scholarly journals Effects of an odor background on moth pheromone communication: constituent identity matters more than blend complexity

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucie Conchou ◽  
Philippe Lucas ◽  
Nina Deisig ◽  
Elodie Demondion ◽  
Michel Renou
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Imaging ◽  
Chemical Diversity ◽  
Intrinsic Activity ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Pheromone Communication ◽  
Neuronal Coding ◽  
Chemical Structures ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Pheromone System ◽  
The Impact

AbstractOlfaction allows insects to communicate with pheromones even in complex olfactory landscapes. It is generally admitted that, due to the binding selectivity of the receptors, general odorants should weakly interfere with pheromone detection. However, laboratory studies show that volatile plant compounds (VPCs) modulate responses to the pheromone in male moths. We used extracellular electrophysiology and calcium imaging to measure the responses to the pheromone of receptor and central neurons in males Agrotis ipsilon while exposed to simple or composite backgrounds of VPCs. Maps of activities were built using calcium-imaging to visualize which areas in antennal lobes (ALs) were affected by VPCs. To mimic a natural olfactory landscape short pheromone puffs were delivered over VPC backgrounds. We chose a panel of VPCs with different chemical structures and physicochemical properties representative of the odorant variety encountered by a moth. We evaluated the intrinsic activity of each VPC and compared the impact of VPC backgrounds at antenna and antennal lobe levels. Then, we prepared binary, ternary and quaternary combinations to determine whether blend activity could be deduced from that of its components. Our data confirm that a VPC background interfere with the moth pheromone system in a dose-dependent manner. Interference with the neuronal coding of pheromone signal starts at the periphery. VPCs showed differences in their capacity to elicit Phe-ORN firing response that cannot be explained by differences in stimulus intensities because we adjusted the source concentrations to vapor pressures. Thus, these differences must be attributed to the selectivity of ORs or any other olfactory proteins. The neuronal network in the ALs, which reformats the ORN-input, did not improve pheromone salience. We postulate that the AL network might have evolved to increase sensitivity and encode for fast changes over a wide range of concentrations, possibly at some cost for selectivity. Comparing three- or four-component blends to binary blends or single compound indicated that a blend showed the activity of its most active compound. Thus, although the diversity of a background might increase the probability of including a VPC interacting with the pheromone system, chemical diversity does not seem to be a prominent factor per se. Global warming is significantly affecting plant metabolism so that the emissions of VPCs and resulting odorscapes are modified. Increase in atmospheric mixing rates of VPCs will change olfactory landscapes which, as confirmed in our study, might impact pheromone communication.

scholarly journals Inhibiting myosin-ATPase reveals a dynamic range of mitochondrial respiratory control in skeletal muscle

2011 ◽  
Vol 437 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher G. R. Perry ◽  
Daniel A. Kane ◽  
Chien-Te Lin ◽  
Rachel Kozy ◽  
Brook L. Cathey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Energy Charge ◽  
Respiratory Control ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Atpase Inhibitor ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Assessment of mitochondrial ADP-stimulated respiratory kinetics in PmFBs (permeabilized fibre bundles) is increasingly used in clinical diagnostic and basic research settings. However, estimates of the Km for ADP vary considerably (~20–300 μM) and tend to overestimate respiration at rest. Noting that PmFBs spontaneously contract during respiration experiments, we systematically determined the impact of contraction, temperature and oxygenation on ADP-stimulated respiratory kinetics. BLEB (blebbistatin), a myosin II ATPase inhibitor, blocked contraction under all conditions and yielded high Km values for ADP of >~250 and ~80 μM in red and white rat PmFBs respectively. In the absence of BLEB, PmFBs contracted and the Km for ADP decreased ~2–10-fold in a temperature-dependent manner. PmFBs were sensitive to hyperoxia (increased Km) in the absence of BLEB (contracted) at 30 °C but not 37 °C. In PmFBs from humans, contraction elicited high sensitivity to ADP (Km<100 μM), whereas blocking contraction (+BLEB) and including a phosphocreatine/creatine ratio of 2:1 to mimic the resting energetic state yielded a Km for ADP of ~1560 μM, consistent with estimates of in vivo resting respiratory rates of <1% maximum. These results demonstrate that the sensitivity of muscle to ADP varies over a wide range in relation to contractile state and cellular energy charge, providing evidence that enzymatic coupling of energy transfer within skeletal muscle becomes more efficient in the working state.

scholarly journals Enhancing osteoblast survival through pulsed electrical stimulation and implications for osseointegration

