Genetic analysis and screening of pyrethroid resistance mutations in Varroa destructor populations from Turkey

Experimental and Applied Acarology - Varroa destructor is the most common ectoparasite of the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) worldwide and poses a serious threat to bee health. Synthetic...     

Disentangling nematode and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community effect on the growth of range-expanding Centaurea stoebe in original and new range soil

Plant and Soil - Cover crops can provide multiple agroecosystem services to crops produced in conservation agriculture systems. South African grain producers in the Mediterranean climate region are...     

Status and needs for online control of tertiary ozone-based water treatment: use of surrogate correlation models for removal of trace organic contaminants

The number of studies dealing with tertiary ozonation to remove trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) in effluents originating from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is increasing due to the need for upgrading the WWTPs overall performance. To follow-up TrOCs removal in real-time during ozone-based treatment, online surrogate measurements are necessary, of which mainly spectroscopic surrogates (i.e. UV–VIS absorbance and fluorescence) are the emerging techniques in literature. This paper summarizes and reflects on the state-of-the-art as retrieved from more than 100 peer-reviewed studies published between January 2007 and December 2020 and dealing with (1) surrogate correlation models for the prediction of TrOCs removal in secondary effluent and (2) control strategies to adjust the ozone dose during (full-scale) operation. Next to the flow and load proportional ozone dosing strategies, controlling the ozone dose solely based on the characteristics of the effluent entering the ozonation unit, also a differential control strategy based on the change in characteristics due to ozonation of the WWTP effluent is highlighted. The latter seems the best option as flow and load proportional ozone dosing do not consider the amount and/or reactivity of the matrix constituents. The presence of organic and inorganic scavengers of ozone and radicals in the effluent matrix has a significant impact on the TrOCs removal efficiency. This effluent quality can differ in time and between WWTPs, hence the surrogate correlation models should be widely applicable. At the end of the review, recommendations are made for future research and implementation of an effective control strategy for (full-scale) applications.

     

Arabidopsis α Aurora kinases function in formative cell division plane orientation

To establish three-dimensional structures/organs, plant cells continuously have to adapt the orientation of their division plane in a highly regulated manner. However, mechanisms underlying switches in division plane orientation remain elusive. Here, we characterize a viable double knockdown mutant in Arabidopsis thaliana group α Aurora (AUR) kinases, AUR1 and AUR2, (aur1-2 aur2-2), with a primary defect in lateral root formation and outgrowth. Mutant analysis revealed that aur1-2 aur2-2 lateral root primordia are built from randomly oriented cell divisions instead of distinct cell layers. This phenotype could be traced back to cytokinesis defects and misoriented cell plates during the initial anticlinal pericycle cell divisions that give rise to lateral root primordia. Complementation assays showed that the Arabidopsis α group Aurora kinases are functionally divergent from the single β group member AUR3 and that AUR1 functions in division plane orientation prior to cytokinesis. In addition to defective lateral root patterning, aur1-2 aur2-2 plants also show defects in orienting formative divisions during embryogenesis, divisions surrounding the main root stem cell niche, and divisions surrounding stomata formation. Taken together, our results put forward a central role for α Aurora kinases in regulating formative division plane orientation throughout development.     

Synthesis of the orthogonally protected amino alcohol Phaol and analogs

The development of a multigram synthesis of the orthogonally protected amino acid‐derived Phaol [2‐{[(2S)‐2‐amino‐3‐phenylpropyl]amino}ethanol] is described. The goal of this work is to synthesize an orthogonally protected Phaol in a multigram scale up to 10 g (Cbz‐Phaol), so it can be used in solution‐based peptide synthesis of peptaibols. Two synthetic schemes were proposed and examined. Between the reduction‐coupling and the coupling‐reduction scheme, the latter gave the best results. A two‐step synthesis affords easily purifiable products. Several analogs were synthesized using this methodology. All the molecules were orthogonally protected, so that they can be used in peptide synthesis. Deprotection posed no problems. Copyright © 2011 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preclinical evaluation of 68Ga-DOTA-minigastrin for the detection of cholecystokinin-2/gastrin receptor-positive tumors

In comparison to somatostatin receptor scintigraphy, gastrin receptor scintigraphy using 111In-DTPA-minigastrin (MG0) showed added value in diagnosing neuroendocrine tumors. We investigated whether the 68Ga-labeled gastrin analogue DOTA-MG0 is suited for positron emission tomography (PET), which could improve image quality. Targeting of cholecystokinin-2 (CCK2)/gastrin receptor-positive tumor cells with DOTA-MG0 labeled with either 111In or 68Ga in vitro was investigated using the AR42J rat tumor cell line. Biodistribution was examined in BALB/c nude mice with a subcutaneous AR42J tumor. In vivo PET imaging was performed using a preclinical PET-computed tomographic scanner. DOTA-MG0 showed high receptor affinity in vitro. Biodistribution studies revealed high tumor uptake of 68Ga-DOTA-MG0: 4.4 ± 1.3 %ID/g at 1 hour postinjection. Coadministration of an excess unlabeled peptide blocked the tumor uptake (0.7 ± 0.1 %ID/g), indicating CCK2/gastrin receptor-mediated uptake (p = .0005). The biodistribution of 68Ga-DOTA-MG0 was similar to that of 111In-DOTA-MG0. Subcutaneous and intraperitoneal tumors were clearly visualized by small-animal PET imaging with 5 MBq 68Ga-DOTA-MG0. 111In- and 68Ga-labeled DOTA-MG0 specifically accumulate in CCK2/gastrin receptor-positive AR42J tumors with similar biodistribution apart from the kidneys. AR42J tumors were clearly visualized by microPET. Therefore, 68Ga-DOTA-MG0 is a promising tracer for PET imaging of CCK2/gastrin receptor-positive tumors in humans.     

Serological and virological survey and resighting of marked wild geese in Germany

In order to investigate the potential role of arctic geese in the epidemiology, the spatial and temporal spread of selected avian diseases, in autumn 2002, a virological and serological survey designed as capture-mark-resighting study was conducted in one of the most important coastal resting sites for migratory waterfowl in Germany. Oropharyngeal, cloacal swabs and blood samples were collected from a total of 147 birds comprising of three different arctic geese species including White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons), Tundra Bean Goose (Anser fabalis rossicus), Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus) as well as from 29 non-migratory Canada Geese (Branta canadensis). Altogether, six adeno-like viruses (ALV; 95% CI, 1.74?C9.92%) and two avian paramyxoviruses (APMV-4; 95% CI, 0.19?C5.53%) were isolated mainly from juvenile White-fronted Geese. In addition, four Canada Geese were infected with lentogenic APMV-1 (95% CI, 3.89?C31.66%) at the date of sampling. No avian influenza viruses, reo-like viruses could be isolated despite serological evidence. Likewise, no evidence of current or previous infection by West Nile virus was found. Of the 147 birds tagged in the following years, 137 birds were re-sighted between 2002 and 2008 accumulating to 1925 sightings. About 90% of all sightings were reported from the main wintering and resting sites in Germany and The Netherlands. Eight of the resighted geese were virus positive (ALV and APMV-4) at the time point of sampling in 2002.