Tracking current and forecasting future land-use impacts of agricultural value chains. 67th Discussion Forum on Life Cycle Assessment, 3rd of November 2017, Zurich,Switzerland

The 67th Discussion Forum on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), organised by partners of the European project RELIEF (RELIability of product Environmental Footprints), focused on methods for better understanding the impacts of land use linked to agricultural value chains. The first session of the forum was dedicated to methods that help in retrospective tracking of land use within complex supply chains. Novel approaches were presented for the integration of increasingly available spatially located land use data into LCA. The second session focused on forward-looking projections of land use change and included emerging, predictive methods for the modelling of land change. The third session considered impact assessment methods related to the use of land and their application together with land change modelling approaches. Discussions throughout the day centred on opportunities and challenges arising from integrating spatially located land use information into Life Cycle Assessment. Increasing amounts of spatially located land use data are becoming available and this could potentially increase the robustness and specificity of Life Cycle Assessment. However, the use of such data can be computationally expensive and requires the development of skills (i.e. use of geographical information systems (GIS) and model coding) within the LCA community. Land change modelling and ecosystem service modelling are associated with considerable uncertainty which must be communicated appropriately to stakeholders and decision-makers when interpreting results from an LCA. The new approaches were found to challenge aspects of the traditional LCA approach—particularly the division between the life cycle inventory and impact assessment and the assumption of linearity between scale and impacts when deriving characterisation factors. The presentations from the DF-67 are available for download (www.lcaforum.ch), and video recordings can be accessed online (http://www.video.ethz.ch/events/lca/2017/autumn/67th.html).     

Antibody Profiling by Proteome Microarray with Multiplex Isotype Detection Reveals Overlap between Human and Aotus nancymaae Controlled Malaria Infections

The development of vaccines against malaria and serodiagnostic tests for detecting recent exposure requires tools for antigen discovery and suitable animal models. The protein microarray is a high‐throughput, sample sparing technique, with applications in infectious disease research, clinical diagnostics, epidemiology, and vaccine development. We recently demonstrated Qdot‐based indirect immunofluorescence together with portable optical imager ArrayCAM using single isotype detection could replicate data using the conventional laser confocal scanner system. We developed a multiplexing protocol for simultaneous detection of IgG, IgA, and IgM and compared samples from a controlled human malaria infection model with those from controlled malaria infections of Aotus nancymaae, a widely used non‐human primate model of human malaria. IgG profiles showed the highest concordance in number of reactive antigens; thus, of the 139 antigens recognized by human IgG antibody, 111 were also recognized by Aotus monkeys. Interestingly, IgA profiles were largely non‐overlapping. Finally, on the path toward wider deployment of the portable platform, we show excellent correlations between array data obtained in five independent laboratories around the United States using the multiplexing protocol (R²: 0.60–0.92). This study supports the use of this platform for wider deployment, particularly in endemic areas where such a tool will have the greatest impact on global human health.     

Polymerization mechanism of polypeptide chain aggregation

The misfolding of polypeptide chains and aggregation into the insoluble inclusion body state is a serious problem for biotechnology and biomedical research. Developing a rational strategy to control aggregation requires understanding the mechanism of polymerization. We investigated the in vitro aggregation of P22 tailspike polypeptide chains by classical light scattering, nondenaturing gel electrophoresis, two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), and computer simulations. The aggregation of polypeptide chains during refolding occurred by multimeric polymerization, in which two multimers of any size could associate to form a larger aggregate and did not require a sequential addition of monomeric subunits. The cluster-cluster polymerization mechanism of aggregation is an important determinant in the kinetic competition between productive folding and inclusion body formation. (c) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 54: 333-343, 1997.     

Chromosomal Localization of Three Human Dual Specificity Phosphatase Genes (DUSP4, DUSP6, and DUSP7)

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphatases constitute a growing family of dual specificity phosphatases thought to play a role in the dephosphorylation and inactivation of MAP kinases and are therefore likely to be important in the regulation of diverse cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. For this reason it has been suggested that MAP kinase phosphatases may be tumor suppressors. We have determined the chromosomal locations of three human dual specificity phosphatase genes by fluorescencein situhybridization and radiation hybrid mapping. The genes were localized to three different chromosomes,MKP2(DUSP4) to 8p11–p12,MKP3(DUSP6) to 12q22–q23, andMKPX(DUSP7) to 3p21. This will allow the potential roles of these genes in disease processes to be evaluated.     