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Pettersen ◽  
Furqan A. Shah ◽  
Max Ortiz-Catalan
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Peripheral Nerve ◽  
Cell Survival ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Stimulation Parameters ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

AbstractElectrical stimulation has been suggested as a means for promoting the direct structural and functional bonding of bone tissue to an artificial implant, known as osseointegration. Previous work has investigated the impact of electrical stimulation in different models, both in vitro and in vivo, using various electrode configurations for inducing an electric field with a wide range of stimulation parameters. However, there is no consensus on optimal electrode configuration nor stimulation parameters. Here, we investigated a novel approach of delivering electrical stimulation to a titanium implant using parameters clinically tested in a different application, namely peripheral nerve stimulation. We propose an in vitro model comprising of Ti6Al4V implants precultured with MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts, stimulated for 72 h at two different pulse amplitudes (10 µA and 20 µA) and at two different frequencies (50 Hz and 100 Hz). We found that asymmetric charge-balanced pulsed electrical stimulation improved cell survival and collagen production in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings suggest that pulsed electrical stimulation with characteristics similar to peripheral nerve stimulation has the potential to improve cell survival and may provide a promising approach to improve peri-implant bone healing, particularly to neuromusculoskeletal interfaces in which implanted electrodes are readily available.

UV-C Treatment Of Intermediates Of Biologicals To Inactivate Viruses Without Denaturing Desired Protein

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 4822-4822
Author(s):  
Albrecht Groener ◽  
Christine Dreier
Keyword(s):  
Virus Inactivation ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Enveloped Virus ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Sartorius Stedim Biotech ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Reduction Methods ◽  
Detergent Treatment ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Uv C

Dedicated virus reduction steps implemented in the manufacturing process of biologicals, either isolated from human plasma or produced as recombinant proteins, are essential safety measures to assure that a potential virus contamination of the source material will not be transmitted to patients requiring these therapeutic proteins. Currently applied virus reduction steps as solvent/detergent treatment and virus filtration are very effective virus reduction methods with inherent method-dependent gaps regarding the reduction capacity for a very wide range of viruses of diverse physico-chemical characteristics: solvent/detergent treatment does not inactivate non-enveloped viruses and, depending on the pore size of the virus filter, small viruses are not removed when the desired protein is large and has to pass the filter. Therefore, another virus inactivation method was studied which is considered especially effective for small viruses: UV-C treatment using the UVivatec system provided by Sartorius Stedim Biotech GmbH, Göttingen, Germany. Experiments were performed to study the impact of UV-C treatment on the integrity of proteins employing fibrinogen as an example for a large protein and on the inactivation capacity for poliovirus (a small non-enveloped virus). The integrity of fibrinogen was assessed by comparing the untreated fibrinogen with the UV-C treated fibrinogen using HPLC, Clauss assay and thromboelastometry. Virus inactivation was studied in a bioassay using a sensitive cell culture infectivity assay employing a cynomolgus cell line. The results show that UV-C treatment inactivates viruses and modifies fibrinogen in a dose dependent manner; the monomer, dimer and polymer peak in the fibrinogen preparation studied changed from approx. 75% to 60%, 17% to 25% and 8% to 13%, respectively, at a UV-C intensity of 400 J/m² demonstrated by HPLC measurement. In order to protect fibrinogen from modifications, the antioxidant glutathione was added to the fibrinogen preparation. At an UV-C intensity of approx. 300 J/m², sufficient to effectively inactivate viruses studied, a modification of fibrinogen was not any longer detectable. Disclosures: Groener: CSL Behring: Employment.

scholarly journals Antiparasitic effects of selected isoflavones on flatworms

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
D. Faixová ◽  
G. Hrčková ◽  
T. Mačák Kubašková ◽  
D. Mudroňová
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Plant Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Biologically Relevant ◽  
Chemical Structures ◽  
Antiparasitic Drug ◽  
Wide Range

