Differential Scanning Calorimetry of Unfreezable Water in Water–Protein–Polyol Systems

The amount of unfreezable water in lysozyme and bovine serum albumin in aqueous solutions of xylitol, sorbitol, glucose and sucrose was estimated by a differential scanning calorimeter according to new analytical methods. The antemelting point of aqueous polyol solutions seemed to shift to a higher temperature upon addition of protein, but the incipient melting point was not affected by the coexisting protein. The amount of unfreezable water in both proteins, as well as the heat of fusion of ice, decreased with increasing polyol concentration, regardless of the kind of polyols added. On the basis of these results, the solvation structure of the protein in these three-component systems and the mechanism of the polyol-induced stabilization of protein were discussed assuming protein–polyol interactions.     

Impact of external forces on cyanophage–host interactions in aquatic ecosystems

Cyanobacterial (algal) blooms have by convention been attributed to the excessive level of nutrients from pollution and runoff, which promotes the rapid growth and multiplication of cyanobacteria or algae. The cyanophage (virus) is the natural predator of cyanobacteria (the host). The aim of this review is to unveil certain pressures that disrupt cyanophage–host interactions and the formation of cyanobacterial blooms. This review focuses principally on the impact of greenhouse gases, ozone depletion, solar ultraviolet radiation (SUR) and the role of recently discovered virophages, which coexist with and in turn are the natural predator of phages. The key findings are that the increase in SUR, the mutation of cyanophages and cyanobacteria, along with changing nutrient levels, have combined with virophages to impede cyanophage–host interactions and the resultant viral infection and killing of the cyanobacterial cell, which is a necessary step in controlling cyanobacterial blooms. Consider this a ‘call to action’ for researchers interested in corrective action aimed at evolving aquatic ecosystems.     

Oxidation reactivity of zinc–cysteine clusters in metallothionein

Evaluating the reactivity of the metal–thiolate clusters in metallothionein (MT) is a key step in understanding the biological functions of this protein. The effects of the metal clustering and protein environment on the thiolate reactivity with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) were investigated by performing quantum theory calculations with chemical accuracy at two levels of complexity. At the first level, the reactivity with H₂O₂ of a model system ([(Zn)₃(MeS)₉]^3?, MeS is methanethiolate) of the β domain cluster of MT was evaluated using density functional theory (DFT) with the mPW1PW91 functional. At the second level of complexity, the protein environment was included in the reactant system and the calculations were performed with the hybrid ONIOM method combining the DFT–mPW1PW91 and the semiempirical PM6 levels of theory. In these conditions, the energy barrier for the oxidation of the most reactive terminal thiolate was 21.5 kcal mol^?1. This is 3 kcal mol^?1 higher than that calculated for the terminal thiolate in the model system [(Zn)₃(MeS)₉]^3? and about 7 kcal mol^?1 higher than that obtained for the free thiolate. In spite of this rise of the energy barrier induced by the protein environment, the thiolate oxidation by H₂O₂ is confirmed as a possible way for metal release from MT. On the other hand, the results suggest that the antioxidant role of MT in the living cell cannot be as important as that of glutathione (which bears a free thiol).     

Impact of Xenogeneic Silencing on Phage–Host Interactions

Phages, viruses that prey on bacteria, are the most abundant and diverse inhabitants of the Earth. Temperate bacteriophages can integrate into the host genome and, as so-called prophages, maintain a long-term association with their host. The close relationship between host and virus has significantly shaped microbial evolution and phage elements may benefit their host by providing new functions. Nevertheless, the strong activity of phage promoters and potentially toxic gene products may impose a severe fitness burden and must be tightly controlled. In this context, xenogeneic silencing (XS) proteins, which can recognize foreign DNA elements, play an important role in the acquisition of novel genetic information and facilitate the evolution of regulatory networks. Currently known XS proteins fall into four classes (H-NS, MvaT, Rok and Lsr2) and have been shown to follow a similar mode of action by binding to AT-rich DNA and forming an oligomeric nucleoprotein complex that silences gene expression. In this review, we focus on the role of XS proteins in phage–host interactions by highlighting the important function of XS proteins in maintaining the lysogenic state and by providing examples of how phages fight back by encoding inhibitory proteins that disrupt XS functions in the host. Sequence analysis of available phage genomes revealed the presence of genes encoding Lsr2-type proteins in the genomes of phages infecting Actinobacteria. These data provide an interesting perspective for future studies to elucidate the impact of phage-encoded XS homologs on the phage life cycle and phage–host interactions.     

