European larch phenology in the Alps: can we grasp the role of ecological factors by combining field observations and inverse modelling?

Vegetation phenology is strongly influenced by climatic factors. Climate changes may cause phenological variations, especially in the Alps which are considered to be extremely vulnerable to global warming. The main goal of our study is to analyze European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) phenology in alpine environments and the role of the ecological factors involved, using an integrated approach based on accurate field observations and modelling techniques. We present 2 years of field-collected larch phenological data, obtained following a specifically designed observation protocol. We observed that both spring and autumn larch phenology is strongly influenced by altitude. We propose an approach for the optimization of a spring warming model (SW) and the growing season index model (GSI) consisting of a model inversion technique, based on simulated look-up tables (LUTs), that provides robust parameter estimates. The optimized models showed excellent agreement between modelled and observed data: the SW model predicts the beginning of the growing season (B(GS)) with a mean RMSE of 4 days, while GSI gives a prediction of the growing season length (L(GS)) with a RMSE of 5 days. Moreover, we showed that the original GSI parameters led to consistent errors, while the optimized ones significantly increased model accuracy. Finally, we used GSI to investigate interactions of ecological factors during springtime development and autumn senescence. We found that temperature is the most effective factor during spring recovery while photoperiod plays an important role during autumn senescence: photoperiod shows a contrasting effect with altitude decreasing its influence with increasing altitude.     

Mangafodipir a Selective Cytoprotectant — with Special Reference to Oxaliplatin and Its Association to Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)

Oxaliplatin, in combination with 5-fluorouracil plus folinate (or capecitabine), has increased survival substantially in stage III colorectal cancer and prolonged life in stage IV patients, but its use is compromised because of severe toxicity. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is the most problematic dose-limiting toxicity of oxaliplatin. Oncologists included for years calcium and magnesium infusion as part of clinical practice for preventing CIPN. Results from a phase III prospective study published in 2014, however, overturned this practice. No other treatments have been clinically proven to prevent this toxicity. There is a body of evidence that CIPN is caused by cellular oxidative stress. Clinical and preclinical data suggest that the manganese chelate and superoxide dismutase mimetic mangafodipir (MnDPDP) is an efficacious inhibitor of CIPN and other conditions caused by cellular oxidative stress, without interfering negatively with the tumoricidal activity of chemotherapy. MnPLED, the metabolite of MnDPDP, attacks cellular oxidative stress at several critical levels. Firstly, MnPLED catalyzes dismutation of superoxide (O₂^??), and secondly, having a tremendous high affinity for iron (and copper), PLED binds and disarms redox active iron/copper, which is involved in several detrimental oxidative steps. A case report from 2009 and a recent feasibility study suggest that MnDPDP may prevent or even cure oxaliplatin-induced CIPN. Preliminary results from a phase II study (PLIANT) suggest efficacy also of calmangafodipir, but these results are according to available data obscured by a surprisingly low number of adverse events and a seemingly lower than expected efficacy of FOLFOX.     

Intestinal Dysbiosis and Yeast Isolation in Stool of Subjects with Autism Spectrum Disorders

High frequency of gastrointestinal yeast presence in ASD subjects was shown through a simple cultural approach (Candida spp. in 57.5 % of ASDs and no controls); the identification of aggressive form (pseudo-hyphae presenting) of Candida spp. at light microscope means that adhesion to intestinal mucosa is facilitated. Dysbiosis appears sustained by lowered Lactobacillus spp. and decreased number of Clostridium spp. Absence of C. difficilis and its toxins in both ASDs and controls is also shown. Low-mild gut inflammation and augmented intestinal permeability were demonstrated together with the presence of GI symptoms. Significant linear correlation was found between disease severity (CARs score) and calprotectin and Clostridium spp. presence. Also GI symptoms, such as constipation and alternating bowel, did correlate (multivariate analyses) with the increased permeability to lactulose. The present data provide rationale basis to a possible specific therapeutic intervention in restoring gut homeostasis in ASDs.     

Isolation and characterization of four type-1 ribosome-inactivating proteins, with polynucleotide:adenosine glycosidase activity, from leaves of Phytolacca dioica L.