SummaryMedicinal plants have been successfully used in the ethno medicine for a wide range of diseases since ancient times. The research on natural products has allowed the discovery of biologically relevant compounds inspired by plant secondary metabolites, what contributed to the development of many chemotherapeutic drugs. Flavonoids represent a group of therapeutically very effective plant secondary metabolites and selected molecules were shown to exert also antiparasitic activity. This work summarizes the recent knowledge generated within past three decades about potential parasitocidal activities of several flavonoids with different chemical structures, particularly on medically important flatworms such as Schistosoma spp., Fasciola spp., Echinococcus spp., Raillietina spp., and model cestode Mesocestoides vogae. Here we focus on curcumin, genistein, quercetin and silymarin complex of flavonolignans. All of them possess a whole spectrum of biological activities on eukaryotic cells which have multi-therapeutic effects in various diseases. In vitro they can induce profound alterations in the tegumental architecture and its functions as well as their activity can significantly modulate or damage worm´s metabolism directly by interaction with enzymes or signaling molecules in dose-dependent manner. Moreover, they seem to differentially regulate the RNA activity in numbers of worm´s genes. This review suggests that examined flavonoids and their derivates are promising molecules for antiparasitic drug research. Due to lack of toxicity, isoflavons could be used directly for therapy, or as adjuvant therapy for diseases caused by medically important cestodes and trematodes.

scholarly journals Enhancing osteoblast function through pulsed electrical stimulation: implications for peri-implant healing and osseointegration

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Pettersen ◽  
Furqan A. Shah ◽  
Max Ortiz-Catalan
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Titanium Implant ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Nervous Stimulation ◽  
Osteoblast Function ◽  
Stimulation Parameters ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Electrical stimulation has been suggested as a mean for promoting the bonding of bone tissue to an implant, known as osseointegration. Previous work has investigated the impact of electrical stimulation in different models, both in vitro and in vivo, using various electrode configurations for delivering the electric field and with a wide range of stimulation parameters. However, there is no consensus on optimal electrode configuration nor stimulation parameters. Here, we investigated a novel approach of delivering electrical stimulation to a titanium implant using parameters clinically tested in a different application, namely peripheral nerve stimulation. We propose an in vitro model comprising of Ti6Al4V implants precultured with MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts, stimulated for 72 h at two different pulse amplitudes (10 µA and 20 µA) and at two different frequencies (50 Hz and 100 Hz). We found that pulsed electrical stimulation enhances cell viability (and/or proliferation) and collagen production in an approximately dose-dependent manner. Our findings suggest that pulsed electrical stimulation with characteristics similar to peripheral nervous stimulation has the potential to accelerate osteoblast function and may provide a promising approach to improving peri-implant bone healing, particularly to neuromusculoskeletal interfaces in which implanted electrodes are readily available.

scholarly journals VOCs Are Relevant Biomarkers of Elicitor-Induced Defences in Grapevine

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (14) ◽  
pp. 4258
Author(s):  
Christelle Lemaitre-Guillier ◽  
Christelle Dufresne ◽  
Agnès Chartier ◽  
Stéphanie Cluzet ◽  
Josep Valls ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Defence ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Voc Emission ◽  
Chemical Structures ◽  
Induced Defences ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Protection Strategies ◽  
Defence Responses ◽  
Grapevine Leaves ◽  
The Impact

Grapevine is susceptible to fungal diseases generally controlled by numerous chemical fungicides. Elicitors of plant defence are a way of reducing the use of these chemicals, but still provide inconsistent efficiency. Easy-to-analyse markers of grapevine responses to elicitors are needed to determine the best conditions for their efficiency and position them in protection strategies. We previously reported that the elicitor sulphated laminarin induced the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by grapevine leaves. The present study was conducted to characterise and compare VOC emissions in response to other elicitors. Bastid® was first used to test the conditions of VOC collection and analysis. Using SBSE-GC-MS, we detected several VOCs, including the sesquiterpene α-farnesene, in a time-dependent manner. This was correlated with the induction of farnesene synthase gene expression, in parallel with stilbene synthesis (another defence response), and associated to resistance against downy mildew. The other elicitors (Redeli®, Romeo®, Bion®, chitosan, and an oligogalacturonide) induced VOC emission, but with qualitative and quantitative differences. VOC emission thus constitutes a response of grapevine to elicitors of various chemical structures. Therefore, VOC analysis is relevant for studying the impact of environmental factors on grapevine defence responses and optimising the performance of elicitors in vineyards.

THE IMPACT OF LEADERSHIP PRACTICES TO TEAM MEMBERS’ SATISFACTION

2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chalimah .
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Resolution ◽  
Leadership Practices ◽  
Hotel Industry ◽  
Leader Behavior ◽  
Team Leader ◽  
Shop Floor ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Top Executives ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

eamwork is becoming increasingly important to wide range of operations. It applies to all levels of the company. It is just as important for top executives as it is to middle management, supervisors and shop floor workers. Poor teamwork at any level or between levels can seriously damage organizational effectiveness. The focus of this paper was therefore to examine whether leadership practices consist of team leader behavior, conflict resolution style and openness in communication significantly influenced the team member’s satisfaction in hotel industry. Result indicates that team leader behavior and the conflict resolution style significantly influenced team member satisfaction. It was surprising that openness in communication did not affect significantly to the team members’ satisfaction.