Aquaporins in complex tissues. I.Developmental patterns in respiratory and glandular tissues of rat

Developmentalexpression of aquaporin water transport proteins is not well understoodin respiratory tract or secretory glands; here we define aquaporinprotein ontogeny in rat. Expression of aquaporin-3 (AQP3), AQP4, andAQP5 proteins occurs within 2 wk after birth, whereas AQP1 firstappears before birth. In most tissues, aquaporin protein expressionincreases progressively, although transient high-level expression isnoted in distal lung (AQP4 at postnatal day+2) and trachea (AQP5 at postnatalday +21 and AQP3 at postnatal day+42). In mature animals, AQP5 is abundant in distallung and salivary glands, AQP3 and AQP4 are present in trachea, andAQP1 is present in all of these tissues except salivary glands.Surprisingly, all four aquaporin proteins are highly abundant innasopharynx. Unlike AQP1, corticosteroids did not induce expression ofAQP3, AQP4, or AQP5 in lung. Our results seemingly implicate aquaporinsin proximal airway humidification, glandular secretion, and perinatalclearance of fluid from distal airways. However, the studies underscorea need for detailed immunohistochemical characterizations anddefinitive functional studies.

     

The incorporation of mannoproteins in the cell wall of S. cerevisiae and filamentous Ascomycetes

In yeast, glucanase extractable cell wall proteins are anchored to the plasma membrane at an intermediate stage in their biogenesis via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) moiety before they become anchored to the wall glucan via a 1,6-glucan linkage. The mechanism of the membrane processing step of cell wall proteins is not known. Here, we report that Ascomycete filamentous fungi involved in food spoilage such as Aspergillus, Paecilomyces and Penicillium, also contain GPI membrane-anchored proteins some of which are processed by an endogenous phospholipase C activity. Furthermore, similar to the situation in yeast, their cell walls contain mannoproteins which are linked to the glucan backbone through a 1,6-glucan linkage. Interestingly, one mould which contains a significant amount of non covalently linked 1,6-glucosylated cell wall proteins, is much more sensitive towards 1,3-glucanases and membrane perturbing peptides than the others.     

Morphology and tissue quality of seedling root systems of Pinus taeda and Pinus ponderosa as affected by varying CO2, temperature,and nitrogen

Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide, nitrogen deposition and warmer temperatures may alter the quantity and quality of plant-derived organic matter available to soil biota, potentially altering rates of belowground herbivory and decomposition. Our objective was to simulate future growth conditions for an early successional (loblolly) and late successional (ponderosa) species of pine to determine if the physical and chemical properties of the root systems would change. Seedlings were grown for 160 days in greenhouses at the Duke University Phytotron at 35 or 70 Pa CO₂ partial pressure, ambient or ambient + 5 °C temperature, and 1 or 5 mMNH₄O₃. Roots from harvested seedlings were analyzed for changes in surface area, specific root length, mass, total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC), and concentrations of macro-nutrients. Surface area increased in both species under elevated CO₂, due primarily to increases in root length, and this response was greatest (+138%) in loblolly pine at high temperature. Specific root length decreased in loblolly pine at elevated CO₂ but increases in mass more than compensated for this, resulting in net increases in total length. TNC was unaffected and nutrient concentrations decreased only slightly at elevated CO₂, possibly from anatomical changes to the root tissues. We conclude that future growth conditions will enhance soil exploration by some species of pine, but root carbohydrate levels and nutrient concentrations will not be greatly affected, leaving rates of root herbivory and decomposition unaltered.     

