Drought adaptation strategies of two bambara groundnut landraces, Uniswa Red and S19‐3, collected from contrasting environments in Africa, were compared. Our objectives were to investigate the ...relative significance of effective stomatal control induced by the abscisic acid (ABA) signalling and osmotic adjustment in regulating plant water relations in general for this legume species. The ABA concentration ABA in the leaf increased linearly with declining relative leaf water content, and there were significantly higher ABA in Uniswa Red compared with S19‐3 at the final harvest in the drought‐stressed plants. Estimated by a linear‐plateau model, S19‐3 initiated the reduction in transpiration at a significantly lower soil water threshold (FTSW = 0.50 ± 0.024) than Uniswa Red (FTSW = 0.69 ± 0.023) indicating that the latter was more sensitive in reducing plant water use in response to soil drying. A similar trend was found for stomatal closure during soil drying, although the soil water thresholds at which relative stomatal conductance (gs) started to decline were not significantly different between the two landraces. By an early closure of stomata and hence an early reduction in transpiration rate during soil drying, Uniswa Red could be defined as a ‘water‐saver' such that it maintains leaf water status to a great extent of soil water deficit. This strategy is important for survival during intermittent drought. While S19‐3 could be defined as a ‘water‐spender' with a late closure of stomata, hence a late declining of transpiration rate during soil drying allowed the landrace to maximize its water use despite giving up its leaf water relations. Such drought response together with a fast phenological development of S19‐3 indicates that the landrace is capable of escaping from terminal drought while maximizing its water use and productivity when soil water is available.
The plant Golgi plays a pivotal role in the biosynthesis of cell wall matrix polysaccharides, protein glycosylation, and vesicle trafficking. Golgi-localized proteins have become prospective targets ...for reengineering cell wall biosynthetic pathways for the efficient production of biofuels from plant cell walls. However, proteomic characterization of the Golgi has so far been limited, owing to the technical challenges inherent in Golgi purification. In this study, a combination of density centrifugation and surface charge separation techniques have allowed the reproducible isolation of Golgi membranes from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliam) at sufficiently high purity levels for in-depth proteomic analysis. Quantitative proteomic analysis, immunoblotting, enzyme activity assays, and electron microscopy all confirm high purity levels. A composition analysis indicated that approximately 19% of proteins were likely derived from contaminating compartments and ribosomes. The localization of 13 newly assigned proteins to the Golgi using transient fluorescent markers further validated the proteome. A collection of 371 proteins consistently identified in all replicates has been proposed to represent the Golgi proteome, marking an appreciable advancement in numbers of Golgi-localized proteins. A significant proportion of proteins likely involved in matrix polysaccharide biosynthesis were identified. The potential within this proteome for advances in understanding Golgi processes has been demonstrated by the identification and functional characterization of the first plant Golgi-resident nucleoside diphosphatase, using a yeast complementation assay. Overall, these data show key proteins involved in primary cell wall synthesis and include a mixture of well-characterized and unknown proteins whose biological roles and importance as targets for future research can now be realized.
We examined long‐term musculoskeletal and cardiac adaptations elicited by recreational football (FG, n=9) and running (RG, n=10) in untrained premenopausal women in comparison with a control group ...(CG, n=9). Training was performed for 16 months (∼2 weekly 1‐h sessions). For FG, right and left ventricular end‐diastolic diameters were increased by 24% and 5% (P<0.05), respectively, after 16 months. Right ventricular systolic function measured by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) increased (P<0.05) in FG after 4 months and further (P<0.05) after 16 months (15% and 32%, respectively). In RG and CG, cardiac structure, E/A and TAPSE remained unchanged. For FG, whole‐body bone mineral density (BMD) was 2.3% and 1.3% higher (P<0.05) after 16 months, than after 4 and 0 months, respectively, with no changes for RG and CG. FG demonstrated substantial improvements (P<0.05) in fast (27% and 16%) and slow (16% and 17%) eccentric muscle strength and rapid force capacity (Imp30ms: 66% and 65%) after 16 months compared with 4 and 0 months, with RG improving Imp30ms by 64% and 46%. In conclusion, long‐term recreational football improved muscle function, postural balance and BMD in adult women with a potential favorable influence on the risk of falls and fractures. Moreover, football training induced consistent cardiac adaptations, which may have implications for long‐term cardiovascular health.