Stress, anxiety, depression and burnout in frontline health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic: a brief systematic review and new data from Russia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Mosolova ◽  
Dmitry Sosin ◽  
Sergey Mosolov
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Associated Risk Factors ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
The Impact

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) have been subject to increased workload while also exposed to many psychosocial stressors. In a systematic review we analyze the impact that the pandemic has had on HCWs mental state and associated risk factors. Most studies reported high levels of depression and anxiety among HCWs worldwide, however, due to a wide range of assessment tools, cut-off scores, and number of frontline participants in the studies, results were difficult to compare. Our study is based on two online surveys of 2195 HCWs from different regions of Russia during spring and autumn epidemic outbreaks revealed the rates of anxiety, stress, depression, emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and perceived stress as 32.3%, 31.1%, 45.5%, 74.2%, 37.7% ,67.8%, respectively. Moreover, 2.4% of HCWs reported suicidal thoughts. The most common risk factors include: female gender, nurse as an occupation, younger age, working for over 6 months, chronic diseases, smoking, high working demands, lack of personal protective equipment, low salary, lack of social support, isolation from families, the fear of relatives getting infected. These results demonstrate the need for urgent supportive programs for HCWs fighting COVID-19 that fall into higher risk factors groups.

A MODELING SYSTEM FOR CLIMATE CHANGE RISK ASSESSMENT, MANAGEMENT AND HEDGING IN COASTAL AREAS

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergei Soldatenko ◽  
Sergei Soldatenko ◽  
Genrikh Alekseev ◽  
Genrikh Alekseev ◽  
Alexander Danilov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Coastal Areas ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
System Structure ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Risk Modeling ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Adverse Weather ◽  
The Impact

Every aspect of human operations faces a wide range of risks, some of which can cause serious consequences. By the start of 21st century, mankind has recognized a new class of risks posed by climate change. It is obvious, that the global climate is changing, and will continue to change, in ways that affect the planning and day to day operations of businesses, government agencies and other organizations and institutions. The manifestations of climate change include but not limited to rising sea levels, increasing temperature, flooding, melting polar sea ice, adverse weather events (e.g. heatwaves, drought, and storms) and a rise in related problems (e.g. health and environmental). Assessing and managing climate risks represent one of the most challenging issues of today and for the future. The purpose of the risk modeling system discussed in this paper is to provide a framework and methodology to quantify risks caused by climate change, to facilitate estimates of the impact of climate change on various spheres of human activities and to compare eventual adaptation and risk mitigation strategies. The system integrates both physical climate system and economic models together with knowledge-based subsystem, which can help support proactive risk management. System structure and its main components are considered. Special attention is paid to climate risk assessment, management and hedging in the Arctic coastal areas.

The Management of Post-Tonsillectomy Morbidity in Patients With Sleep Apnoea

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (10) ◽  
pp. 3738-3740
Keyword(s):  
Day Surgery ◽  
Sleep Apnoea ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Multicenter Studies ◽  
Therapeutic Modalities ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Surgery Center

The Tonsillectomy in children or adults is an intervention commonly encountered in the ENT (Ear Nose and Throat) and Head and Neck surgeon practice. The current tendency is to perform this type of surgery in major ambulatory surgery centers. Two objectives are thus pursued: first of all, the increase of the patient quality of life through the reintegration into the family as quickly as possible and secondly, the expenses associated with continuous hospitalization are reduced. Any tertiary (multidisciplinary) sleep center must ensure the complete diagnosis and treatment (including surgery) of sleep respiratory disorders. Under these conditions the selection of patients and especially the implementation of the specific protocols in order to control the postoperative complications it becomes essential. The present paper describes our experience of tonsillectomy as treatment for selected patients with chronic rhonchopathy (snoring) and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea. It was presented the impact of antibiotics protocols in reducing the main morbid outcomes following tonsillectomy, in our day surgery center. The obtained results can also be a prerequisite for the integrative approach of the patients with sleep apnoea who were recommended surgical treatment. Considering the wide range of therapeutic modalities used in sleep apnoea, each with its specific advantages and disadvantages, more extensive and multicenter studies are needed. Keywords: post-tonsillectomy morbidity, day surgery center, sleep disorders

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document