Characterization of mannitol metabolism in the mangrove red algaCaloglossa leprieurii (Montagne) J.Agardh

A metabolic pathway, known as the mannitol cycle in fungi, has been identified as a new entity in the eulittoral mangrove red algaCaloglossa leprieurii (Montagne) J. Agardh. Three specific enzymes, mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase (Mt1PDH; EC 1.1.1.17), mannitol-1-phosphatase (MtlPase; EC 3.1.3.22), mannitol dehydrogenase (MtDH; EC 1.1.1.67) and one nonspecific hexokinase (HK; EC 2.7.1.1) were determined and biochemically characterized in cell-free extracts. Mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase showed activity maxima at pH 7.0 [fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) reduction] and pH 8.5 [oxidation of mannitol-1-phosphate (Mt1P)], and a very high specificity for both carbohydrate substrates. TheK _m values were 1.4 mM for F6P, 0.09 mM for MOP, 0.020 mM for NADH and 0.023 mM for NAD⁺. For the dephosphorylation of MOP, MtlPase exhibited a pH optimum at 7.2, aK _m value of 1.2 mM and a high requirement of Mg²⁺ for activation. Mannitol dehydrogenase had activity maxima at pH 7.0 (fructose reduction) and pH 9.8 (mannitol oxidation), and was less substrate-specific than Mt1PDH and MtlPase, i.e. it also catalyzed reactions in the oxidative direction with arabitol (64.9%), sorbitol (31%) and xylitol (24.8%). This enzyme showedK _m values of 39 mM for fructose, 7.9 mM for mannitol, 0.14 mM for NADH and 0.075 mM for NAD⁺. For the non-specific HK, only theK _m values for fructose (0.19 mM) and glucose (7.5 mM) were determined. The activities of the anabolic enzymes Mt1PDH and MtlPase were always at least two orders of magnitude higher than those of the degradative enzymes, indicating a net carbon flow towards a high intracellular mannitol pool. The function of mannitol metabolism inC. leprieurii as a biochemical adaptation to the environmental extremes in the mangrove habitat is discussed.Abbreviations F6P fructose-6-phosphate - HK hexokinase - Mt1P mannitol-1-phosphate - Mt1PDH mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase - Mt1Pase mannitol-1-phosphatase - MtDH mannitol dehydrogenase     

Returns to service after mating and removal of sows for reproductive reasons from commercial swine farms

We studied the records of 30 herds with an average inventory of 11,705 sows, 25,719 farrowings and 25,040 daily feed intake logs. Production events were recorded by producers using the PigCHAMP production information system. Of 21,505 matings, 7.2% of sows subsequently returned to estrus after service. The proportionate rates of intervals from service to the subsequent post service event were 0 to 17 d, 2.1%; 18 to 25 d, 27.9%; 26 to 37 d, 13.8%; 38 to 46 d, 15.8%; 47 to 108 d, 30.4%; and >108 d, 10.0%. Sows returned to service after mating were categorized into groups that either regularly or irregularly returned to service after mating. Of a total inventory of 19,076 sows, 10.0% were removed following weaning for reproductive reasons. The reasons for removal included those of anestrus (25.2%), failure to conceive (37.0%), failure to farrow (15.0%), not pregnant (1.4%), negative pregnancy check (14.0%), and abortion (7.4%). The last 5 types of post weaning reproductive failure were grouped into the category of did not farrow. Categorical additive models and comparisons using contrasts were used to analyze the influence of risk factors on reproductive failure. Parity 1 sows had a higher proportion (P < 0.01) of returns to service and a greater proportion of sows remaining anestrous post weaning relative to Parity 3 sows. The proportion of sows that did not farrow was higher (P < 0.01) in Parities 9 and 10 than in Parity 3. More sows were removed for anestrus during the spring (P < 0.01) and summer (P = 0.06) than during the winter. All categories of lactation length had similar rates of reproductive failure except for the lactation length 1 to 7 d, which had a higher (P < 0.05) proportion of reproductive failure. Lower lactational feed intake was associated with an increased risk of occurrence of each reproductive failure category. The odds ratios of lactation feed intake in logistic regression analyses were 0.84, 0.89, 0.82 and 0.88 for regularly and irregularly returned to service, anestrus, and did not farrow groups, respectively. This means, for example, that a sow was 0.88 times less likely to have an occurrence of not farrowing for each 1 kg increase in average daily feed intake during lactation. Our results indicate that lower and higher parities, spring and summer seasons, a lactation length of less than 8 d and lower feed intake during lactation affect the occurrence of return to service after mating and of herd removal for reproductive reasons.