La pubblicazione prevede un sistema di peer review rivolto in particolare a giovani ricercatori desiderosi di divulgare i loro primi risultati scientifici. Sono graditi studi empirici sia di ordine qualitativo sia quantitativo, così come saggi teorici, filosofici, programmatici, sociologici o di storia delle scienze, provenienti

da tutte le aree dell’educazione scientifica (scienze della vita, fisica, chimica, scienze della terra e integrate) e destinati a gruppi di discenti di ogni età. In questo senso, PriSE vuole accomunare ricercatori alle prime armi e ricercatori con esperienza, insegnanti e persone impegnate in ambito scolastico, intenzionati a dare delle risposte ai quesiti scientifici illustrati sopra e a proporre learn more soluzioni

per uno sviluppo sostanziale dell’educazione scientifica nella scuola e al di fuori di essa, nell’ottica di coinvolgere un gran numero di nazioni e comunità linguistiche. Urs Selleck RAD001 Kocher Andreas Müller Nicolas Robin Markus Wilhelm The Editors:Urs Kocher, Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana, LocarnoAndreas Müller, Université de Genève Nicolas Robin, Pädagogische Hochschule St. GallenMarkus Wilhelm, Pädagogische Hochschule Luzern “
“Several recent reviews point out that context-based approaches and real-life connections are currently considered as a central issue in science education in general (Fensham, 2009 and Bennett et al., 2007) and in physics education in particular (Taasoobshirazi and Carr, 2008, Kuhn, 2005, Kuhn, 2010, Kuhn and Müller, 2005a and Kuhn and Müller, 2005b). In a broad understanding of the term, context based science education (CBSE) is defined as “using concepts and process skills in real-life contexts that are relevant to students from diverse backgrounds” (Glynn and Koballa,

2005, p. 75). Making (or trying to do so) science issues relevant to students themselves, their families and their peers is opposed to the wide-spread perception of especially physics (or more generally: science) as being dry, impersonal and Histone demethylase irrelevant, and this is supposed to have positive effects both on motivation and learning (Bennett et al., 2007). PISA (OECD, 2006) follows a similar understanding of CBSE, repeatedly emphasizing the importance of tasks and problems “that could be part of the actual experience or practice of the participant in some real-world setting”, and it “places most value on tasks that could be encountered in a variety of real-world situations” (as can be seen also from the very items used in the study). Moreover, PISA points out the following feature of context-based learning: problems encountered in real-world settings are usually not stated in the disciplinary terms to be learned or applied. Thus, a kind of “translation”, i.e. a terminological and conceptual reframing is initiated, representing an important step of cognitive activation.

The corallite shape of Goniastrea pectinata also changes in relation to light and Ow and Todd (2010), through modeling light capture, showed ABT-199 datasheet this response to be an adaptive response to the immediate light environment.

Some morphologies, both at colony and corallite level, are believed to encourage sediment-shedding (Lasker, 1980, Rogers, 1983 and Rogers, 1990). Marshall and Orr (1931), after smothering various coral taxa with sand, concluded that corals with large polyps were better at removing sediment than those with small polyps. Small polyps equate to less tissue-distension potential and thus to a reduced ability to remove coarse grains. Stafford-Smith and Ormond (1992) found that active-rejection capability was positively correlated with calyx size and Hodgson (1993) concluded that large corallites and extensible polyps were advantageous in his tests on 50 species of coral. http://www.selleckchem.com/products/azd4547.html Corals that move larger grains tend to have more septa, high relief and numerous septa teeth. The shape of the calyx is also important to sediment-shedding, with V or U floors apparently beneficial for mechanical reasons (Hubbard and Pocock, 1972). Todd et al. (2001) hypothesised that these features in Favia speciosa may be advantageous to this species in Singapore’s sedimented waters. Further, they found that Favia speciosa polyps were significantly larger at their

most sediment-impacted study site ( Todd et al., 2001). Riegl (1995) also found corallum shape to be important while Dodge (1982) found no

