The state of melanoma: challenges and opportunities

The Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) has charted a comprehensive assessment of the current state of melanoma research and care. Intensive discussions among members of the MRF Scientific Advisory Council and Breakthrough Consortium, a group that included clinicians and scientists, focused on four thematic areas – diagnosis/early detection, prevention, tumor cell dormancy (including metastasis), and therapy (response and resistance). These discussions extended over the course of 2015 and culminated at the Society of Melanoma Research 2015 International Congress in November. Each of the four groups has outlined their thoughts as per the current status, challenges, and opportunities in the four respective areas. The current state and immediate and long‐term needs of the melanoma field, from basic research to clinical management, are presented in the following report.     

Impacts of the invader giant reed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arundo donax</Emphasis>) on riparian habitats and ground arthropod communities

Riparian areas have experienced long-term anthropogenic impacts including the effects of plant introductions. In this study, 27 plots were surveyed across three Mediterranean rivers in north-eastern Spain to explore the effects of the invader giant reed (Arundo donax) on riparian habitat features and the diversity, trophic structure, body size, and abundances of epigeal and hypogeal arthropods in riparian areas. Using pitfall traps and Berlese funnels, this study detected a significant increase in collembola abundance and a decrease in the abundance, body size and diversity of macro-arthropods at order and family levels in invaded plots compared to native stands. Invaded and un-invaded areas also differed in the taxonomical structure of arthropod assemblies but not in trophic guild proportions. However, the fact that arthropods were smaller in A. donax soils, together with the absence of particular taxa within each trophic guild or even an entire trophic group (parasitoids), suggests that food-web alterations in invaded areas cannot be discarded. Habitat features also differed between invaded and un-invaded areas with the poorest herbaceous understory and the largest leaf litter deposition and soil carbon stock observed in A. donax plots. The type of vegetation in riparian areas followed by the total native plant species richness were identified as major causal factors to changes in the abundance, diversity and composition of macro-arthropods. However, our analyses also showed that some alterations related to A. donax invasion were inconsistent across rivers, suggesting that A. donax effects may be context dependent. In conclusion, this study highlights an impoverishment of native flora and arthropod fauna in A. donax soils, and suggests major changes in riparian food webs if A. donax displaces native riparian vegetation.     

A Lower Olfactory Capacity Is Related to Higher Circulating Concentrations of Endocannabinoid 2-Arachidonoylglycerol and Higher Body Mass Index in Women

The endocannabinoid (eCB) system can promote food intake by increasing odor detection in mice. The eCB system is over-active in human obesity. Our aim is to measure circulating eCB concentrations and olfactory capacity in a human sample that includes people with obesity and explore the possible interaction between olfaction, obesity and the eCB system. The study sample was made up of 161 females with five groups of body mass index sub-categories ranging from under-weight to morbidly obese. We assessed olfactory capacity with the “Sniffin´Sticks” test, which measures olfactory threshold-discrimination-identification (TDI) capacity. We measured plasma concentrations of the eCBs 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and N-arachidonoylethanolamine or anandamide (AEA), and several eCB-related compounds, 2-acylglycerols and N-acylethanolamines. 2-AG and other 2-acylglycerols fasting plasma circulating plasma concentrations were higher in obese and morbidly obese subjects. AEA and other N-acylethanolamine circulating concentrations were lower in under-weight subjects. Olfactory TDI scores were lower in obese and morbidly obese subjects. Lower TDI scores were independently associated with higher 2-AG fasting plasma circulating concentrations, higher %body fat, and higher body mass index, after controlling for age, smoking, menstruation, and use of contraceptives. Our results show that obese subjects have a lower olfactory capacity than non-obese ones and that elevated fasting plasma circulating 2-AG concentrations in obesity are linked to a lower olfactory capacity. In agreement with previous studies we show that eCBs AEA and 2-AG, and their respective congeners have a distinct profile in relation to body mass index. The present report is the first study in humans in which olfactory capacity and circulating eCB concentrations have been measured in the same subjects.     

