment at ?6°C, the progress of mortality increasing with exposure time was identified. These values were fitted by a sigmoidal function converging asymptotically to 100% mortality for very long exposure times. Analysing mortality data from the maximum survival experiment by a generalized linear model showed a significant common slope parameter (p < .001) that reveals parallelism of the survival curves at each temperature if a log time axis is used. These curves appear stretched (time scaled) if plotted with a nonlogarithmic time axis. By combining these mathematical relations, it was possible to calculate a species‐specific ‘mortality surface’ which exhibits mortalities, depending on temperature and duration of exposure. In order to accumulate hourly mortalities for courses of varying temperatures, an algorithm was developed which yields mortality values from that surface taking into account the attained mortality level. In validation experiments, recorded mortalities were compared against modelled mortalities. Prediction of mortality was partially supported by the model, but pupae experiencing intensely fluctuating temperatures showed decreased mortality, probably caused by rapid cold hardening during exposure. Despite this observation, mortality data converged to distinct levels very close to 100% depending on the intensity of temperature fluctuations that were characteristic for different types of experiments. The highest mortality limit occurred at intensely fluctuating temperatures in laboratory experiments. This constituted a benchmark that was not reached under various field conditions. Thus, it was possible to identify temperature limits for the extinction of field populations of Tuta absoluta pupae.     

Ichnology and sedimentology of the early Permian deep-water deposits from the Lercara-Roccapalumba area (Western Sicily,Italy)

Summary Diverse and abundant trace fossils of the deep-waterNereites ichnofacies have been found in well-dated Early Permian deep-water turbidites (Lercara Formation) of western Sicily (Italy). Conodonts indicate a latest Artinskian to Cathedralian (late Early Permian) age. Microfossils (pelagic conodonts, albaillellid Radiolaria, paleopsychrospheric ostracods, foraminiferal associations dominated byBathysiphon), trace fossils (deep-bathyal to abyssalNereites ichnofacies) and sedimentologic data collectively indicate a deep-water environment for the Early Permian turbidites of the Lercara Formation. The dominance ofAgrichnium and of thePaleodictyon subichnogeneraSquamodictyon andMegadictyon suggests that this icnofauna is closely related in ichnotaxonomic composition to other late Paleozoic deep-water ichnofaunas. The occurrence ofAcanthorhaphe. Dendrotichnium andHelicoraphe, to date only reported from Cretaceous or Tertiary flysch deposits, suggests that the entire ichnofauna corresponds well to previously documented Silurian-Tertiary flysch ichnofaunas. Eight new ichnospecies and a new ichnosubgenus,Megadictyon, are described.     

H2 Production by Selenomonas ruminantium in the Absence and Presence of Methanogenic Bacteria

Selenomonas ruminantium is a nonsporeforming anaerobe that ferments carbohydrates primarily to lactate, propionate, acetate and CO₂. H₂ production by this species has not been previously reported. We found, however, that some strains produce trace amounts of H₂ which can be detected by sensitive gas chromatographic procedures. H₂ production is increased markedly, in some cases almost 100-fold, when the selenomonads are co-cultured with methane-producing bacteria. Growth of the methane-producing bacteria depends on H₂ production by the selenomonads and the subsequent use of H₂ for the reduction of CO₂ to CH₄. Although no free H₂ accumulates in the mixed cultures, the amount of H₂ formed by the selenomonads can be calculated from the amount of methane produced. These studies indicate that the conventional methods for measuring H₂ production by pure cultures do not provide an adequate estimate of an organism's potential for forming H₂ in an anaerobic ecosystem where H₂ is rapidly used, e.g., for formation of CH₄.     

Nutritional Requirements of Selenomonas ruminantium for Growth on Lactate, Glycerol, or Glucose

The nutritional requirements of Selenomonas ruminantium HD4 for growth on glucose, glycerol, or lactate were investigated to clarify the results of previous studies and to relate the nutrition of the organism to its physiology. The organism required l-aspartate, CO(2), p-aminobenzoic acid, and biotin for growth on a lactate-salts medium that contained small amounts of dithiothreitol. Aspartate could be replaced by l-malate or fumarate but not by succinate or l-asparagine. Requirements for growth with glycerol as an energy source were similar, except that aspartate was not required. With glucose as the energy source, neither aspartate nor p-aminobenzoic acid was required, but a requirement for volatile fatty acids, which could be met by n-valerate, was observed. CO(2) was required for growth on lactate or glycerol but not on glucose on complex media containing Trypticase and yeast extract. Sulfide could be used as the sole source of sulfur.     

Die Identität von Loroxanthin mit Pyrenoxanthin,Trollein und Trihydroxy-α-Carotin

Zusammenfassung 1. Aus den GrünalgenScenedesmus acutus, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Chlamydomonas reinhardii, Cladophora fracta undC. glomerata konnte ein Trihydroxyxanthophyll isoliert werden. 2. Mit saurem Methanol konnte ein Di?ther und von diesem noch ein Monoacetat erhalten werden. Das freie Pigment lieferte ein Triacetat, das nicht silanierbar war. 3. Oxydation des Triacetats mit Monoperphthals?ure brachte ein Monoepoxid, das unter S?ureeinflu? furanoid wurde. Das galt auch für den rotgef?rbten Aldehyd, der aus dem Epoxi-xanthophyll mittels p-Chloranil zug?nglich war. Der Aldehyd lieferte nur noch ein Diacetat. 4. Die Daten, die aus Kernresonanz, Massen- und Infrarot-Spektren und den chemischen Reaktionen gewonnen wurden, lie?en eine v?llige übereinstimmung mit Loroxanthin erkennen.