Housing of Pregnant Sows in Loose and Confined Systems–a Field Study. 3. The Impact of Housing Factors on Claw Lesions

The relationship of claw lesions to housing was studied in 36 sow herds. Eighteen herds with loose housing of pregnant sows and 18 herds with confined (stalled or tethered) pregnant sows, were followed over a 12 month period. Fifteen of the loose housing herds had partly slatted concrete floors, while 3 herds had other types of flooring. The mean herd prevalence proportion of sows with major claw lesions in loose housing herds with partly slatted floors was about twice as high as in the herds with confined sows. In the only loose housing herd with deep litter based on straw, the prevalence proportion of sows with major claw lesions was lower than any of the other loose or confined herds. Within herds with loose sows on partly slatted floors, the prevalence proportion of sows with major claw lesions seemed to be higher in the loose housing compartment than in the farrowing compartment. The prevalence proportion of sows with major claw lesions did not differ between loose herds with plastic slats and loose herds with concrete slats. kw|Keywords|k]pig; k]feet injuries; k]slatted floors; k]deep litter; k]epidemiology     

The Effect of Iron–Vitamin C Co-supplementation on Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Iron-Deficient Female Youth

There is no study that assessed the effect of co-supplementation of iron and vitamin C on biomarkers of oxidative stress in non-anemic iron-deficient females. We investigated the effects of iron vs. iron?+?vitamin C co-supplementation on biomarkers of oxidative stress in iron-deficient girls. In a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial, performed among 60 non-anemic iron-deficient girls, participants were randomly assigned to receive either 50 mg/day elemental iron supplements or 50 mg/day elemental iron?+?500 mg/day ascorbic acid for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline, weeks 6 and 12 for assessment of biomarkers of oxidative stress. Compared with the baseline levels, both iron and iron?+?vitamin C supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (P _time?<?0.001) and remarkable elevation in serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC; P _time?<?0.001) and vitamin C levels (P _time?=?0.001); however, comparing the two groups we failed to find an additional effect of iron?+?vitamin C supplementation to that of iron alone on serum TAC and MDA levels (P _group was not statistically significant). Iron?+?vitamin C supplementation influenced serum vitamin C levels much more than that by iron alone (P _group?<?0.01). We also found a significant interaction term between time and group about serum vitamin C levels while this interaction was not significant about serum TAC and MDA levels. In conclusion, we found that iron supplementation with/without vitamin C improve biomarkers of oxidative stress among non-anemic iron-deficient females and may strengthen the antioxidant defense system by decreasing reactive oxygen species. Co-supplementation of iron?+?vitamin C has no further effect on oxidative stress compared with iron alone.     

Impact of light pollution on moth morphology–A 137-year study in Germany

Increasing artificial illumination during night has multifaceted effects on species. Moths are shown to be distracted and attracted by artificial light sources, leading to increased mortality through predation or exhaustion. Increased mortality can be expected to increase selection pressure on morphology, particularly those being functional in light detection and flight ability. We were thus interested if intraspecific traits differ between areas and times with differing light pollution values. We chose the moth Agrotis exclamationis, a common species in the Berlin-Brandenburg region, Germany, a region that offers very different levels of light pollution across space and time. We examined body length, eye size and forewing length, traits likely targeted through selection due to light pollution. We examined moths collected over the past 137 years. We predicted decreasing forewing length, body and eye size, in response to increasing light pollution and expected to see trait changes from the past to today, and from rural to urban areas, representing temporal and spatial gradients of increasing light pollution. In order to determine current levels of light pollution, we used radiance values of the years 2012 to 2019. These values were the base to extrapolate previous radiance values for all sample sites and years. We observed no trait differences along the spatial gradient, but trait and sex dependant changes along the temporal gradient. We could not confirm a direct causal link between changes in body size and female eye size. However, we revealed indirect effects of light pollution, and assume habitat fragmentation and host-plants to be the main drivers for these effects. A trend towards smaller-eyed females in ‘medium’ and ‘high’ light-polluted areas over time could be a first indication that morphological trait changes to light pollution are taking place.     

