The challenge of estimating kelp production in a turbid marine environment

Coastal kelp forests produce substantial marine carbon due to high annual net primary production (NPP) rates, but upscaling of NPP estimates over time and space remains difficult. We investigated the impact of variable underwater photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and photosynthetic parameters on photosynthetic oxygen production of Laminaria hyperborea, the dominant NE-Atlantic kelp species, throughout summer 2014. Collection depth of kelp had no effect on chlorophyll a content, pointing to a high photoacclimation potential of L. hyperborea towards incident light. However, chlorophyll a and photosynthesis versus irradiance parameters differed significantly along the blade gradient when normalized to fresh mass, potentially introducing large uncertainties in NPP upscaling to whole thalli. Therefore, we recommend a normalization to kelp tissue area, which is stable over the blade gradient. Continuous PAR measurements revealed a highly variable underwater light climate at our study site (Helgoland, North Sea) in summer 2014, reflected by PAR attenuation coefficients (K_d) between 0.28 and 0.87 m⁻¹. Our data highlight the importance of continuous underwater light measurements or representative average values using a weighted K_d to account for large PAR variability in NPP calculations. Strong winds in August increased turbidity, resulting in a negative carbon balance at depths >3–4 m over several weeks, considerably impacting kelp productivity. Estimated daily summer NPP over all four depths was 1.48 ± 0.97 g C · m⁻² seafloor · d⁻¹ for the Helgolandic kelp forest, which is in the range of other kelp forests along European coastlines.     

A meta-analysis on morphological,physiological and biochemical responses of plants with PGPR inoculation under drought stress

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can help plants to resist drought stress. However, the mechanisms of how PGPR inoculation affect plant status under drought remain incompletely understood. We performed a meta-analysis of plant response to PGPR inoculation by compiling data from 57 PGPR-inoculation studies, including 2, 387 paired observations on morphological, physiological and biochemical parameters under drought and well-watered conditions. We compare the PGPR effect on plants performances among different groups of controls and treatments. Our results reveal that PGPR enables plants to restore themselves from drought-stressed to near a well-watered state, and that C4 plants recover better from drought stress than C3 plants. Furthermore, PGPR is more effective underdrought than well-watered conditions in increasing plant biomass, enhancing photosynthesis and inhibiting oxidant damage, and the responses of C4 plants to the PGPR effect was stronger than that of C3 plants under drought conditions. Additionally, PGPR belonging to different taxa and PGPR with different functional traits have varying degrees of drought-resistance effects on plants. These results are important to improve our understanding of the PGPR beneficial effects on enhanced drought-resistance of plants.     

Tissue distribution of bupivacaine enantiomers in sheep

rac-Bupivacaine HCl was infused intravenously to constant arterial blood drug concentrations in sheep using a regimen of 4 mg/min for 15 min followed by 1 mg/min to 24 h. At 24 h, arterial blood was sampled, the animal was killed with a bolus of KCl solution, then rapidly dissected and samples were obtained from heart, brain, lung, kidney, liver, muscle, fat, gut, and rumen. Tissue:blood distribution coefficients for (+)-(R)-bupivacaine exceeded those of (?)-(S)-bupivacaine (P < 0.05) for heart, brain, lung, fat, gut, and rumen by an overall mean of 43%. Blood:plasma distribution coefficients of (?)-(S)-bupivacaine exceeded those of (+)-(R)-bupivacaine by a mean of 29% and this offset the tissue:blood distribution coefficients so that the previously significant enantioselective differences disappeared. It is concluded that although enantioselectivity of bupivacame distribution is shown by the measured tissue:blood distribution coefficients, it is not shown when tissue:plasma water distribution coefficients are calculated, suggesting that there is no intrinsic difference between the bupivacaine enantiomers in tissue affinity. Sheep given fatal intravenous bolus doses of rac-bupivacaine had significantly greater concentrations of (+)-(R)-bupivacaine than (?)-(S)-bupivacaine in brain (P = 0.028) and ventricle (P = 0.036); these could augment the greater myocardial toxicity of this enantiomer found in vitro. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Synthesis and evaluation of the antidepressant activity of the enantiomers of bupropion