We present the confirmation and characterisation of GJ 3473 b (G 50–16, TOI-488.01), a hot Earth-sized planet orbiting an M4 dwarf star, whose transiting signal (
P
= 1.1980035 ± 0.0000018 d) was ...first detected by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Through a joint modelling of follow-up radial velocity observations with CARMENES, IRD, and HARPS together with extensive ground-based photometric follow-up observations with LCOGT, MuSCAT, and MuSCAT2, we determined a precise planetary mass,
M
b
= 1.86 ± 0.30
M
⊕
, and radius,
R
b
= 1.264 ± 0.050
R
⊕
. Additionally, we report the discovery of a second, temperate, non-transiting planet in the system, GJ 3473 c, which has a minimum mass,
M
c
sin
i
= 7.41 ± 0.91
M
⊕
, and orbital period,
P
c
= 15.509 ± 0.033 d. The inner planet of the system, GJ 3473 b, is one of the hottest transiting Earth-sized planets known thus far, accompanied by a dynamical mass measurement, which makes it a particularly attractive target for thermal emission spectroscopy.
Most common breast cancer susceptibility variants have been identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of predominantly estrogen receptor (ER)-positive disease. We conducted a GWAS ...using 21,468 ER-negative cases and 100,594 controls combined with 18,908 BRCA1 mutation carriers (9,414 with breast cancer), all of European origin. We identified independent associations at P < 5 × 10
with ten variants at nine new loci. At P < 0.05, we replicated associations with 10 of 11 variants previously reported in ER-negative disease or BRCA1 mutation carrier GWAS and observed consistent associations with ER-negative disease for 105 susceptibility variants identified by other studies. These 125 variants explain approximately 16% of the familial risk of this breast cancer subtype. There was high genetic correlation (0.72) between risk of ER-negative breast cancer and breast cancer risk for BRCA1 mutation carriers. These findings may lead to improved risk prediction and inform further fine-mapping and functional work to better understand the biological basis of ER-negative breast cancer.
Natural killer (NK) cells are the predominant leukocyte in first trimester decidua and play a role in vascular remodelling through interferon gamma (IFNγ) secretion. Membrane expression of the killer ...immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) KIR2DL4 on peripheral blood NK (pNK) cells is controlled by the 9A/10A transmembrane genetic polymorphism. On peripheral NK cells (pNK), KIR2DL4 can only be detected on the membrane of cells from individuals with at least one copy of the 10A allele and ligation of KIR2DL4 results in IFNγ secretion. In this study, we assessed KIR2DL4 expression and IFNγ secretion as a result of KIR2DL4 ligation, by decidual NK (dNK) cells. The 9A/10A transmembrane polymorphism was shown to control KIR2DL4 expression by dNK, as previously shown for pNK cells. Freshly isolated dNK cells from subjects with at least one 10A allele expressed KIR2DL4 whereas those from 9A homozygous subjects did not. Although freshly isolated dNK did not secrete IFNγ in response to KIR2DL4 ligation regardless of KIR2DL4 genotype, activation by in vitro culture with IL-2 enabled dNK cells from individuals with at least one 10A allele, but not those without a 10A allele, to secrete IFNγ in response to KIR2DL4 ligation. This study confirms that expression of KIR2DL4 by dNK is dependent on the 9A/10A polymorphism and that this polymorphism influences IFNγ secretion by dNK cells.
•European Non-polio Enterovirus Network established.•Collect respiratory, stool and CSF samples for EV testing from patient with neurological infection.•Sensitive PCR method should be used to ...diagnose EV infection.•Sequencing of VP1 capsid protein gene is recommended for EV typing.•Standardased laboratory diagnostics and characterisation key for effective surveillancce.
