The effect of temperature, light and nutrient composition on morphological traits was determined in seven nostocacean cyanobacteria
(Anabaena planctonica, A. sphaerica
var.
conoidea, A. spiroides, ...Aphanizomenon gracile, Nostoc
sp.,
Scytonema
sp., and
Tolypothrix
sp.). Their morphological variability was high but only some of the features showed changes reflecting varied growth conditions. The frequency of heterocyst occurrence decreased with increasing nitrogen concentration. Within the range studied, the effect of temperature on heterocyst frequency of
Tolypothrix
sp. and planktonic
Anabaena
strains could be fitted by a normal curve with a clear optimum while linear correlation was found in
Aphanizomenon gracile
. T-and S-type branching was observed in both
Scytonema
sp. and
Tolypothrix
sp. strains. T-type branching was found to be markedly dependent on nitrogen concentration. The abundance of necridic cells of
Tolypothrix
sp. increased linearly with temperature and light intensity. Regularity of trichome coiling of
A. spiroides
depended on culture medium, suggesting that nutrient composition may be the main controlling factor. In contrast, the effect of the experimental conditions on the dimensions of vegetative cells and heterocysts was weak. Their variability was markedly higher within each experimental treatment than between treatments.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Coronary artery disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and is a consequence of acute thrombotic events involving activation of platelets and coagulation proteins. Factor Xa ...inhibitors and aspirin each reduce thrombotic events but have not yet been tested in combination or against each other in patients with stable coronary artery disease.
In this multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, outpatient trial, patients with stable coronary artery disease or peripheral artery disease were recruited at 602 hospitals, clinics, or community centres in 33 countries. This paper reports on patients with coronary artery disease. Eligible patients with coronary artery disease had to have had a myocardial infarction in the past 20 years, multi-vessel coronary artery disease, history of stable or unstable angina, previous multi-vessel percutaneous coronary intervention, or previous multi-vessel coronary artery bypass graft surgery. After a 30-day run in period, patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive rivaroxaban (2·5 mg orally twice a day) plus aspirin (100 mg once a day), rivaroxaban alone (5 mg orally twice a day), or aspirin alone (100 mg orally once a day). Randomisation was computer generated. Each treatment group was double dummy, and the patients, investigators, and central study staff were masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome of the COMPASS trial was the occurrence of myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01776424, and is closed to new participants.
Between March 12, 2013, and May 10, 2016, 27 395 patients were enrolled to the COMPASS trial, of whom 24 824 patients had stable coronary artery disease from 558 centres. The combination of rivaroxaban plus aspirin reduced the primary outcome more than aspirin alone (347 4% of 8313 vs 460 6% of 8261; hazard ratio HR 0·74, 95% CI 0·65–0·86, p<0·0001). By comparison, treatment with rivaroxaban alone did not significantly improve the primary outcome when compared with treatment with aspirin alone (411 5% of 8250 vs 460 6% of 8261; HR 0·89, 95% CI 0·78–1·02, p=0·094). Combined rivaroxaban plus aspirin treatment resulted in more major bleeds than treatment with aspirin alone (263 3% of 8313 vs 158 2% of 8261; HR 1·66, 95% CI 1·37–2·03, p<0·0001), and similarly, more bleeds were seen in the rivaroxaban alone group than in the aspirin alone group (236 3% of 8250 vs 158 2% of 8261; HR 1·51, 95% CI 1·23–1·84, p<0·0001). The most common site of major bleeding was gastrointestinal, occurring in 130 2% patients who received combined rivaroxaban plus aspirin, in 84 1% patients who received rivaroxaban alone, and in 61 1% patients who received aspirin alone. Rivaroxaban plus aspirin reduced mortality when compared with aspirin alone (262 3% of 8313 vs 339 4% of 8261; HR 0·77, 95% CI 0·65–0·90, p=0·0012).
In patients with stable coronary artery disease, addition of rivaroxaban to aspirin lowered major vascular events, but increased major bleeding. There was no significant increase in intracranial bleeding or other critical organ bleeding. There was also a significant net benefit in favour of rivaroxaban plus aspirin and deaths were reduced by 23%. Thus, addition of rivaroxaban to aspirin has the potential to substantially reduce morbidity and mortality from coronary artery disease worldwide.
Bayer AG.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
The genus Rhexinema, (heterofilamentous green alga, Chlorophyta) with type species of R. pauclcellulare, is considered to be one of the several taxonomically problematic and uncommon groups of green ...heterofilamentous algae. Traditionally used morphological criteria and lack of molecular data have caused that this genus was classified to the order Chaetophorales. Due to the cytological studies order Chaetophorales was reduced and some included members were assigned with allied species into various groups of Chlorophyta. R. paucicellulare was originally described as Pleurastrum paucicellulare by Vischer (1933). The confusing morphological features, lack of molecular data and misidentification of natural material of Rhexinema have caused misclassifications into other genera, e.i. Pleurastrum, Protoderma or Gloeotilopsis. During the investigation of Pleurastrum species concept, Pleurastrum paucicellulare and Pleurastrum sarcinoideum were assigned to the genus Gleotilopsis (Ulvophyceae) by Friedl (1996) on the basis of genetic similarity with the strain SAG 29.93 identified as Gloeotilopsis planctonica. We studied the morphological variability of all respective strains together with their phylogenetic relations and clarified the taxonomical delimitation of the genus Rhexinema. Phylogenetic analyses of the nuclear-encoded small-subunit rDNA (18S) confirmed that Rhexinema is really member of the group Ulvophyceae. However, on the basis of morphological and molecular investigations of the studied strains it was necessary to reclassify Pleurastrum paucicellulare and Pleurastrum sarcinoideum into the genus Rhexinema, as R. paucicellulare and R. sarcinoideum (Groover et Bold) comb, nov., in agreement with nomenclature principles.