clear trend. Gleason (1998) noted green and brown morphs of Porites astreoides had different sediment-shedding abilities even though small-scale morphologies Oxymatrine were very similar. Even intra-colonial variation can have a great effect on sediment removal; for instance, small differences in colony convexity can lead to areas where sediments accumulate and create anoxic conditions ( Stafford-Smith, 1992 and Stafford-Smith, 1993). In the only study to date to specifically examine whether sediment can induce change in coral morphology, Todd et al. (2004b) found a slight increase in rugosity (the height of the wall measured from the outside of the corallite) in fragments exposed to sediment treatment compared with controls (Favia speciosa control = 1.36 mm, sediment treatment = 1.53 mm; Diploastrea heliopora control: 1.40 mm, sediment treatment = 1.54 mm). As passive rejection is enhanced by tall polyps with steep surfaces ( Lasker, 1980), it is possible that this response would be beneficial to the two species tested. Any attempt to examine plastic responses of corals to chronic sediment is complicated by the reduction in light caused by sediment in the water. For instance, explanate Porites sillimaniani form branches under high light ( Muko et al., 2000).

2g). The mean Zn concentration for the study period was 186.2 ± 125.6 μg/g with the highest value being 1625.6 μg/g. Inter-annual Zn concentrations were highly variable and significantly different (p < 0.001) ( Fig. 2g). Spring Zn concentrations were significantly higher than autumn (p > 0.05) ( Fig. 3g). The effects of pollutants (including metals) on living organisms UK-371804 can be evaluated at different

levels of organization (molecular, cellular, individual, population and community) (Viarengo and Canesi, 1991). Good interpretation of the data can be obtained by studying the effects of pollutants in individuals, with the aim of understanding and eventually predicting the possible consequences at higher levels (Bayne, 1986). The Mussel Watch KU-60019 mw Programme (MWP) was established to monitor the concentrations of pollutants (metals in the case of South Africa). The results of this investigation indicated

that the levels of metals in mussels for the western coastline of the Cape Peninsula were approximately the same for the MWP sites sampled (Table 2). For all data combined, the mean order of decreasing metal concentrations were: Zn > Fe > Cd* > Cu > Pb* > Mn > Hg* (*indicates non-essential metals). The order of concentrations was similar to that reported by Watling and Watling (1976) and it is in this order that the metals will be discussed. According to Eisler (1981), the highest concentrations of Zn in the marine environment are found in filter-feeding molluscs. The relatively high Zn concentrations recorded in mussels during the MWP therefore supports this as the Zn concentrations were significantly higher than the other metals recorded (p < 0.001). The source of Zn may be from anthropogenic sources although this is unlikely to be the case at site 1 as this

site is far (>10 km) from major sources of anthropogenic Zn. According to Moore (1981), however, Zn uptake is mainly from prey rather than from sea water. The high levels of Zn were therefore more likely to be from zoo- and phytoplankton sources as the continental shelf is very narrow in this area ( Shannon, 1985). The mean levels of Zn detected at site 1 (134.2 μg/g) were below the maximum limits allowed in foodstuff as Histamine H2 receptor set by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) of 300 μg/g ( South Africa, 1994). What is of concern though is that for site 1, the maximum levels recorded exceed the SABS maximum limit (1625 μg/g was recorded in 1999). Furthermore, there are no local comparative studies to illustrate whether the current Zn values are higher than normal. However, median Zn values recorded along the Cape Peninsula (131 μg/g) is similar to the median World MWP value (130 μg/g) ( Cantillo, 1998). According to Cantillo (1998), Zn concentrations above 200 μg/g are indicative of contamination. Zinc values higher than 200 μg/g accounted for 21% of the Zn values at site 1. The Zn values are higher than that of Henry et al.

Although many properties

of oil are missing, the method performs fairly well compared to a more complex oil spill model. A number of measures were used to calculate maps of the consequences of tracer releases based on large ensembles. We found that the patterns of the measures could, to a large degree, be understood from the mean currents together with the bathymetry in the direction of the mean currents. Overall, the patterns of the measures are similar. However, there are local differences, which make the choice of the measure important. The percentage-measures indicate how the situation will be after a certain time if no counter measure is considered. The time-measures indicate the relative urgency Pirfenidone clinical trial of counter measures. Of course, the design of new measures is possible, e.g., taking into account that counter measures are more effective during