Enteroviruses (EV) can cause severe neurological and respiratory infections, and occasionally lead to devastating outbreaks as previously demonstrated with EV-A71 and EV-D68 in Europe. However, these infections are still often underdiagnosed and EV typing data is not currently collected at European level. In order to improve EV diagnostics, collate data on severe EV infections and monitor the circulation of EV types, we have established European non-polio enterovirus network (ENPEN). First task of this cross-border network has been to ensure prompt and adequate diagnosis of these infections in Europe, and hence we present recommendations for non-polio EV detection and typing based on the consensus view of this multidisciplinary team including experts from over 20 European countries. We recommend that respiratory and stool samples in addition to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood samples are submitted for EV testing from patients with suspected neurological infections. This is vital since viruses like EV-D68 are rarely detectable in CSF or stool samples. Furthermore, reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) targeting the 5′noncoding regions (5′NCR) should be used for diagnosis of EVs due to their sensitivity, specificity and short turnaround time. Sequencing of the VP1 capsid protein gene is recommended for EV typing; EV typing cannot be based on the 5′NCR sequences due to frequent recombination events and should not rely on virus isolation. Effective and standardized laboratory diagnostics and characterisation of circulating virus strains are the first step towards effective and continuous surveillance activities, which in turn will be used to provide better estimation on EV disease burden.
.
Objective. It is well known that chronic heart failure (CHF) is associated with insulin resistance and cachexia, but little is known about the underlying substrate metabolism. The present study ...was undertaken to identify disturbances of basal glucose, lipid and protein metabolism.
Design. We studied eight nondiabetic patients with CHF (ejection fraction 30 ± 4%) and eight healthy controls. Protein metabolism (whole body and regional muscle fluxes) and total glucose turnover were isotopically assayed. Substrate oxidation were obtained by indirect calorimetry. The metabolic response to exercise was studied by bicycle ergometry exercise.
Results. Our data confirm that CHF patients have a decreased lean body mass. CHF patients are characterised by (i) decreased glucose oxidation glucose oxidation (mg kg−1 min−1): 1.25 ± 0.09 (patients) vs. 1.55 ± 0.09 (controls), P < 0.01 and muscle glucose uptake a − v diffglucose (μmol L−1): −10 ± 25 (patients) vs. 70 ± 22 (controls), P < 0.01, (ii) elevated levels of free fatty acids (FFA) FFA (mmol L−1): 0.72 ± 0.05 (patients) vs. 0.48 ± 0.03 (controls), P < 0.01 and 3‐hydroxybutyrate and signs of elevated fat oxidation and muscle fat utilization a − v diffFFA (mmol L−1): 0.12 ± 0.02 (patients) vs. 0.05 ± 0.01 (controls), P < 0.05 and (iii) elevated protein turnover and protein breakdown phenylalanine flux (μmol kg−1 h−1): 36.4 ± 1.5 (patients) vs. 29.6 ± 1.3 (controls), P < 0.01. Patients had high circulating levels of noradrenaline, glucagon, and adiponectin, and low levels of ghrelin. We failed to observe any differences in metabolic responses between controls and patients during short‐term exercise.
Conclusions. In the basal fasting state patients with CHF are characterized by several metabolic abnormalities which may contribute to CHF pathophysiology and may provide a basis for targeted intervention.
A survey of salmonella infection on 454 commercial layer flock holdings in the uk was carried out between October 2004 and September 2005. Fifty-four (11.7 per cent, 95 per cent confidence interval ...9.3 to 14.0 per cent) were salmonella positive. The most common serovar identified was Salmonella Enteritidis at a prevalence of 5.8 per cent, and 70 per cent of these isolates were phage types 4, 6, 7 and 35. Salmonella Typhimurium was the second most prevalent serovar, found in 1.8 per cent of the farms. Of the three other serovars given top priority by the eu because of their public health significance, Salmonella Virchow and Salmonella Infantis were each isolated from one holding, but Salmonella Hadar was not isolated from any of the holdings. Analysis of antimicrobial resistance patterns revealed that over 76 per cent of the isolates were sensitive to all of the 16 drugs tested, and all the isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, ceftazidime, apramycin, amikacin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, neomycin and cefotaxime.
A novel design strategy for the epitaxial structure of monolithic mode-locked semiconductor lasers is presented. Using an all-active design, we fabricate 40-GHz lasers generating 2.8-ps almost ...chirp-free pulses with record low high-frequency jitter and more than 7-mW fiber coupled output power.
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