Enhanced Biotransformation of 2-Phenylethanol with Ethanol Oxidation in a Solid–Liquid Two-Phase System by Active Dry Yeast

2-Phenylethanol (2-PE) can be produced from l-phenylalanine (l-Phe) with the oxidation degradation of ethanol by active dry yeast. In this study, the catalysis effect of ethanol on biotransforming l-Phe into 2-PE by yeast was evaluated and optimized. The results indicated that increasing ethanol concentration was beneficial for enhancing 2-PE concentration but lowered the 2-PE productivity. Initial ethanol concentration above 25 g/l could strongly inhibit the 2-PE production. To obtain 2-PE with desirable concentrations with an economical operation mode, three fed-batch biotransformation operation methods using ethanol or/and glucose were carried out in a solid–liquid two-phase system. When using ethanol alone with the initial concentration of 10 g/l, the total concentration and overall productivity of 2-PE were 7.6 g/l and 0.065 g l⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively. Furthermore, an experiment with controlled glucose solely (higher than 2 g/l) was finished. In this case, phenylacetaldehyde (PA) was detected along with ethanol accumulation, suggesting that reaction of PA → 2-PE in Ehrlich pathway was inhibited. To further enhance 2-PE production by using glucose only, a novel operation strategy to simultaneously control rates of glucose glycolysis and ethanol oxidative degradation with the aid of ISPR techniques was developed. With this strategy, 2-PE concentration and yield based on glucose consumption reached a higher level of 14.8 g/l and 0.12 g-PE/g-glucose, respectively, and these are the highest values reported up to date with the fed-batch biotransformation operation mode.     

Impact of climatic variability on parameters used in typology and ecological quality assessment of surface waters—implications on the Water Framework Directive

In most cases the negative impacts of climate change to aquatic ecosystems cannot be mitigated by measures in the river basin management. Ignoring climate change by the Water Framework Directive may have strong implications for the typology and quality assessment systems used for water bodies. As a result of climate change, water bodies, especially those located near the type boundaries may change their type. Compared to typology characteristics, water quality parameters are even more labile and may be easily affected by climate change. The paper exemplifies that the anticipated deterioration of water quality within the time frame relevant for WFD implementation may be large enough to endanger the fulfillment of the set water quality objectives. The review of the river basin characterization every six years, as required by the WFD, might also include re-evaluation of reference conditions according to the changes observed at pristine reference sites. As a consequence, the restoration targets (i.e., the good ecological status) would also need to be evaluated periodically.     

Evolution of Defence Portfolios in Exploiter–Victim Systems

Some organisms maintain a battery of defensive strategies against their exploiters (predators, parasites or parasitoids), while others fail to employ a defence that seems obvious. In this paper, we shall investigate the circumstances under which defence strategies might be expected to evolve. Brood parasites and their hosts provide our main motivation, and we shall discuss why the reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus has evolved an egg-rejection but not a chick-rejection strategy as a defence against the common (Eurasian) cuckoo Cuculus canorus, while the superb fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus has evolved a chick-rejection but not an egg-rejection strategy as a defence against Horsfield's bronze-cuckoo Chrysococcyx basalis. We suggest that the answers lie in strategy-blocking, where one strategy (the blocking strategy) prevents the appearance of another (the blocked strategy) that would be adaptive in its absence. This may be common in exploiter–victim systems.     

Biomimetic Sensors： Active Electrolocation of Weakly Electric Fish as a Model for Active Sensing in Technical Systems

Instead of vision, many nocturnal animals use alternative senses for navigation and object detection in their dark environment. For this purpose, weakly electric mormyrid fish employ active electrolocation, during which they discharge a specialized electric organ in their tail which discharges electrical pulses. Each discharge builds up an electrical field around the fish, which is sensed by cutaneous electroreceptor organs that are distributed over most of the body surface of the fish. Nearby objects distort this electrical field and cause a local alteration in current flow in those electroreceptors that are closest to the object. By constantly monitoring responses of its electroreceptor organs, a fish can detect, localize, and identify environmental objects.Inspired by the remarkable capabilities of weakly electric fish in detecting and recognizing objects, we designed technical sensor systems that can solve similar problems of remote object sensing. We applied the principles of active electrolocation to technical systems by building devices that produce electrical current pulses in a conducting medium (water or ionized gases) and simultaneously sense local current density. Depending on the specific task a sensor was designed for devices could (i) detect an object, (ii) localize it in space, (iii) determine its distance, and (iv) measure properties such as material properties, thickness, or material faults. Our systems proved to be relatively insensitive to environmental disturbances such as heat, pressure, or turbidity. They have a wide range of applications including material identification, quality control, non-contact distance measurements, medical applications and many more. Despite their astonishing capacities, our sensors still lag far behind what electric fish are able to achieve during active electrolocation. The understanding of the neural principles governing electric fish sensory physiology and the corresponding optimization of our sensors to solve certain technical tasks therefore remain ongoing goals of our research.     