The synthesis of the enantiomers of bupropion, (rac)-2-tert-butylamino-3′-chloropropiophenone 1 (Wellbutrin®) is described. The enantiomers were compared with the racemate in both the tetrabenazine-induced sedation model and the inhibition of uptake of biogenic amine assay. No significant differences were found in their potencies to reverse tetrabenazine-induced sedation in mice or in their IC₅₀ values as inhibitors of biogenic amine uptake into nerve endings obtained from mouse brain. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Canopy photosynthetic production in a Japanese larch forest. II. Estimation of the canopy photosynthetic production

Seasonal changes and yearly gross canopy photosynthetic production were estimated for an 18 year old Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis) forest between 1982 and 1984. A canopy photosynthesis model was applied for the estimation, which took into account the effect of light interception by the non-photosynthetic organs. Seasonal changes in photosynthetic ability, amount of canopy leaf area and light environment within the canopy were also taken into account. Amount of leaf area was estimated by the leaf area growth of a single leaf. The change of light environment within the canopy during the growing season was estimated with a light penetration model and the leaf increment within the canopy. Canopy respiration and surplus production were calculated as seasonal and yearly values for the three years studied. Mean yearly estimates of canopy photosynthesis, canopy respiration and surplus production were 37, 13 and 23 tCO₂ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively. Vertical trend, seasonal changes and yearly values of the estimates were analyzed in relation to environmental and stand factors.     

CryoRes: Local Resolution Estimation of Cryo-EM Density Maps by Deep Learning

Recent progress in cryo-EM research has ignited a revolution in biological macromolecule structure determination. Resolution is an essential parameter for quality assessment of a cryo-EM density map, and it is known that resolution varies in different regions of a map. Currently available methods for local resolution estimation require manual adjustment of parameters and in some cases necessitate acquisition or de novo generation of so-called “half maps”. Here, we developed CryoRes, a deep-learning algorithm to estimate local resolution directly from a single final cryo-EM density map, specifically by learning resolution-aware patterns of density map voxels through supervised training on a large dataset comprising 1,174 experimental cryo-EM density maps. CryoRes significantly outperforms all of the state-of-the-art competing resolution estimation methods, achieving an average RMSE of 2.26 Å for local resolution estimation relative to the currently most reliable FSC-based method blocres, yet requiring only the single final map as input. Further, CryoRes is able to generate a molecular mask for each map, with accuracy 12.12% higher than the masks generated by ResMap. CryoRes is ultra-fast, fully automatic, parameter-free, applicable to cryo-EM subtomogram data, and freely available at https://cryores.zhanglab.net.     

Augmentation of antitumor immunity in regional lymph nodes by local immunotherapy

We have previously reported that the antitumor effect of OK-432, a streptococcal preparation, is markedly augmented when injected intratumorally together with fibrinogen (OK-432/fbg) [1]. In order to elucidate the effects of this immunotherapy on regional lymph nodes (RLN), we carried out both morphological and functional analyses of the RLN from colonic cancer patients treated with OK-432/ fbg. Computer-aided morphometry revealed that the maximal cross-sectional areas and the broadest diameters of the RLN were significantly greater (p<0.01) in patients who had undergone local immunotherapy than in patients who had not. The component structures of RLN, such as sinus, follicle and paracortex, were all enlarged in the OK-432/fbg-treated patients, and necrosis of metastatic tumors was observed. RLN lymphocytes recovered from OK-432/fbg treated patients showed elevated reactivity to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and the stimulation index was clearly higher than that of control patients. Flow cytometric analysis revealed a predominance of T-cells, especially CD4 subsets, and higher positivity for both CD25 and HLA-DR. Furthermore, RLN lymphocytes killed more effectively K562 and Daudi cells in the patients who had had immunotherapy. These results suggest that the effect of local immunotherapy with OK-432/fbg is not restricted to the site of injection but extends to the lymph nodes, and contributes to tumor regression through the augmentation of cellular immunity.Abbreviations RLN regional lymph node(s) - OK-432/fbg OK-432/fibrinogen solution - PHA phytohemagglutinin - NK natural killer - LAK lymphocyte activated killer     

A carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance investigation of the metabolic fluxes associated withy glucose metabolism in human erythrocytes

