Wetter, but not wet enough – limited greenhouse gas mitigation effects of submerged drains and blocked ditches in an intensively used grassland on fen peat

<p>The vast majority of peatlands in the North German Plain are cultivated as grassland. Intensive drainage measures are a prerequisite for conventional agricultural use of peatlands, but this practice causes high emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), mainly carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>). Thus, raising the water levels is necessary to reduce or stop CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. Water management options such as submerged drains (SD) and ditch blocking (DB) are discussed as a potential compromise between maintaining the trafficability for intensive grassland use and reducing the GHG emissions. Furthermore, grassland renewal is regularly practiced to improve the fodder quality for dairy farming; however, this might cause additional release of GHGs, especially nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O). Here, we present results of a four-year study on the GHG emissions from an intensively used grassland on fen peat equipped with SD and DB. Additionally, the effect of grassland renewal by shallow ploughing and direct sowing was evaluated.</p><p>The target groundwater levels were set to -0.30 m below ground. In the first year, the water management system was optimized. In the following years, mean annual water levels at the parcels with SD were -0.23 m and at the parcels with DB -0.37 m. The groundwater level at the SD parcels was around 0.18 m higher than at the conventionally drained control parcels. Thus, water management by SD enabled us to even surpass the target water levels. However, year two and three of the study were dryer than usual, the differences between the SD parcels and the control parcels are expected to be lower in wet years. DB, in contrast, raised the water levels only marginally.</p><p>During the first three years, control parcels with ditch drainage emitted 27-49 t CO<sub>2</sub>-eq. ha<sup>-1</sup> a<sup>-1</sup>. This is within the typical range of emissions from grasslands on fen peat in Germany. On average, the parcels with SD showed slightly lower emissions than the drained control parcels, but these were highly variable (16-60 t CO<sub>2</sub>-eq. ha<sup>-1</sup> a<sup>-1</sup>). Due to similar groundwater levels the emissions from the parcel with DB (23-43 t CO<sub>2</sub>-eq. ha<sup>-1</sup> a<sup>-1</sup>) were comparable to the drained control parcels. Reasons for the high CO<sub>2</sub> emissions despite increased groundwater levels by SD remain so far unclear. Both types of grassland renewal lead to higher N<sub>2</sub>O emissions during the first year after renewal. Afterwards, effects became ambiguous.  </p><p>Results from the fourth measurement year (2020) will be presented as well. So far, the data seems to support the results of the previous years.</p>

Knockout of MMP3 Weakens Solid Tumor Organoids and Cancer Extracellular Vesicles

The tumor organoid (tumoroid) model in three-dimensional (3D) culture systems has been developed to reflect more closely the in vivo tumors than 2D-cultured tumor cells. Notably, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are efficiently collectible from the culture supernatant of gel-free tumoroids. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 3 is a multi-functional factor playing crucial roles in tumor progression. However, roles of MMP3 within tumor growth and EVs have not unveiled. Here, we investigated the protumorigenic roles of MMP3 on integrities of tumoroids and EVs. We generated MMP3-knockout (KO) cells using the CRISPR/Cas9 system from rapidly metastatic LuM1 tumor cells. Moreover, we established fluorescent cell lines with palmitoylation signal-fused fluorescent proteins (tdTomato and enhanced GFP). Then we confirmed the exchange of EVs between cellular populations and tumoroids. LuM1-tumoroids released large EVs (200–1000 nm) and small EVs (50–200 nm) while the knockout of MMP3 resulted in the additional release of broken EVs from tumoroids. The loss of MMP3 led to a significant reduction in tumoroid size and the development of the necrotic area within tumoroids. MMP3 and CD9 (a category-1 EV marker tetraspanin protein) were significantly down-regulated in MMP3-KO cells and their EV fraction. Moreover, CD63, another member of the tetraspanin family, was significantly reduced only in the EVs fractions of the MMP3-KO cells compared to their counterpart. These weakened phenotypes of MMP3-KO were markedly rescued by the addition of MMP3-rich EVs or conditioned medium (CM) collected from LuM1-tumoroids, which caused a dramatic rise in the expression of MMP3, CD9, and Ki-67 (a marker of proliferating cells) in the MMP3-null/CD9-low tumoroids. Notably, MMP3 enriched in tumoroids-derived EVs and CM deeply penetrated recipient MMP3-KO tumoroids, resulting in a remarkable enlargement of solid tumoroids, while MMP3-null EVs did not. These data demonstrate that EVs can mediate molecular transfer of MMP3, resulting in increasing the proliferation and tumorigenesis, indicating crucial roles of MMP3 in tumor progression.