Invasibility of Nectarless Flowers in Plant–Pollinator Systems

This paper considers plant–pollinator systems in which plants are divided into two categories: The plants that secret a substantial volume of nectar in their flowers are called secretors, while those without secreting nectar are called nonsecretors (cheaters). The interaction between pollinators and secretors is mutualistic, while the interaction between pollinators and nonsecretors is parasitic. Both interactions can be described by Beddington–DeAngelis functional responses. Using dynamical systems theory, we show global dynamics of a pollinator–secretor–cheater model and demonstrate mechanisms by which nectarless flowers/nonsecretors can invade the pollinator–secretor system and by which the three species could coexist. We define a threshold in the nonsecretors’ efficiency in translating pollinator–cheater interaction into fitness, which is determined by parameters (factors) in the systems. When their efficiency is above the threshold, non-secretors can invade the pollinator–secretor system. While the nonsecretors’ invasion often leads to their persistence in pollinator–secretor systems, the model demonstrates situations in which the non-secretors’ invasion can drive secretors into extinction, which consequently leads to extinction of the nonsecretors themselves.     

Effect of Single-Charged Anions of Different Nature on the DNA Molecule Conformation in Water–Salt Solutions

Methods of intrinsic viscosity () and beam flow birefringence were used to study the effects of some single-charged ions (F^–, Cl^–, Br^–, I^–, NO^– ₂, NO^– ₃, ClO^– ₄, SCN^–, CH₃COO^–) on the size and thermodynamic rigidity of a DNA molecule in aqueous solutions of sodium salts in a broad interval of ionic strength when temperature T is changed. It has been shown that the close interactions in a macromolecule and the resulting DNA persistent length a are independent of the type of the salt anion over the whole interval of . On the contrary, the specific volume of the DNA molecule in solution, proportional to the value, is quite sensitive to the anionic composition of the solvent, which is due to the effect of anions and their hydration on the long-range interactions in the macromolecule. The presence of polyatomic and halide anions is manifested differently in the value of DNA. Possible factors responsible for the observed effect and the role of structural alterations of water upon anion hydration are discussed.     

Impact of the Fukushima nuclear accident on obesity of children in Japan (2008–2014)

This study used prefecture-level panel data from Japan for the period 2008–2014 to investigate the influence of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident on the body mass index (BMI) z-score and obesity rates of children over time. I adopted a difference-in-differences approach and found the following: (1) for the cohort aged 5–7 years in 2010, the BMI z-score and obesity rates in disaster-affected areas were higher than in other areas, although this was not observed for the other cohorts; (2) for the cohort aged 5–7 years in 2010, the influence of the accident persisted even after 3 years; and (3) the differences in the BMI z-score and obesity rate before and after the accident were greater for Fukushima Prefecture than for the other affected areas (Iwate and Miyagi prefectures). I infer that health-conscious parents, whose children had lower BMIs, may have moved from Fukushima, thereby increasing the BMI z-score of the child population living in Fukushima by around 0.05 for the cohort aged 5–7 years. The enforced reduction in physical activity increased the BMI z-score of children living in Fukushima by around 0.19 for that cohort.     