some weather conditions than others. The measures were used to optimize maritime routes. Although the measures were used without any explicit weighting of the shortest path to emphasize differences in the measures, the routes do not differ very much. We cannot see more conclude that this will always be the case because the routes are not located in areas with large differences in the measures. The major difference between our routes and real maritime routes is that our routes are located south of Bornholm. Even Baricitinib with a significant weight for the shortest path, the route still progresses south of Bornholm. We have briefly investigated the impact of the wind-induced seasonality. However, we were not able to demonstrate that the season would have a significant impact on maritime routes. The research presented in this study is part of the project BalticWay (The potential of currents for environmental management of the Baltic Sea maritime industry) and has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP/2007–2013) under Grant agreement

No. 217246 made with BONUS, the joint Baltic Sea research and development program, and from the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (Formas, Ref. No. 2008–1898). “
“The progressive increase of boat tourism and the consequent development of marina activities gives rise to a series of problems related to safeguarding the natural environment. Therefore, there is a need for appropriate monitoring of port facilities and water quality, as well as the development of new technologies dealing with yachting activities, suitable to minimizing their impact on biological communities. The peculiar ecological characteristics of marinas for their mono-functionality allow the accurate assessment of the different effects of specific contaminants on marine organisms.

009), but as the difference had not reached the protocol-specified stopping rule, the DMC allowed the trial to continue. By the final DMC meeting this difference had disappeared (157 vs 152 events) [3]. The assumption was that if the early interim results had been made public the trial would have stopped. The second piece of evidence was a matched-analysis of the 10 most recent randomized trials run by 2 major US Cancer Cooperative Groups [4]. The analysis indicated that in the Group that released interim results to investigators, accrual declined in half of the trials, and one

trial was inappropriately terminated early. Whereas the trials run by the Group that kept interim results confidential were considered free of problems. However, as the authors admit: ‘there are many differences between Akt inhibitor the Groups that could have contributed to this’. Despite this apparent lack of evidence, numerous papers [5] and [6] reiterate this widely held view that releasing interim results destroys the integrity of a trial and operates against the interests of patients. Subsequent challenges

to this new orthodoxy have been rare. Thus when an editorial [7] argued for the release of interim data in certain circumstances, and that it was unethical to withhold interim results from patients already on, or considering joining, a trial, it provoked numerous responses, citing the risk of unpredictable point estimates, pressures from interested parties, and the CYC202 importance of relying on the DMC for independent decision-making. Nevertheless, we argue that there are specific circumstances where releasing (-)-p-Bromotetramisole Oxalate interim results will enable challenging trials to be completed successfully, and will not destroy the trial’s integrity or credibility. We describe two instances where this alternative approach has been taken. The QUARTZ trial was launched in December 2006 with the aim of accruing 1000 patients to investigate the value of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for patients with inoperable brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

For decades, WBRT has been advocated for such patients, but it can cause significant toxicity, and overall benefits have never been demonstrated in a randomised clinical trial. As a result different clinicians use different criteria to select which patients should, or should not, receive WBRT. However, by March 2010 only 144 patients had been recruited, and the future of the trial was in doubt. Numerous attempts had been made to increase accrual, including presentations at national meetings, teleconferences with investigators to discuss recruitment strategies, newsletters, visits to centres, editorials in journals, and reducing the sample size to 534 patients (based on the event rate in the first 50 patients in the control group), but accrual rarely reached the required target of at least 10 patients a month.

Lagoon resource users themselves consistently mentioned the challenges of pursuing a fisheries-based livelihood. Case study work

at the village level enabled an assessment of the potential for farmers to fulfill VietG.A.P. certification requirements. Reflective of the district survey, most Thuy Dien households are involved in some type of polyculture (172 households of 196). Of the 172 households, 134 practice mixed species net enclosed aquaculture, and 38 households practice polyculture in ponds. Participants were asked to consider their current fish farming practices in terms of information selleck compound they tracked or of information in which they were knowledgeable. We compared their answers in relation to VietG.A.P. requirements. VietG.A.P. was chosen rather than ShAD or GLOBALG.A.P. since it is a national standard and likely the most realistic entry point for certification. Table 4 outlines key VietG.A.P. requirements and illustrates the percentage of fish farmers in Thuy Dien village who currently meet these requirements. Table 4 demonstrates that VietG.A.P. requires well documented records for all aspects of production, food safety, feed, and disease management. Although pertinent for compliance with any food safety or sustainability standard, detailed record keeping other than for specific aspects of production, is not an