Knockout of MMP3 Weakened Solid Tumor Organoids and Cancer Extracellular Vesicles

The tumor organoid (tumoroid) model in three-dimensional (3D) culture systems has been developed to reflect more closely the in vivo tumors than 2D-cultured tumor cells. Notably, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are efficiently collectible from the culture supernatant of gel-free tumoroids. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 3 is a multi-functional factor playing crucial roles in tumor progression. However, roles of MMP3 within tumor growth and EVs have not unveiled. Here, we investigated the protumorigenic roles of MMP3 on integrities of tumoroids and EVs. We generated MMP3-knockout (KO) cells using the CRISPR/Cas9 system from rapidly metastatic LuM1 tumor cells. Moreover, we established fluorescent cell lines with palmitoylation signal-fused fluorescent proteins (tdTomato and enhanced GFP). Then we confirmed the exchange of EVs between cellular populations and tumoroids. LuM1-tumoroids released large EVs (300-1000 nm) and small EVs (50-200 nm) while the knockout of MMP3 resulted in the additional release of broken EVs from tumoroids. The loss of MMP3 leads to a significant reduction in tumoroid size and to the development of the necrotic area within tumoroids. MMP3 and CD9 (a category-1 EV marker tetraspanin protein) were significantly down-regulated in MMP3-KO cells and their EV fraction. These weakened phenotypes by MMP3 KO were markedly rescued by the addition of MMP3-rich EVs or conditioned medium (CM) collected from LuM1-tumoroids, which caused a dramatic rise in the expression of MMP3, CD9, and Ki-67 (a marker of proliferating cells) in the MMP3-null/CD9-low tumoroids. Notably, MMP3 enriched in tumoroids-derived EVs and CM deeply penetrated into recipient MMP3-KO tumoroids, resulting in a remarkable enlargement of solid tumoroids, while MMP3-null EVs did not. These data demonstrate that EVs can mediate molecular transfer of MMP3 resulting in increasing the proliferation and CD9+ tumorigenesis, indicating crucial roles of MMP3 in tumor progression.

Effects of 22Ne sedimentation and metallicity on the local 40 pc white dwarf luminosity function

Aims. We analyzed the effect of the sedimentation of 22Ne on the local white dwarf luminosity function by studying scenarios under different Galactic metallicity models. Methods. We use an advanced population synthesis code based on Monte Carlo techniques to derive the synthetic luminosity function. The code incorporates the most recent and reliable cooling sequences and an accurate modeling of the observational biases under different scenarios. We first analyzed the case for a model with constant solar metallicity and compared the models with and without 22Ne sedimentation with the observed luminosity function for a pure thin-disk population. Then we analyzed the possible effects of a thick-disk contribution. We also studied model scenarios with different metallicities, including 22Ne sedimentation. The analysis was quantified from a statistical χ2-test value for the complete and also for the most significant regions of the white dwarf luminosity function. Finally, a best-fit model along with a disk age estimate was derived. Results. Models with constant solar metallicity cannot simultaneously reproduce the peak and cutoff of the white dwarf luminosity function. The additional release of energy due to 22Ne sedimentation piles up more objects in brighter bins of the faint end of the luminosity function. The contribution of a single-burst thick-disk population increases the number of stars in the magnitude interval centered around Mbol = 15.75. The metallicity model that follows a Twarog profile is disposable. Our best-fit model was obtained when a dispersion in metallicities of about solar metallicity was considered along with a 22Ne sedimentation model, a thick-disk contribution, and an age of the thin disk of 8.8 ± 0.2 Gyr. Conclusions. Our population synthesis model is able to reproduce the local white dwarf luminosity function with a high degree of precision when a dispersion in metallicities around a model with solar values is adopted. Although the effects of 22Ne sedimentation are only marginal and the contribution of a thick-disk population is minor, both of them help in better fitting the peak and the cutoff regions of the white dwarf luminosity function.