Ultrastructural and cytochemical aspects of the interaction between the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria laccata and the saprotrophic fungi, Trichoderma harzianum and T. virens

Different interactions between soil fungi competing in the rhizosphere with each other are necessary to understand their influence on plant growth and health. The interactions between the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungus Laccaria laccata and soil saprotrophic fungi (T. harzianum, T. virens) were studied by transmission electron microscopy, and by gold cytochemistry to assess the potential role of cell wall lytic enzymes in mycoparasitism. Anti-β-1,3-glucan antibody, WGA/ovomucoid-gold complex and PATAg test were used to localize β-1,3-glucan, chitin and polysaccharides. Cytoplasm disorganisation of the saprotrophic fungi occurred concurrently with dissolution of β-1,3-glucan in walls of hyphae and conidia of the saprotrophic fungi. Then digestion of polysaccharides and chitin of colonised fungal structures occurred. The studies suggest sequential contribution of cell wall lytic enzymes and importance of disturbing the host's cell integrity during mycoparasitism. We conclude that the ECM fungus can parasitise on the saprotrophic fungi not only in dual culture on artificial medium but also in the rhizosphere of Scots pine.     

Different neurophysiological mechanisms underlying word and rule extraction from speech

The initial process of identifying words from spoken language and the detection of more subtle regularities underlying their structure are mandatory processes for language acquisition. Little is known about the cognitive mechanisms that allow us to extract these two types of information and their specific time-course of acquisition following initial contact with a new language. We report time-related electrophysiological changes that occurred while participants learned an artificial language. These changes strongly correlated with the discovery of the structural rules embedded in the words. These changes were clearly different from those related to word learning and occurred during the first minutes of exposition. There is a functional distinction in the nature of the electrophysiological signals during acquisition: an increase in negativity (N400) in the central electrodes is related to word-learning and development of a frontal positivity (P2) is related to rule-learning. In addition, the results of an online implicit and a post-learning test indicate that, once the rules of the language have been acquired, new words following the rule are processed as words of the language. By contrast, new words violating the rule induce syntax-related electrophysiological responses when inserted online in the stream (an early frontal negativity followed by a late posterior positivity) and clear lexical effects when presented in isolation (N400 modulation). The present study provides direct evidence suggesting that the mechanisms to extract words and structural dependencies from continuous speech are functionally segregated. When these mechanisms are engaged, the electrophysiological marker associated with rule-learning appears very quickly, during the earliest phases of exposition to a new language.     

A High Voltage Aqueous Zinc–Organic Hybrid Flow Battery

Water‐soluble redox‐active organic molecules have attracted extensive attention as electrical energy storage alternatives to redox‐active metals that are low in abundance and high in cost. Here an aqueous zinc–organic hybrid redox flow battery (RFB) is reported with a positive electrolyte comprising a functionalized 1,4‐hydroquinone bearing four (dimethylamino)methyl groups dissolved in sulfuric acid. By utilizing a three‐electrolyte, two‐membrane configuration this acidic positive electrolyte is effectively paired with an alkaline negative electrolyte comprising a Zn/[Zn(OH)₄]^2? redox couple and a hybrid RFB is operated at a high operating voltage of 2.0 V. It is shown that the electrochemical reversibility and kinetics of the organic redox species can be enhanced by an electrocatalyst, leading to a cyclic voltammetry peak separation as low as 35 mV and enabling an enhanced rate capability.     

