Irregular Heartwood Formation in Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster Ait):Consequences for Biomechanical and Hydraulic Tree Functioning

As the proportion of sapwood (SW) transformed into heartwood(HW) is irregular both radially and longitudinally in trunksof Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.), it has been suggestedthat HW formation is a developmental process, regulated internallywithin the tree. In trees where stem growth is eccentric dueto stem lean or wind action, the number of annual growth ringsof SW transformed into HW is greater on the compressed sideof the tree. To determine the contribution to bending stiffness,if any, of this prematurely formed HW, four point bending testswere carried out on fresh HW and SW samples taken from the samegrowth ring, or neighbouring growth rings, at different cross-sectionalpositions at a height of 2 m from six 52-year-old Maritime pines.The mean (±s.e.) modulus of elasticity (E) was 7.6 ±0.3 GPa (longitudinal direction) for all samples. No significantdifferences in E were found between HW and SW; thus HW doesnot play a significant mechanical role in bending stiffness.To test a second hypothesis that early HW formation on the compressedside of trees may maintain a constant, optimal volume of SWaround the tree, the Pipe Model Theory was applied to 12 52-year-oldleaning Maritime pines (angle of lean varied from 0–22°).The surface area (S) of the SW was determined at different heightsup the trunk and correlated with crown surface area (S_crown).Regressions between S_SWandS_crown were highly significant, therebysupporting the theory that HW formation and extension is controlledinternally in Maritime pine. HW formation in Maritime pine thenserves to maintain an optimal proportion of functional SW whichis an important criterion for survival in a species often subjectedto severe drought for long periods. Copyright 2001 Annals ofBotany Company Heartwood, sapwood, bending test, Pipe Model Theory, Pinus pinaster     

The role of patient expectations in predicting outcome after total knee arthroplasty

Introduction  

Patient's expectations are variably reported to influence self-rated outcome and satisfaction after medical treatment; this prospective study examined which of the following was the most important unique determinant of global outcome/satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty (TKA): baseline expectations; fulfilment of expectations; or current symptoms and function.     

Improving the pharmacokinetic properties of biologics by fusion to an anti-HSA shark VNAR domain

Advances in recombinant antibody technology and protein engineering have provided the opportunity to reduce antibodies to their smallest binding domain components and have concomitantly driven the requirement for devising strategies to increase serum half-life to optimise drug exposure, thereby increasing therapeutic efficacy. In this study, we adopted an immunization route to raise picomolar affinity shark immunoglobulin new antigen receptors (IgNARs) to target human serum albumin (HSA). From our model shark species, Squalus acanthias, a phage display library encompassing the variable binding domain of IgNAR (VNAR) was constructed, screened against target, and positive clones were characterized for affinity and specificity. N-terminal and C-terminal molecular fusions of our lead hit in complex with a naïve VNAR domain were expressed, purified and exhibited the retention of high affinity binding to HSA, but also cross-selectivity to mouse, rat and monkey serum albumin both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the naïve VNAR had enhanced pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics in both N- and C-terminal orientations and when tested as a three domain construct with naïve VNAR flanking the HSA binding domain at both the N and C termini. Molecules derived from this platform technology also demonstrated the potential for clinical utility by being available via the subcutaneous route of delivery. This study thus demonstrates the first in vivo functional efficacy of a VNAR binding domain with the ability to enhance PK properties and support delivery of multifunctional therapies.     

Characterization of an Atypical Superoxide Dismutase from Sinorhizobium meliloti

Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm5000 is an aerobic bacterium that can live free in the soil or in symbiosis with the roots of leguminous plants. A single detectable superoxide dismutase (SOD) was found in free-living growth conditions. The corresponding gene was isolated from a genomic library by using a sod fragment amplified by PCR from degenerate primers as a probe. The sodA gene was located in the chromosome. It is transcribed monocistronically and encodes a 200-amino-acid protein with a theoretical M(r) of 22,430 and pI of 5. 8. S. meliloti SOD complemented a deficient E. coli mutant, restoring aerobic growth of a sodA sodB recA strain, when the gene was expressed from the synthetic tac promoter but not from its own promoter. Amino acid sequence alignment showed great similarity with Fe-containing SODs (FeSODs), but the enzyme was not inactivated by H(2)O(2). The native enzyme was purified and found to be a dimeric protein, with a specific activity of 4,000 U/mg. Despite its Fe-type sequence, atomic absorption spectroscopy showed manganese to be the cofactor (0.75 mol of manganese and 0.24 mol of iron per mol of monomer). The apoenzyme was prepared from crude extracts of S. meliloti. Activity was restored by dialysis against either MnCl(2) or Fe(NH(4))(2)(SO(4))(2), demonstrating the cambialistic nature of the S. meliloti SOD. The recovered activity with manganese was sevenfold higher than with iron. Both reconstituted enzymes were resistant to H(2)O(2). Sequence comparison with 70 FeSODs and MnSODs indicates that S. meliloti SOD contains several atypical residues at specific sites that might account for the activation by manganese and resistance to H(2)O(2) of this unusual Fe-type SOD.     

Intraspecific killing among Leopards (Panthera pardus) in Iran (Mammalia: Felidae)

Intraspecific aggression is one of the most common causes of death in leopards. Here, we report four cases of intraspecific killing amongst Persian Leopards (Panthera pardus saxicolor) in Iran. A young male leopard was found on 7 June 2008 which, according to camera trap images, had been killed by an adult male over a Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) kill, with trauma to his neck in Dorfak No-Hunting Area. A young female that had been fitted with a satellite GPS collar on 6 December 2015 in Tandoureh National Park died on 29 January 2016 at a site where an Urial Sheep (Ovis orientalis) ram had been freshly killed. Necropsy results, footprints at the scene of death and camera trap footage all supported the deduction that the animal was killed by a larger female leopard at the kill site. On 13 January 2017, a young, partially eaten female leopard was found with double puncture on the side of her throat. Finally, a rehabilitated adult female fitted with a satellite GPS collar found on 19 December 2017 with a double puncture on her head with several trauma and haemorrhages on her back. These instances seem to be the first documented reports of intraspecific killing among free-ranging leopards in Asia.     

Cyclin D2 ArrestsXenopusEarly Embryonic Cell Cycles

Xenopuscyclin D2 mRNA is a member of the class of maternal RNAs. It is rare and stable during early embryonic development. To investigate the potential role of cyclin D2 during early embryonic cell cycles, cyclin D2 was injected into one blastomere of a two-cell embryo. This injection induced a cell cycle arrest in the injected blastomere. To analyze more precisely the mechanism of this arrest, we took advantage of cycling egg extracts that recapitulate major events of the cell cycle when supplemented with demembranated sperm heads. WhenXenopuscyclin D2 is added to egg extracts, the first round of DNA replication occurs as in control extracts. However,Xenopuscyclin D2 blocks subsequent rounds of DNA replication and the oscillations of histone H1 kinase activity associated with cdc2 kinase, indicating that the cell cycle is arrested after the first S-phase. The block induced byXenopuscyclin D2 is not due to a lack of the mitotic cyclin B2 that accumulates normally. RadiolabeledXenopuscyclin D2 enters nuclei after completion of the first S-phase and remains stable over the entire period of the arrest. These features suggest thatXenopuscyclin D2 could play an original role during early development, controlling the G2-phase and/or the G2/M transition.