Impact of LUCC on landscape pattern in the Yangtze River Basin during 2001–2019

Evaluating the influences of LUCC (Land Use/Land Cover Change) on landscape pattern is significant for understanding and improving ecological environment system management. This study used landscape pattern as an important indicator to estimate the impacts of the LUCC in the Yangtze River Basin from 2001 to 2019. Based on the remote sensing images of LULC (Land Use/Land Cover) in the Yangtze River Basin in 2001–2019, the dynamic attitude and transfer matrix of LULC, and landscape pattern indices were employed to analyze the LUCC and the impact of LULC on the landscape pattern of the Yangtze River Basin. The results of LUCC show that the main LUCC in the Yangtze River Basin during 2001–2019 is mainly manifested by the increase of water body, forest, wetland, crop/natural vegetation mosaic (NVM) and urban, among which the forest increased the most by 62,635 km². The areas of grassland and cropland are decreasing, with the grassland decreasing the most. Forest, crop/NVM and cropland are transformed into grassland, which complements the lack of grassland to some extent. LUCC in the Yangtze River Basin is most intense between grassland and forest. Landscape pattern shows: Grassland occupies an important advantage in the whole landscape structure. Forest, grassland and urban landscapes are seriously fragmented, and their LSI (Landscape Shape Index) is more complex than others. The connectivity between various landscape types is weakened, and the degree of landscape fragmentation is increased, but the LULC structure is becoming more and more abundant. The areas with high landscape fragmentation value have richer landscape diversity and diverse LULC types. There is a strong correlation between grassland and the four landscape pattern indices. The change of landscape pattern in the Yangtze River Basin is influenced by natural factors and LUCC in the Yangtze River Basin, and the change caused by human activities is the main driving factor of LUCC.     

Decomposition Pathways of p-Bromophenol on γ-Irradiation in Aqueous Systems

In order to elucidate the radiolysis mechanism of p-bromophenol, quantitative determination of the radiolysis products was carried out by gas chromatography and polarography. G(?p · BP) and G(Br^?) were 3.86 and 2.58 at neutral pH, and 1.09 and 0.26 at pH 1.0, respectively, This, together with the radical scavenger effects indicated that hydrated electrons contribute principally to the degradation of p-bromophenol through debromination, followed by the formation of dimer and trimer products by phenylation of the resulting p-hydroxyphenyl radical. This chain-like reaction may cause the difference (G-value = 1.28) between G(?p· BP) and G(Br^?). The contribution of OH radicals to G(?p· BP) is known to be small as compared with other aromatic compounds, because of the poor yield of hydroxylated products such as hydroquinone, 4-bromocatechol and 4-bromoresorcinol.     

A Study on the Transfer of Iron in Soil–Plant–Animal Continuum Under Semi-arid Environmental Conditions in Sargodha,Pakistan

The present investigation on the iron (Fe) transfer from soil to plant and in turn to animal (cows), as a function of sampling periods was conducted at the Livestock Experimental Station Sargodha, Pakistan which falls under semi-arid conditions. Although the iron transfer from soil to forage increased consistently, the forage Fe content decreased progressively with increase in sampling period. Highest Fe transfer from forage to cow blood plasma was observed during October and lowest during January. The transfer of Fe from forage to animal milk was maximum during the months of October and January and minimum during December. The transfer of Fe to plasma and milk was found to be dependent variably on the growth stage of forage in this investigation. Based on the findings of the present study, it is evident that mineral supplementation with higher Fe availability is urgently warranted to the animals particularly during the months of December and January to enhance plasma Fe in the cows being reared at that livestock farm during the entire grazing period. Thus, obligatory supplementation of Fe to the ruminants is highly recommended. Since the processes involved in iron management system in humans, animals, and plants are basically similar, appropriate elemental management must be provided to the living organisms, otherwise deficient or excessive levels of iron may deteriorate the developing cells of the organisms.     

Homogenous Water Oxidation by a Di-μ-Oxo Dimanganese Complex in the Presence of Ce

O₂ evolution was observed upon mixing aqueous [(terpy)(H₂O)Mn(O)₂Mn(H₂O)(terpy)](NO₃)₃ (1, terpy = 2,2′:6′,6″-terpyridine) with aqueous solutions of Ce⁴⁺. However, when the solution of 1 was incubated at pH 1 (by dissolving in dilute HNO₃) before mixing with Ce⁴⁺, very small amounts of O₂ were observed. This observation of acid-induced deactivation suggests an explanation, both for the previously reported lack of O₂ evolution from aqueous solutions of 1 with Ce⁴⁺ as oxidant, and the present observation of low amounts of O₂ production with the very acidic Ce⁴⁺ reagent. Evidence is provided for water being the source of evolved O₂, and for the requirement of a high valent multinuclear Mn species for O₂ evolution. We test the possibility of complications in the use of ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) in oxidation chemistry due to the presence of the oxidizable ion.