A Report on “Old Map Collection” by Geospatial Information Authority of Japan

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Historical maps are valuable resources to understand the topography, land use, and land cover of the country in the past. Recently they have been used as basic data in fields such as education, disaster prevention or research on local history. Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) has been working on collecting and archiving historical maps which were drawn before than Meiji period. However, public use of these maps is often confined because they are almost non-existent or have the possibility of being damaged. Therefore, in order for everyone to use these maps, GSI created a website “Old Map Collection” (Figure 1), which provides various digitized historical maps. In this presentation, we introduce the summary of “Old Map Collection” and some of its new contents.</p><p>In 2005 GSI created a website “Old Map Collection” to provide historical maps for public use as historical, cultural, and academic documents. Users can browse about 1,500 map sheets including various related information, e.g., name, size, date-of-creation, author, and pictorial image. Also all maps are categorized into 15 fields such as maps made in Meiji period, maps of Japan, world maps, and Ino’s maps, based on their age of publication, range of area, and purpose of use, which enables users to find maps more easily.</p><p>2018 marked the 150th anniversary since the beginning of Meiji period, when the modernization of Japan started. In order to bequeath the history of Meiji to future generations, Japanese government has promoted the policy named “MEIJI 150th”. One of the projects GSI conducted related to “MEIJI 150th” was the additional release of 1:20,000 scale original rapid survey map, e.g., Figure 2, on “Old Map Collection”. This map was created from 1880 to 1886 (the 13th -19th years of Meiji period) in advance of the national survey by General Staff Office of the Imperial Japanese Army, and is now owned only by GSI. It contains 921 colored map sheets which cover the area of capital Tokyo and its surrounding regions.</p>