activity typically performed by small producers [22]. Detailed record keep check details was also found to be a struggle for small, medium and large-scale pangasius producers [50]. Farmers tend to record economic returns per crop rather than, for example, listing all sources of feed or recording disease impacts. As one farmer commented, “when my shrimp are sick [with disease],

it is hard to know why exactly. We talk to each other to try to find a solution, and sometimes use human medicine to try to help”. Farmers also note Loperamide that both feed and seed can be expensive, and depending on price and availability it may make more sense for them to source trash fish or wild seed [9]. Some certification schemes prohibit the use of wild seed such as GLOBALG.A.P. while others, like VietG.A.P., do not. Nonetheless, VietG.A.P. compliance would require a substantive shift in current practices. Farmers were also read a list of factors related to sustainability, and asked which factors they considered important for sustainable fish farming. This line of questioning was aimed at determining the interest of small producers to comply with more rigorous farming practices as well as to assess the key challenges with which they are faced. Farmers in Thuy Dien do not typically use chemical inputs or currently employ workers outside the family unit [32], [51] and [31]; consequently, the use of antibiotics for fish disease and workers׳ rights criteria were not considered important.

The size of the nodes corresponds to the number of genes of the gene set, and the thickness of the connecting lines indicates the degree of overlap between the gene sets. The color of the nodes corresponds to the gene set collection from which the gene sets were taken. Green: lymphocyte signature database; yellow: TOX TFS target genes; purple: gene ontology; light blue: cell cycle; dark blue: tissue-specific blood cell types. The authors thank Hakan Baykus, Jenneke Riethoff-Poortman, and Norbert de Ruijter Afatinib research buy for their technical support and Wilma Blauw and Bert Weijers of the Small Animal Center of Wageningen University (Wageningen, The

Netherlands). Sandra W.M van Kol is recipient of grant MFA6809 from the Dutch technology foundation STW. “
“The authors Navitoclax cost regret that in the Abstract, Materials and methods, and Results sections, the unit of PCB126 concentration was incorrect. This has now been corrected below. 1. In the abstract, the PCB126 concentration should read nM and not pM. The authors

deeply regret any inconvenience this mistake may have caused and would like the readers to have the correct information. “
“Organophosphorus (OP) compounds, including pesticides and chemical warfare nerve agents (CWNAs), represent a threat to the general population, not only as possible weapons of terrorism (Okumura et al., 2005, Zurer, 1998, Hubbard et al., 2013, Baker, 2013 and Dolgin, 2013), but also as chemicals that could be released from transportation and storage facilities during industrial accidents. Given the rapid onset of symptoms and toxicity of OP nerve agents, a quick-acting therapeutic regimen that is efficacious over the broad spectrum of OPs is needed. To provide the most effective therapy,

medical countermeasures must be administered as soon as possible post-exposure. The current U.S. therapy regimen includes the administration of atropine in combination with the oxime acetylcholinesterase (AChE) reactivator pralidoxime chloride (2-PAM Cl) (Inchem.org, Meloxicam 1989, 1999), followed by the anticonvulsant diazepam depending on whether convulsive symptoms are observed. This approach is accomplished with the use of the DuoDote® autoinjector kit (Meridian Medical Technologies™, Columbia, MD; https://www.duodote.com/meridian.aspx#) by trained emergency medical services personnel. The DuoDote® is a two-chambered, self-propelled syringe used for the intramuscular (IM) injection of atropine (2.1 mg free base) and 2-PAM Cl (600 mg) through the same needle. Although the current treatment approach does protect against some OP toxicities, this protection does not extend across all OP CWNAs, i.e., it is not a broad-spectrum antidote (Worek and Thiermann, 2013 and Thiermann et al., 2013). Unfortunately, when OP pesticides are included as potential intoxicants, the spectrum of therapeutic effectiveness is even less.