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BFBNIB, GIS, IJS, KISLJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
Pleurocapsa cuprea Hansgirg 1892 was described as a cyanobacterial species from mountain streams in the southern Tyrol and Bohemia, and commonly identified from natural localities. Diagnostic ...features include a verrucose surface and copper colour of the colonies, with occasional occurrence of pseudodichotomic branching of the thallus. Natural material of P. cuprea was studied recently and compared with the type material from a collection of cryptogams (Natural History Museum Vienna). The morphology of its macroscopic red patches (colonies) and cells in particular are similar those of the rhodophyte Hildenbrandia rivularis. This paper presents a comparison of morphological and molecular characters of P. cuprea and H. rivularis and the partial molecular sequence data of P. cuprea. It also reports results from 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining, transmission electron microscope analyses and analyses of pigments. According to the results of variable analyses, P. cuprea is an eucaryotic alga and should be classified to the Rhodophyta, close to the group of the freshwater species of the genus Hildenbrandia as a special species of this genus. The relationships between P. cuprea and H. rivularis are discussed.
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BFBNIB, GIS, IJS, KISLJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
Spatial thinking is often challenging for introductory geology students. A pilot study using the Augmented Reality sandbox (AR sandbox) suggests it can be a powerful tool for bridging the gap between ...two-dimensional (2D) representations and real landscapes, as well as enhancing the spatial thinking and modeling abilities of students. The AR sandbox involves a real box of sand with virtual contour lines and a water flow model created using a three-dimensional (3D) scanning camera, visualization software, and a projector. It was used in undergraduate, physical geology courses to teach topographic maps and surficial features and processes. The instructor demonstrated topographic concepts (contour lines, topographic profiles, etc.), and students engaged in model building of coastal and fluvial environments (drainage basins, cutoffs, longshore transport, sea-level rise, spits, flooding, etc.). The virtual water flow model was used to illustrate water flow dynamics on surface features. With the AR sandbox connected to a computer monitor, students could simultaneously see 3D landscapes in the sandbox and their corresponding 2D images on the monitor. Students used camera phones to capture landscape models they built and submitted them via e-mail for grading. Exit surveys indicated students were overwhelmingly positive (97%) in their perception of how the AR sandbox improved their understanding of learning objectives. They also preferred AR sandbox activities when compared to traditional laboratories that used only topographic maps. Effective classroom use of the AR sandbox required developing student-modeling exercises that took advantage of real-time feedback, virtual water, and physical modeling activities. While data are limited and more research is needed, real-time feedback on student models by both the students and the instructor suggests sandbox models are particularly useful for dispelling student misconceptions., Dicranochaete is a green coccoid alga with a spiny cap and a long branched seta that was described more than 100 yr ago from field samples. Although Dicranochaete has been repeatedly reported to be found on Sphagnum 'leaves' in peat bogs, our knowledge about its development is still fragmentary, and its phylogenetic affiliation remained controversial. To advance knowledge about this lesser-known alga, I used two Dicranochaete strains, grew them in a medium that mimics chemical properties of peat bogs and studied their life history and development. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses using rDNA sequence comparisons were performed. My studies resulted in the following key observations: (1) Dicranochaete possesses a unique development that together with its characteristic morphology likely represents adaptations to the specific environment of peat bogs: the spiny cap, especially in early stages of algal development, presumably serves as a defence against predators. The seta provides an additional surface area to aid the uptake of nutrients, in particular phosphate. (2) Phylogenetic analyses identified Dicranochaete as a member of the Chaetopeltidales (Chlorophyceae). Moreover, a new species of Dicranochaete, Dicranochaete variabilis sp. nov., was erected, and the genus Dicranochaete
Hieronymus (1890)
was emended. In conclusion, this study provides new insights into the life history, developmental processes and phylogenetic position of Dicranochaete and provides insights into adaptation of epiphyllous microalgae to nutrient-poor environments (i.e. peat bogs).
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BFBNIB, GIS, IJS, KISLJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
Pheochromocytomas (PHEOs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) are rare, neuroendocrine tumors derived from adrenal or extra-adrenal chromaffin cells, respectively. Metastases are discovered in 3-36% of ...patients at the time of diagnosis. Currently, only suboptimal treatment options exist. Therefore, new therapeutic compounds targeting metastatic PHEOs/PGLs are urgently needed. Here, we investigated if anthracyclines were able to suppress the progression of metastatic PHEO. We explored their effects on experimental mouse PHEO tumor cells using in vitro and in vivo models, and demonstrated that anthracyclines, particularly idarubicin (IDA), suppressed hypoxia signaling by preventing the binding of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 and 2 (HIF-1 and HIF-2) to the hypoxia response element (HRE) sites on DNA. This resulted in reduced transcriptional activation of HIF target genes, including erythropoietin (EPO), phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1), endothelin 1 (EDN1), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFA), which consequently inhibited the growth of metastatic PHEO. Additionally, IDA downregulated hypoxia signaling by interfering with the transcriptional activation of HIF1A and HIF2A. Furthermore, our animal model demonstrated the dose-dependent suppressive effect of IDA on metastatic PHEO growth in vivo. Our results indicate that anthracyclines are prospective candidates for inclusion in metastatic PHEO/PGL therapy, especially in patients with gene mutations involved in the hypoxia signaling pathway.
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