Variables Governing Photosynthesis and Growth in Microalgae Mass Cultures

Since the 1950s, microalgae have been grown commercially in man-made cultivation units and used for biomass production as a source of food and feed supplements, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and lately biofuels, as well as a means for wastewater treatment and mitigation of atmospheric CO2 build-up. In this work, photosynthesis and growth affecting variables—light intensity, pH, CO2/O2 exchange, nutrient supply, culture turbulence, light/dark cell cycling, biomass density and culture depth (light path)—are reviewed as concerns in microalgae mass cultures. Various photosynthesis monitoring techniques were employed to study photosynthetic performance to optimize the growth of microalgae strains in outdoor cultivation units. The most operative and reliable techniques appeared to be fast-response ones based on chlorophyll fluorescence and oxygen production monitoring, which provide analogous results.

THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE PINEAL GLAND OF THE INDIGENOUS POPULATION OF THE YAKUTIA IN THE AGE ASPECT

The pineal gland is a functionally light-dependent organ located in different conditions depending on living in different latitudes. Insufficient data on the morphological and functional state of the human pineal gland under various living conditions constitute a significant gap in the study of the pineal gland. A morphological study of the epiphysis of the indigenous population of different age groups was carried out, obtained during of autopsies on in the pathology department of the National Center of Medicine of Yakutsk (Republic of Sakha). The methods of morphometric analysis with the calculation of indicators of the area of pinealocyte karyons and the quantitative assessment of pineal gland parenchyma cells were used. The data obtained show age-related changes in morphological and functional activity, including changes in the size of light and dark cell karyons in the oldest age group. The largest deviations were observed among dark cells, probably indicating their transition and replenishment of active secreting pinealocytes against the background of a general decrease in the number of cells associated with fibrosis and organ calcification. In the group of 6069 years old, there is an increase in the number of gliocytes, significant compared with the younger age group. In the group of the oldest age, a sharp decrease in their number is noted. Age-related morphological and functional changes in the pineal gland in the indigenous population of Yakutia are most evident at the age of 60-69 and include signs of a decrease in the functional activity of pinealocytes, progressive calcification of the pineal gland, accumulation of neural pigment and proliferation of connective tissue, with the formation of a stromal type of structure.

Endoscopic ultrasound guided needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy in solid pancreatic masses – a prospective validation study

Background and study aims Endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is a keystone in diagnosing and staging of pancreatic masses. Recently, a microfiber that can pass through a 19-gauge needle has been introduced for confocal laser endomicroscopy (nCLE). The aims of this study were to evaluate the diagnostic value and the reproducibility of nCLE criteria for solid malignant lesions. Patients and methods This prospective dual-center study included patients with pancreatic masses suspicious of malignancy referred for EUS-FNA. Endomicroscopic imaging was performed under EUS-guidance until organ-specific structures were obtained. Afterwards, standard cytology was obtained and patients were followed for up to 12 months. All nCLE parameters included in former studies were correlated with the final diagnosis (dark lobular structures/normal acinar cells, dark cell aggregates > 40 µm, dilated irregular vessels with fluorescein leakage, fine white fibrous bands, small black cell movements, pseudoglandular structures). Finally, three CLE novices and three CLE experts assessed the unedited movies from all patients. Results Twenty-eight patients were enrolled in the study. A final diagnosis was obtained in 24 patients (86 %). One patient (3 %) died before a diagnosis was obtained, while 3 were lost to follow-up (11 %). In 18/24 patients (74 %) the diagnosis was malignant. The mean sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the nCLE parameters ranged from 19 – 93 %, 0 – 56 %, 26 – 69 %, respectively. The inter-observer values ranged from κ = 0.20 – 0.41 for novices and κ = –0.02 – 0.38 for experts. Conclusions The diagnostic value of nCLE in solid pancreatic masses is questionable and the inter-observer agreement for both novices and CLE experts appears limited.

Equine oviduct explant culture: a basic model to decipher embryo–maternal communication

Equine embryos remain for 6 days in the oviduct and thus there is a need for an in vitro model to study embryo–oviductal interactions in the horse, since this subtle way of communication is very difficult to analyse in vivo. Until now, no equine oviduct explant culture model has been characterised both morphologically and functionally. Therefore, we established a culture system for equine oviduct explants that maintained epithelial morphology during 6 days of culture, as revealed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. We demonstrated the presence of highly differentiated, tall columnar, pseudostratified epithelium with basal nuclei, numerous nucleoli, secretory granules and apical cilia, which is very similar to the in vivo situation. Both epithelium and stromal cells originating from the lamina propria are represented in the explants. Moreover, at least 98% of the cells remained membrane intact and fewer than 2% of the cells were apoptotic after 6 days of culture. Although dark-cell degeneration, which is a hypoxia-related type of cell death, was observed in the centre of the explants, quantitative real-time PCR failed to detect upregulation of the hypoxia-related marker genes HIF1A, VEGFA, uPA, GLUT1 and PAI1. Since the explants remained morphologically and functionally intact and since the system is easy to set up, it appears to be an excellent tool for proteome, transcriptome and miRNome analysis in order to unravel embryo–maternal interactions in the horse.

Overcoming modernity�s individualism: Becoming a community of peace in the face of violence

Modernity�s understanding of the primacy of the individual represents a significant challenge to a holistic understanding of the vocation of the church. Furthermore, individualism, that is the understanding of oneself as separate and apart from others, is often the foundation for violence against the other as the interconnectivity, and therefore the dependence and vulnerability inherent within a relationship, is lost. When the church is relegated to serve individuals as private and individualised belief systems, it is banished to a cold, dark cell of isolation. In order to respond to violence, the church needs to create communities that restore and reconcile relationships, thus embodying peace.

Computational model of vectorial potassium transport by cochlear marginal cells and vestibular dark cells

Cochlear marginal cells and vestibular dark cells transport potassium into the inner ear endolymph, a potassium-rich fluid, the homeostasis of which is essential for hearing and balance. We have formulated an integrated mathematical model of ion transport across these epithelia that incorporates the biophysical properties of the major ion transporters and channels located in the apical and basolateral membranes of the constituent cells. The model is constructed for both open- and short-circuit situations to test the extremes of functional capacity of the epithelium and predicts the steady-state voltages, ion concentrations, and transepithelial currents as a function of various transporter and channel densities. We validate the model by establishing that the cells are capable of vectorial ion transport consistent with several experimental measurements. The model indicates that cochlear marginal cells do not make a significant direct contribution to the endocochlear potential and illustrates how changes to the activity of specific transport proteins lead to reduced K+ flux across the marginal and dark cell layers. In particular, we investigate the mechanisms of loop diuretic ototoxicity and diseases with hearing loss in which K+ and Cl− transport are compromised, such as Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome and Bartter syndrome, type IV, respectively. Such simulations demonstrate the utility of compartmental modeling in investigating the role of ion homeostasis in inner ear physiology and pathology.