Modulation of drought resistance by the abscisic acid receptor PYL5 through inhibition of clade A PP2Cs

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a key phytohormone involved in adaption to environmental stress and regulation of plant development. Clade A protein phosphatases type 2C (PP2Cs), such as HAB1, are key negative regulators of ABA signaling in Arabidopsis. To obtain further insight into regulation of HAB1 function by ABA, we have screened for HAB1‐interacting partners using a yeast two‐hybrid approach. Three proteins were identified, PYL5, PYL6 and PYL8, which belong to a 14‐member subfamily of the Bet v1‐like superfamily. HAB1–PYL5 interaction was confirmed using BiFC and co‐immunoprecipitation assays. PYL5 over‐expression led to a globally enhanced response to ABA, in contrast to the opposite phenotype reported for HAB1‐over‐expressing plants. F₂ plants that over‐expressed both HAB1 and PYL5 showed an enhanced response to ABA, indicating that PYL5 antagonizes HAB1 function. PYL5 and other members of its protein family inhibited HAB1, ABI1 and ABI2 phosphatase activity in an ABA‐dependent manner. Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed saturable binding of (+)ABA to PYL5, with K_d values of 1.1 μm or 38 nm in the absence or presence of the PP2C catalytic core of HAB1, respectively. Our work indicates that PYL5 is a cytosolic and nuclear ABA receptor that activates ABA signaling through direct inhibition of clade A PP2Cs. Moreover, we show that enhanced resistance to drought can be obtained through PYL5‐mediated inhibition of clade A PP2Cs.     

Environmental impact of two aerobic composting technologies using life cycle assessment

Background, aim, and scope  Composting is a viable technology to treat the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) because it stabilizes biodegradable organic matter and contributes to reduce the quantity of municipal solid waste to be incinerated or land-filled. However, the composting process generates environmental impacts such as atmospheric emissions and resources consumption that should be studied. This work presents the inventory data and the study of the environmental impact of two real composting plants using different technologies, tunnels (CT) and confined windrows (CCW). Materials and methods  Inventory data of the two composting facilities studied were obtained from field measurements and from plant managers. Next, life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was used to calculate the environmental impacts. Composting facilities were located in Catalonia (Spain) and were evaluated during 2007. Both studied plants treat source separated organic fraction of municipal solid waste. In both installations the analysis includes environmental impact from fuel, water, and electricity consumption and the main gaseous emissions from the composting process itself (ammonia and volatile organic compounds). Results and discussion  Inventory analysis permitted the calculation of different ratios corresponding to resources consumption or plant performance and process yield with respect to 1 t of OFMSW. Among them, it can be highlighted that in both studied plants total energy consumption necessary to treat the OFMSW and transform it into compost was between 130 and 160 kWh/t OFMSW. Environmental impact was evaluated in terms of global warming potential (around 60 kg CO₂/t OFMSW for both plants), acidification potential (7.13 and 3.69 kg SO₂ eq/t OFMSW for CT and CCW plant respectively), photochemical oxidation potential (0.1 and 3.11 kg C₂H₄ eq/t OFMSW for CT and CCW plant, respectively), eutrophication (1.51 and 0.77 kg /t OFMSW for CT and CCW plant, respectively), human toxicity (around 15 kg 1,4-DB eq/t OFMSW for both plants) and ozone layer depletion (1.66 × 10⁻⁵ and 2.77 × 10⁻⁵ kg CFC⁻¹¹ eq/t OFMSW for CT and CCW plant, respectively). Conclusions  This work reflects that the life cycle perspective is a useful tool to analyze a composting process since it permits the comparison among different technologies. According to our results total energy consumption required for composting OFMSW is dependent on the technology used (ranging from 130 to 160 kWh/t OFMSW) as water consumption is (from 0.02 to 0.33 m³ of water/t OFMSW). Gaseous emissions from the composting process represent the main contribution to eutrophication, acidification and photochemical oxidation potentials, while those contributions related to energy consumption are the principal responsible for global warming. Recommendations and perspectives  This work provides the evaluation of environmental impacts of two composting technologies that can be useful for its application to composting plants with similar characteristics. In addition, this study can also be part of future works to compare composting with other OFMSW treatments from a LCA perspective. Likewise, the results can be used for the elaboration of a greenhouse gasses emissions inventory in Catalonia and Spain.