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The identity of loroxanthin with pyrenoxanthin, trollein and trihydroxi-α-carotene

Summary 1. FromScenedesmus acutus, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Chlamydomonas reinhardii, Cladophora fracta andCladophora glomerata a trihydroxi-xanthophyll has been isolated. 2. With acidic methanol a diether, from this a monoacetate was obtained. Acetylation of the free pigment yielded a triacetate, the silylation of which was unsuccessful. 3. Oxidation of the triacetate with monoperphthalic acid gave a monoepoxide, which became furanoid after treatment with acidic ethanol. This was the same with the red epoxidic aldehyde, obtained by p-chloroanil oxidation. 4. NMR, mass and infrared spectra and chemical reactions were identical with those reported for loroxanthin.

     

Anticoagulation in large-volume leukapheresis: comparison between citrate- versus heparin-based anticoagulation on safety and CD34 (+) cell collection efficiency

Background aimsLittle is known of the effect of anticoagulation on peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) harvest during large-volume leukapheresis (LVL). Because of the interaction of heparin with stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1α, it has been proposed that a heparin-based anticoagulation may result in an increased PBPC collection efficiency compared with standard citrate-based anticoagulation.MethodsWe conducted a prospective randomized trial to address the effect of both anticoagulation regimes on safety, subjective comfort and CD34 ⁺ collection efficiency in 90 adult patients undergoing standardized LVL. Anticoagulation consisted of either citrate (group C) or a combination of heparin and low-dose citrate (group H).ResultsThe overall incidence of adverse reactions (AR) during LVL was 17%. AR consisted only of citrate-related AR; no bleeding complications were observed. Determination of parameters of the acid–base balance revealed a higher frequency of metabolic alkalosis in group C. Analysis of serum SDF-1α revealed no differences in SDF-1α plasma levels. There were no differences in the CD34 ⁺ cell collection efficiency, resulting in the harvest of equal CD34 ⁺ cell yields independent of the anticoagulation used.ConclusionsOur data show no clinical relevant effect of a heparin containing anticoagulation in terms of an increased overall CD34 ⁺ cell collection during LVL, although this regime shows some benefits in terms of the incidence and subjective tolerance towards AR. Based on our results the decision between a citrate- and heparin-substituted anticoagulation for LVL should be driven by patient-related factors, and should concern potential contraindications of both methods.     

Propionate Formation from Cellulose and Soluble Sugars by Combined Cultures of Bacteroides succinogenes and Selenomonas ruminantium

Succinate is formed as an intermediate but not as a normal end product of the bovine rumen fermentation. However, numerous rumen bacteria are present, e.g., Bacteroides succinogenes, which produce succinate as a major product of carbohydrate fermentation. Selenomonas ruminantium, another rumen species, produces propionate via the succinate or randomizing pathway. These two organisms were co-cultured to determine if S. ruminantium could decarboxylate succinate produced by B. succinogenes. When energy sources used competitively by both species, i.e. glucose or cellobiose, were employed, no succinate was found in combined cultures, although a significant amount was expected from the numbers of Bacteroides present. The propionate production per S. ruminantium was significantly greater in combined than in single S. ruminantium cultures, which indicated that S. ruminantium was decarboxylating the succinate produced by B. succinogenes. S. ruminantium, which does not use cellulose, grew on cellulose when co-cultured with B. succinogenes. Succinate, but not propionate, was produced from cellulose by B. succinogenes alone. Propionate, but no succinate, accumulated when the combined cultures were grown on cellulose. These interspecies interactions are models for the rumen ecosystem interactions involved in the production of succinate by one species and its decarboxylation to propionate by a second species.     

A defect in dolichol phosphate biosynthesis causes a new inherited disorder with death in early infancy

The following study describes the discovery of a new inherited metabolic disorder, dolichol kinase (DK1) deficiency. DK1 is responsible for the final step of the de novo biosynthesis of dolichol phosphate. Dolichol phosphate is involved in several glycosylation reactions, such as N-glycosylation, glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor biosynthesis, and C- and O-mannosylation. We identified four patients who were homozygous for one of two mutations (c.295T-->A [99Cys-->Ser] or c.1322A-->C [441Tyr-->Ser]) in the corresponding hDK1 gene. The residual activity of mutant DK1 was 2%-4% when compared with control cells. The mutated alleles failed to complement the temperature-sensitive phenotype of DK1-deficient yeast cells, whereas the wild-type allele restored the normal growth phenotype. Affected patients present with a very severe clinical phenotype, with death in early infancy. Two of the patients died from dilative cardiomyopathy.