ВЛИЯНИЕ АДЕНОЗИНДИФОСФАТА НА ОСВОБОЖДЕНИЕ Са2+ ИЗ ВНУТРИКЛЕТОЧНЫХ ДЕПО СПЕРМАТОЗОИДОВ БЫКОВ

С использованием флуоресцентного зонда хлортетрациклин (ХТЦ) изучали освобождение Са2+ из внутриклеточных депо сперматозоидов быков. В интактных сперматозоидах добавление (50 мкМ) гуанозиндифосфата (ГДФ), (100 мкМ) дибутирил аденозинмонофосфата (dbcAMP) или (1 мМ) теофиллина стимулировало освобождение Са2+ из внутриклеточных депо. При совместном действии ГДФ и dbcAMP, а также ГДФ и теофиллина в сперматозоидах отмечали дополнительный выход Са2+ из внутриклеточных депо. Внесение в среду инкубации отдельно гуанозинтрифосфата (ГТФ) в концентрации 10 мкМ или пролактина (ПРЛ) в концентрации 10 нг/мл вызывало в сперматозоидах выход Са2+ из внутриклеточных депо. При совместном действии ГТФ и ПРЛ в клетках присутствовало дополнительное освобождение Са2+ из внутриклеточных депо. В присутствии аденозиндифосфата (АДФ) добавление dbcAMP, теофиллина или ПРЛ вызывало освобождение Са2+ из внутриклеточных депо. В то же время добавление АДФ оказывает ингибирующее влияние на освобождение Са2+ из депо, стимулированное при использовании ГДФ или ГТФ. Однако при совместном действии ГДФ и dbcAMP, ГДФ и теофиллина, а также ГТФ и ПРЛ в сперматозоидах быков отмечали дополнительное освобождение Са2+ из внутриклеточных депо. Было показано, что с использованием АДФ действие одного ГДФ (ГТФ) на освобождение Са2+из внутриклеточных депо и совместное действие ГДФ (ГТФ) и других используемых соединений (dbcAMP, теофиллин, ПРЛ) на освобождение Са2+ из внутриклеточных депо связано с активацией различных путей внутриклеточной сигнализации.With using the fluorescent chlortetracycline probe (CTC), Ca2+ release from the intracellular stores of bovine spermatozoa was studied. It was shown, that in intact spermatozoa the addition of guanosine diphosphate (GDP) (50 μM), dibutyryl adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP) (100 μM) or theophylline (1 mM) stimulated Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. With the complex action of GDP and dbcAMP, as well as GDP and theophylline, an additional release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores of spermatozoa was noted. The adding to the incubation medium separately guanosine triphosphate (GTP) at the concentration of 10 μM or prolactin (PRL) at a concentration of 10 ng / ml caused the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores in spermatozoa. With the complex action of GTP and PRL, the additional release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores was presented. In the presence of adenosine diphosphate (ADP), the addition of dbcAMP, theophylline or PRL caused the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. At the same time, the addition of ADP has an inhibitory effect on the release of Ca2+ from the stores, stimulated with using GDP or GTP. However, with the combined effect of GDP and dbcAMP, GDP and theophylline, as well as GTP and PRL in bovine spermatozoa, an additional release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores was noted. Thus, it was shown that with using ADP, the effect of one GDP (GTP) on Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and the combined effect of GDP (GTP) and other compounds (dbcAMP, theophylline, PRL) on Ca2+ release from intracellular stores is associated with the activation of various pathways of intracellular signaling.With using the fluorescent chlortetracycline probe (CTC), Ca2+ release from the intracellular stores of bovine spermatozoa was studied. It was shown, that in intact spermatozoa the addition of guanosine diphosphate (GDP) (50 μM), dibutyryl adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP) (100 μM) or theophylline (1 mM) stimulated Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. With the complex action of GDP and dbcAMP, as well as GDP and theophylline, an additional release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores of spermatozoa was noted. The adding to the incubation medium separately guanosine triphosphate (GTP) at the concentration of 10 μM or prolactin (PRL) at a concentration of 10 ng / ml caused the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores in spermatozoa. With the complex action of GTP and PRL, the additional release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores was presented. In the presence of adenosine diphosphate (ADP), the addition of dbcAMP, theophylline or PRL caused the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. At the same time, the addition of ADP has an inhibitory effect on the release of Ca2+ from the stores, stimulated with using GDP or GTP. However, with the combined effect of GDP and dbcAMP, GDP and theophylline, as well as GTP and PRL in bovine spermatozoa, an additional release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores was noted. Thus, it was shown that with using ADP, the effect of one GDP (GTP) on Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and the combined effect of GDP (GTP) and other compounds (dbcAMP, theophylline, PRL) on Ca2+ release from intracellular stores is associated with the activation of various pathways of intracellular signaling.С использованием флуоресцентного зонда хлортетрациклин (ХТЦ) изучали освобождение Са2+ из внутриклеточных депо сперматозоидов быков. В интактных сперматозоидах добавление (50 мкМ) гуанозиндифосфата (ГДФ), (100 мкМ) дибутирил аденозинмонофосфата (dbcAMP) или (1 мМ) теофиллина стимулировало освобождение Са2+ из внутриклеточных депо. При совместном действии ГДФ и dbcAMP, а также ГДФ и теофиллина в сперматозоидах отмечали дополнительный выход Са2+ из внутриклеточных депо. Внесение в среду инкубации отдельно гуанозинтрифосфата (ГТФ) в концентрации 10 мкМ или пролактина (ПРЛ) в концентрации 10 нг/мл вызывало в сперматозоидах выход Са2+ из внутриклеточных депо. При совместном действии ГТФ и ПРЛ в клетках присутствовало дополнительное освобождение Са2+ из внутриклеточных депо. В присутствии аденозиндифосфата (АДФ) добавление dbcAMP, теофиллина или ПРЛ вызывало освобождение Са2+ из внутриклеточных депо. В то же время добавление АДФ оказывает ингибирующее влияние на освобождение Са2+ из депо, стимулированное при использовании ГДФ или ГТФ. Однако при совместном действии ГДФ и dbcAMP, ГДФ и теофиллина, а также ГТФ и ПРЛ в сперматозоидах быков отмечали дополнительное освобождение Са2+ из внутриклеточных депо. Было показано, что с использованием АДФ действие одного ГДФ (ГТФ) на освобождение Са2+из внутриклеточных депо и совместное действие ГДФ (ГТФ) и других используемых соединений (dbcAMP, теофиллин, ПРЛ) на освобождение Са2+ из внутриклеточных депо связано с активацией различных путей внутриклеточной сигнализации.