We have used [2-¹³C]d-glucose and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to investigate metabolic fluxes through the major pathways of glucose metabolism in intact human erythrocytes and to determine the interactions among these pathways under conditions that perturb metabolism. Using the method described, we have been able to measure fluxes through the pentose phosphate pathway, phosphofructokinase, the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate bypass, and phosphoglycerate kinase, as well as glucose uptake, concurrently and in a single experiment. We have measured these fluxes in normal human erythrocytes under the following conditions: (1) fully oxygenated; (2) treated with methylene blue; and (3) deoxygenated. This method makes it possible to monitor various metabolic effects of stresses in normal and pathological states. Not only has ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy proved to be a useful method for measuring in vivo flux through the pentose phosphate pathway, but it has also provided additional information about the cycling of metabolites through the non-oxidative portion of the pentose phosphate pathway. Our evidence from experiments with [1-¹³C]-, [2-¹³C]-, and [3-¹³C]d-glucoses indicates that there is an observable reverse flux of fructose 6-phosphate through the reactions catalyzed by transketolase and transaldolase, even in the presence of a net flux through the pentose phosphate pathway.     

The synergistic effects of interleukin 2 and interleukin 7 on the proliferation and autologous tumor cell lysis of tumor-associated lymphocytes

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) has an ability to stimulate the proliferation of pre-B cells. It has been shown that IL-7 can also activate T lymphocytes. We here demonstrate that IL-7 in combination with interleukin-2 (IL-2) can drive cell proliferation and enhance the autologous tumor cell lysis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and autologous mixed lymphocyte tumor cell culture (MLTC)-derived effector cells (MLTC cells). These synergistic effects of IL-2 and IL-7 on the proliferation and the augmentation of autologous tumor cell lysis were found for both effector cells. These effects were inhibited by neutralizing antibodies to IL-2 or IL-7, and by a combination of both antibodies, significantly. In terms of phenotypical expression, CD3 positive cells comprised the vast majority of MLTC cells after culture in medium containing IL-2 and IL-7 with an increase of IL-2 receptor positive cells.Abbreviations CD cluster differentiation - IFN interferon - IL interleukin - JRU Japanese Reference Unit - LAK lymphokine activated killer - mAb monoclonal antibody - MLTC mixed lymphocyte tumor cell culture - PBMC peripheral blood mononuclear cells - TILs tumor infiltrating lymphocytes     

Immunogenicity,effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccine in older adults living in nursing homes: A real-life study

IntroductionBNT162b2 (BioNTech and Pfizer) is a nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine that provides protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and is generally well tolerated. However, data about its efficacy, immunogenicity and safety in people of old age or with underlying chronic conditions are scarce.PurposeTo describe BNT162b2 (BioNTech and Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity, effectiveness and reactogenicity after complete vaccination (two doses), and immunogenicity and reactogenicity after one booster, in elders residing in nursing homes (NH) and healthy NH workers in real-life conditions.MethodsObservational, ambispective, multicenter study. Older adults and health workers were recruited from three nursing homes of a private hospital corporation located in three Spanish cities. The primary vaccination was carried out between January and March 2021. The follow-up was 13 months. Humoral immunity, adverse events, SARS-CoV-2 infections, hospitalizations and deaths were evaluated. Cellular immunity was assessed in a participant subset.ResultsA total of 181 residents (mean age 84.1 years; 89.9% females, Charlson index ≥2: 45%) and 148 members of staff (mean age 45.2 years; 70.2% females) were surveyed (n:329). After primary vaccination of 327 participants, vaccine response in both groups was similar; ≈70% of participants, regardless of the group, had an antibody titer above the cut-off considered currently protective (260 BAU/ml). This proportion increased significantly to ≈ 98% after the booster (p < 0.0001 in both groups). Immunogenicity was largely determined by a prior history of COVID-19 infection. Twenty residents and 3 workers were tested for cellular immunity. There was evidence of cellular immunity after primary vaccination and after booster. During the study, one resident was hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2. No SARS-CoV-2-related deaths were reported and most adverse events were mild.ConclusionsOur results suggest that the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is immunogenic, effective and safe in elderly NH residents with underlying chronic conditions.