Coupling Input‐Output Tables with Macro‐Life Cycle Assessment to Assess Worldwide Impacts of Biofuels Transport Policies

Many countries see biofuels as a replacement to fossil fuels to mitigate climate change. Nevertheless, some concerns remain about the overall benefits of biofuels policies. More comprehensive tools seem required to evaluate indirect effects of biofuel policies. This article proposes a method to evaluate large‐scale biofuel policies that is based on life cycle assessment (LCA), environmental extensions of input‐output (I‐O) tables, and a general equilibrium model. The method enables the assessment of indirect environmental effects of biofuels policies, including land‐use changes (LUCs), in the context of economic and demographic growth. The method is illustrated with a case study involving two scenarios. The first one describes the evolution of the world economy from 2006 to 2020 under business as usual (BAU) conditions (including demographic and dietary preferences changes), and the second integrates biofuel policies in the United States and the European Union (EU). Results show that the biofuel scenario, originally designed to mitigate climate change, results in more greenhouse gas emissions when compared to the BAU scenario. This is mainly due to emissions associated with global LUCs. The case study shows that the method enables a broader consideration for environmental effects of biofuel policies than usual LCA: Global economic variations calculated by a general equilibrium economic model and LUC emissions can be evaluated. More work is needed, however, to include new biofuel production technologies and reduce the uncertainty of the method.     

Local weather and body condition influence habitat use and movements on land of molting female southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina)

Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) are known to move and aggregate while molting, but little is known about their behavior on land during this time. In this study, 60 adult females were monitored (23 with GPS tags) during four molting seasons, between 2012 and 2016 at Kerguelen Archipelago, Indian Ocean. Population surveys were recorded each year (N = 230 daily counts), and habitat use was analyzed in relation to the stage of the molt and local weather. Based on stage of molt, habitat use, and movements on land, we classified the molt of elephant seals into three phases: (1) a “search phase” at the initial stage of molt when grass and wallow habitats were used and characterized by greater mean distances travelled on land per day compared with the two other phases; (2) a “resident phase”: during initial and mid‐stage of molt when animals were found in grass and wallow habitats but with less distance moved on land; and (3) a “termination phase” at the final stage of molt where grass and beach habitats were occupied with no change in distances. Windchill and solar radiation influenced individual distances moved per day (mean 590 ± 237.0 m) at the mid‐ and final stage of molt such that animals travelled greater distances on days of low windchill or high solar radiation. Individual variation in distance moved and relative habitat use were also linked to body mass index (BMI) at arrival on the colony, as females with higher BMI moved less and preferred beach habitat. Moreover, the individual rate of molt increased with the use of wallows. Aggregation rate tended to be negatively correlated with distances moved. We therefore suggest that individuals face an energetic trade‐off while molting, balancing energy expenditure between movement and thermoregulation.     

The role of the ShcD and RET interaction in neuroblastoma survival and migration

Preliminary screening data showed that the ShcD adaptor protein associates with the proto-oncogene RET receptor tyrosine kinase. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the molecular interaction between ShcD and RET in human neuroblastoma cells and study the functional impact of this interaction. We were able to show that ShcD immunoprecipitated with RET from SK-N-AS neuroblastoma cell lysates upon GDNF treatment. This result was validated by ShcD-RET co-localization, which was visualized using a fluorescence microscope. ShcD-RET coexpression promoted ShcD and RET endosomal localization, resulting in unexpected inhibition of the downstream ERK and AKT pathways. Interestingly, ShcD-RET association reduced the viability and migration of SK-N-AS cells. Although ShcD was previously shown to trigger melanoma cell migration and tumorigenesis, our data showed an opposite role for ShcD in neuroblastoma SK-N-AS cells via its association with RET in GDNF-treated cells. In conclusion, ShcD acts as a switch molecule that promotes contrasting biological responses depending on the stimulus ad cell type.     

In Vivo Labeling by CD73 Marks Multipotent Stromal Cells and Highlights Endothelial Heterogeneity in the Bone Marrow Niche

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The Dystrophin Glycoprotein Complex Regulates the Epigenetic Activation of Muscle Stem Cell Commitment

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Cystic fibrosis in Lebanon: distribution of CFTR mutations among Arab communities

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is thought to be rare among the Arab populations from the Middle East and little data have been reported so far. We have studied a sample of 20 families living in Lebanon for several generations and who have at least one child with CF. These families are mainly from the Maronite, Greek Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Shiite or Sunnite groups. We found a 50% rate of consanguineous marriage, independent of the community of origin. The distribution of CF genotypes was determined through the screening of all exons of the CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) gene by the technique of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis combined with asymmetric amplification DNA sequencing. A total of ten different mutations accounting for 87.5% of 32 unrelated CF alleles was identified, including two novel putative mutations (E672del and IVS21-28G→A). Three mutations, ΔF508 (37.5%), W1282X (15.6%), and N1303K (9.4%) accounted for 62.5% of CF alleles. Interestingly, in the Maronite group, 66.7% of the ΔF508 chromosomes were found to be associated with allele 7 of the IVS8(T)tract, contrasting with the absolute linkage disequilibrium between European ΔF508 chromosomes and allele 9. During this study, two previously undescribed polymorphisms (IVS14a + 17del5 and 2691T/C) were also identified. Received: 2 January 1997 / Accepted: 16 March 1997     

Production of ROL gene transformed plants of Rosa hybrida L. and characterization of their rooting ability

Transgenic plants of the rootstock Rosa hybrida L. cv. Moneyway were produced via a two-step procedure. First, kanamycin-resistant roots were generated on stem slices from micropropagated shoots, which were cocultivated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing the neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPTII) gene for conferring kanamycin resistance, together with individual ROL genes from A. rhizogenes. Root formation was quite efficient and up to two kanamycin-resistant roots per stem slice were produced. In the second step, these roots were used to regenerate transgenic plants via somatic embryogenesis. Although regeneration lasted up to 12 months, production of several transformants was successfully accomplished. Untransformed escapes were not found, indicating that the initial selection on kanamycin resistance was reliable.The presence of a combination of ROLA, B and C genes enhanced adventitious root formation on micropropagated shoots and explants of stems and leaves. It appears that the auxin sensitivity was increased to such a degree that cells were able to respond even to endogenous auxins present in shoots and leaves. Rooting experiments in greenhouse demonstrated that adventitious root formation on cuttings was improved threefold upon introduction of these ROL genes. It is concluded that a method was developed for the production of ROL gene transformed roses with improved rooting characteristics.