Tethered homing gene drives: a new design for spatially restricted population replacement and suppression

ABSTRACTOptimism regarding potential epidemiological and conservation applications of modern gene drives is tempered by concern about the potential unintended spread of engineered organisms beyond the target population. In response, several novel gene drive approaches have been proposed that can, under certain conditions, locally alter characteristics of a population. One challenge for these gene drives is the difficulty of achieving high levels of localized population suppression without very large releases in face of gene flow. We present a new gene drive system, Tethered Homing (TH), with improved capacity for localized population alteration, especially for population suppression. The TH drive is based on driving a payload gene using a homing construct that is anchored to a spatially restricted gene drive. We use a proof of principle mathematical model to show the dynamics of a TH drive that uses engineered underdominance as an anchor. This system is composed of a split homing drive and a two-locus engineered underdominance drive linked to one part of the split drive (the Cas endonuclease). In addition to improved localization, the TH system offers the ability to gradually adjust the genetic load in a population after the initial alteration, with minimal additional release effort.

Effects of Arthroscopic Coracohumeral Ligament Release on Range of Motion for Patients with Frozen Shoulder

Background: A thickened coracohumeral ligament is a highly specific manifestation of, and primary restraint against external rotation in frozen shoulders. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of complete arthroscopic coracohumeral ligament release on range of motion in frozen shoulder. Methods: Fifty-two consecutive shoulders in 52 patients were treated between April 2015 and June 2016. To evaluate solely glenohumeral range of motion, the scapula was fixed by an examiner with one hand (without palpating scapular motion), and range of motion was measured using a goniometer. For the first step, arthroscopic pancapsular release was performed in a beach-chair position with (Group 1) or without (Group 2) complete coracohumeral ligament release. For the final step, the remaining coracohumeral ligaments in Group 2 were released and the ranges of motion were compared to those in Group 1. Results: The average age of the patients was significantly higher in Group 1, but there were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to sex, affected side, preoperative range of motion, or American Shoulder and Elbow Society Score. Abduction, external rotation at adduction, and external and internal rotations at 90° of flexion in Group 1 were significantly greater than those in Group 2. After the additional release of the remaining coracohumeral ligaments in Group 2, all ranges of motion were significantly recovered and there was no significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: Complete coracohumeral ligament release is a recommended intraoperative procedure for regaining full range of motion in frozen shoulders.

SPICES IN THE NATIONAL DISHES OF TURKISH CUISINE

The content and scope of the concepts of "spices" and "herbs" are determined in accordance with the recommendations of the Food and Drug Administration. The reasons for the growing demand for the export of spices and herbs from Turkey in the current conditions of the world economy are studied. Spices and herbs have been singled out as invariable ingredients of oriental cuisines in general and Turkish cuisine in particular. It is established that the Turkish national cuisine undoubtedly belongs to the oriental cuisines by its origin; however, the taste of the dishes is moderately spicy compared to other Eastern cuisines, which is influenced by Mediterranean cuisines, including Greek. The influence of spices and herbs on the formation of national dishes of Turkish cuisine over the centuries (lentil soup, chifbas, milk soup "Tarkhana", kokorech, sudzuk, imam bayaldi), as well as their benefits for human health have been studied. The properties of the most used classic and local spices and herbs of Turkish cuisine are analyzed. The role of spices and herbs used to enhance the taste of dishes in Turkish national dishes, which is an excellent source of polyphenols and cooking technology on fire or in a microwave oven, which increases the antioxidant potential due to the additional release of polyphenols during heat treatment, as dry heating (which is not typical for Turkish national cuisine), frying and grilling processes, on the contrary, reduce their antioxidant properties and lead to loss of nutrients. The national dishes of Turkish cuisine are considered for the content of spices and condiments as invariable components of oriental cuisines used, it is determined that such dishes as shifa chorbasy, kokorech, imam bayaldi have a high content of polyphenols, which has a positive effect on human health.