(1985). The transesterification of both TAG and FFA fractions was performed according to the method of Lepage and Roy (1986). Samples were stored under N2 atmosphere at −20 °C until GC analysis. Gas-chromatographic peaks of FAME (Fatty Acids Methyl Esters) were identified by comparing the retention time data of certified standards with the sample retention data, expressed as relative retention times. The FAME standard mixtures used were 47 FAME Mix (ref. 47 885-U; Supelco Co.). Peaks eluting at the retention times of the FAME standards were confirmed by GC–MS. The FAME was analyzed by capillary GC according to Torres, Ney, Meneses, and Trugo (2006). Analyses were performed

using a Shimadzu QP5050 GC (Kyoto, Japan). A Omegawax™ UK-371804 solubility dmso 250 (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 μm film thickness) column purchased from Supelco Co. (Bellefonte, PA, USA) was used. The chromatographic conditions were: injection mode – split 1:20, injection temperature – 250 °C; column temperature setting – 160 °C (2 min) to 210 °C (15 min) at 2.5 °C/min.; detector

– FID, detector temperature – 280 °C; carrier gas – helium; flow – 2.5 mL/min. The quantifications of individual fatty acids in TAG and FFA fractions were achieved with quantitative addition of appropriate internal standards (margaric acid for FFA and trinonadecanoate for TAG; both from Sigma–Aldrich). Peak areas were used for calculating the concentration of fatty acids. After correcting the peak areas with Ackman and Sipos theoretical correction factors, as described by Wolff, Bayard, and Fabien (1995), the amount of fatty acids MS-275 mw (mg/100 g total fatty acids) was calculated for all the samples. Results were analyzed by factorial ANOVA (Statistica®, version 8.0, USA). Fisher LSD test was used to compare means (Statistica®, version 8.0, USA). P values < 0.05 were considered significant. Since previous studies have shown that the presence of defective seeds and or microorganisms contamination may alter coffee's chemical composition and cell wall these structure (Dentan, 1987; Mazzafera, 1999),

to prevent that changes in lipid fraction were influenced by factors other than natural changes during storage, the coffee sample used in the present experiment was of excellent quality and contained no defective seeds. Coffee seeds were roasted to reach two roasting degrees, light-medium and dark-medium, commonly used in major global consumer markets like the U.S. (in the case of light-medium roast), Brazil and Europe (in the case of dark-medium roast). The total lipid contents observed in the samples roasted to light-medium and dark-medium roasting degrees were 10.2 g/100 g and 14.0 g/100 g (dry basis), respectively. These values agree with those from Oliveira et al. (2006) and Trugo (2003), who reported values from 11 to 20 g/100 g, for roasted C. arabica. Also in our previous work ( Toci et al.

2A) and mRNA level (Fig. 2B). Basal VEGF protein production in LLC-PK1 cells ranges around

200–300 pg/ml and it was influenced by both toxins comparable to mRNA level. ELISA test demonstrated DAPT cost that AAI slightly but significantly elevated, whereas OTA strongly decreased VEGF protein level (Fig. 2C). In order to investigate the potential mechanisms of alterations in VEGF production we checked the effect of AAI and OTA on the activity of transcription factors known to regulate VEGF expression (the binding sites of which are located within VEGF promoter), such as HIFs, SP-1, AP-1 and NFκB (Pages and Pouyssegur, 2005). Using the cells transfected with a reporter construct regulated by the hypoxia responsive element (HRE) from the VEGF promoter we demonstrated that AAI activated whereas OTA diminished HRE activity (Fig. 3A) at concentrations tested. Moreover, we showed that AAI and OTA exerted