Four type-1 (single-chain) ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs), with isoelectric points between 9.5 and 9.7, were isolated from leaves of Phytolacca dioica L. The purification procedure furnished the four proteins with an overall yield of about 16% and separated them from a protein of 29 407 ± 2 Da, as determined by electrospray mass spectrometry, whose N-terminal amino acid sequence differed from that of pokeweed (Phytolacca americana L.) leaf chitinase (PLC-B) by only one amino acid (R17I). The four RIPs (PD-L1 to PD-L4) inhibited protein synthesis by a rabbit reticulocyte lysate with 50% inhibition at the picomolar level, and produced the β-fragment, diagnostic of the specific enzymatic action of RIPs, on yeast ribosomes. Comparison of their N-terminal sequences, up to residue 45, showed that PD-L1 is identical to PD-L2 [designated the isoleucine (Ile) form from the N-terminal residue] and PD-L3 is identical to PD-L4 [designated the valine (Val) form from the N-terminal residue] and that there are 35 identical residues between the two forms. Furthermore, the Val form presents the same number of identical residues as PD-S2, an RIP isolated from the seeds of the same plant. With the exception of PD-L4, the purified RIPs gave a positive reaction when stained for sugars on SDS-PAGE gels and, when analyzed by electrospray mass spectrometry, had M_r values of 32 715 ± 1 (PD-L1), 31 542 ± 1 (PD-L2), 30 356 ± 1 (PD-L3) and 29 185 ± 1 Da (PD-L4). The 1171 kDa difference in M_r, within the same RIP form, could be due to glycosylation. Like leaf saporins and many other RIPs, the four RIPs released several adenines from poly(A), herring sperm DNA and rRNA 16S + 23S, thus acting as polynucleotide:adenosine glycosidases. This property was less pronounced in PD-L1 and PD-L3 than in PD-L2 and PD-L4, respectively. The proteins PD-L1 and PD-L4 showed 3.7% reactivity with the antiserum anti-dianthin 32 and no reactivity with antisera to PAP-R saporin-S6, momordin I and even PD-S2, an RIP isolated from the seeds of the same plant. Protein PD-L4 showed 12.5% cross-reactivity with anti-PD-L1, while the opposite cross-reactivity was 100%. Received: 5 August 1998 / Accepted: 28 October 1998     

The Distribution and Most Recent Common Ancestor of the 17q21 Inversion in Humans

The polymorphic inversion on 17q21, sometimes called the microtubular associated protein tau (MAPT) inversion, is an ∼900 kb inversion found primarily in Europeans and Southwest Asians. We have identified 21 SNPs that act as markers of the inverted, i.e., H2, haplotype. The inversion is found at the highest frequencies in Southwest Asia and Southern Europe (frequencies of ∼30%); elsewhere in Europe, frequencies vary from < 5%, in Finns, to 28%, in Orcadians. The H2 inversion haplotype also occurs at low frequencies in Africa, Central Asia, East Asia, and the Americas, though the East Asian and Amerindian alleles may be due to recent gene flow from Europe. Molecular evolution analyses indicate that the H2 haplotype originally arose in Africa or Southwest Asia. Though the H2 inversion has many fixed differences across the ∼900 kb, short tandem repeat polymorphism data indicate a very recent date for the most recent common ancestor, with dates ranging from 13,600 to 108,400 years, depending on assumptions and estimation methods. This estimate range is much more recent than the 3 million year age estimated by Stefansson et al. in 2005.¹     

Non-native species distribution along the elevation gradient in the western Italian Alps

Abstract

In this work the occurrence of non-native species was recorded along the elevation gradient in the Alps, in order to establish their distribution pattern, their current altitudinal limits and to elucidate which species are presumably adapted to higher elevations. Plots were located along the course of rivers in five valleys from 100 to 2100 m a.s.l. Sixty-eight non-natives were recorded in the study area. The proportion of invasives was found to be much higher in the study area then in the whole administrative region. The number of non-natives per plot decreased strongly with increasing elevation. The great majority (94%) of the non-native species grows at the lowest elevations, while only 6% survive up to 1500 m and none was found above this limit. Results were interpreted considering the factors driving the invasion process (disturbance, the native communities' resistance to invasion, propagule pressure, climatic conditions) and plant traits with particular respect to pre-adaptation to the harsh climate, which increases progressively with elevation. Results confirm that the Alps are not immune from invasion, at least up to medium elevation.     

A chemotaxonomic study of mucilages in American Zamiaceae

Abstract

Methylrhamnose, fucose, rhamnose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, and glucuronolactone are the monosaccharides identified in hydrolysed mucilages collected from 37 species belonging to the five American cycad genera (Ceratozamia, Chigua, Dioon, Microcycas and Zamia). The patterns of monosaccharide distribution in the mucilages resulted to be typical at the generic level, with the exception of Chigua and Zamia the patterns of which were similar. No differences appeared among species within single genera, with the exception of Zamia in which minor differences were observed at the intrageneric level. Differences and similarities among patterns at both intergeneric and intrageneric levels are discussed for their systematic implications.