opposite effect on SP-1 activity (Fig. 3B). AAI was found to produce increase in SP-1 activity (Fig. 3B) but it did not affect SP-1 mRNA level (Fig. S1A). In contrast, OTA reduced activity of SP-1 (Fig. 3B) and SP-1 mRNA level was concomitantly inhibited by ∼42 ± 18%. Additionally, AP1-SEAP construct was employed to determine the effect of toxins on AP-1 activity. As observed previously (Boesch-Saadatmandi et al., 2008) and confirmed in this study, OTA diminished AP-1 activity. AAI delivery exerted also inhibitory effect (Fig. 3C), although not so strong as OTA. In our hands, the activity of NFκB transcription factor was not influenced by selleck inhibitor non-toxic mTOR inhibitor doses of AAI and OTA (Fig. S1B). In order to verify the effect of both toxins on HIFs transcription factors activity we have performed the immunofluorescent staining as well as western blot for specific HIF isoforms. Stimulation with AAI elevated nuclear accumulation of HIF-1α and HIF-2α isoforms (Fig. 3D, E, middle column) whereas after OTA delivery inhibition was observed (Fig. 3D, E right column). Also western blot analysis of HIF-2α protein revealed inhibition after OTA and up-regulation caused by AAI stimulation (Fig.

3F). As ROS are known to affect HIF level (reviewed in Stachurska et al., 2010) in order to verify the possible mechanism of alterations in HIF level we investigated the effect of AAI and OTA on ROS generation. We observed previously (Boesch-Saadatmandi et al., 2008) as well as in this study, the enhancement of ROS generation after OTA delivery, however AAI did not affect ROS level (Fig. 3G). Therefore, increase in HIFs evoked by AAI is not caused by ROS. As AAI concomitantly elevates VEGF expression and activity of SP-1 and HIFs, we investigated the possible role of SP-1 and HIFs transcription factors in induction of VEGF production evoked by AAI. Mithramycin A was used to silence SP-1 activity (Blume et al., 1991) whereas HIFs were inhibited with chetomin (Kung et al., 2004).

To illustrate these points, we compared central carbon networks in chlorophytes and diatoms as well-studied primary and secondary endosymbionts, respectively (Figure 3). In chlorophytes and diatoms the Embden–Meyerhof–Parnas (EMP) pathway of glycolysis is not commonly complete in either the cytosol or chloroplast [38•• and 39],

which necessitates carbon flux across plastid membranes [33••]. Diatoms have additional EMP glycolysis capabilities in the mitochondria (Figure 3; [40 and 41]), which could potentially produce pyruvate in proximity to the TCA cycle and reducing equivalents to feed oxidative phosphorylation [38]. Recently, the Entner–Doudoroff glycolytic pathway was described in diatom mitochondria (Figure 3; [42]), suggesting that the catabolism of C6 compounds click here to pyruvate is possible. The oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPP), which supplies ribose-5-phosphate

for GSK2118436 clinical trial de novo nucleotide biosynthesis in addition to a source of NADPH for fatty acid biosynthesis, is co-localized with the reductive pentose phosphate pathway (Calvin–Benson cycle) in the plastids of green algae and higher plants ( Figure 3). The activities of these two pathways are tightly light regulated in these organisms to avoid futile cycling [ 43]. In diatoms, OPP and nucleotide biosynthesis occur in the cytosol, implying that coordination between the oxidative and reductive portions of the buy Idelalisib pentose phosphate pathway differs from Chlorophytes, and there is an alternative mechanism to transport reducing equivalents into diatom plastids for fatty acid biosynthesis [ 41, 44 and 45]. The cellular location of acetyl-CoA is important for a number of pathways including fatty acid and isoprenoid biosynthesis. The phosphotransacetylase-acetate kinase (PTA-ACK) pathway interconverts acetate and acetyl-CoA through an acetyl-phosphate intermediate [46]. PTA and ACK are differentially localized in chlorophytes and diatoms [42 and 46] suggesting differences in ability to interconvert acetate and acetyl-CoA

in various parts of the cell. This can affect the availability of acetyl-CoA for compartmentalized processes. Diatoms contain a urea cycle, which other eukaryotic microalgae and land plants lack (Figure 3; [47]). This feature allows for a higher efficiency of nitrogen assimilation from catabolic processes, and may enable diatoms to more effectively recycle intracellular nitrogen [48•]. The urea cycle therefore could play an important role when the cell is accumulating fuel precursors during nitrogen-deprivation. Stramenopiles, haptophytes, cryptophytes, and chlorarachniophytes have the periplastid compartment (PPC) surrounding the chloroplast which is an additional compartment relative to chlorophytes. The PPC has been proposed to be involved in inorganic carbon acquisition [49] and in diatoms carbonic anhydrase enzymes were localized there [21 and 50].