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The expression of anti-predator adaptations may vary on a spatial scale, favouring traits that are advantageous in a given predation regime. Besides, evolution of different developmental strategies depends to a large extent on the grain of the environment and may result in locally canalized adaptations or, alternatively, the evolution of phenotypic plasticity as different predation regimes may var
Plasmodium relictum is the most widespread avian malaria parasite in the world. It is listed as one of the 100 most dangerous invasive species, having been responsible for the extinction of several endemic bird species, and the near-demise of several others. Here we present the first transcriptomic study focused on the effect of P. relictum on the immune system of its vector (the mosquito Culex qu
This article is part of the Dendritic Cell Guidelines article series, which provides a collection of state-of-the-art protocols for the preparation, phenotype analysis by flow cytometry, generation, fluorescence microscopy and functional characterization of mouse and human dendritic cells (DC) from lymphoid organs and various nonlymphoid tissues. DC are sentinels of the immune system present in al
The Baltic Sea is the world's largest area suffering from eutrophication-driven hypoxia. Low oxygen levels are threatening its biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The main causes for eutrophication-driven hypoxia are high nutrient loadings and global warming. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) contribute to eutrophication as they are important sources of nitrogen to coastal areas. Here, we eva
Receptors for the neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine peptides, vasoactive intesinal peptide (VIP) and secretin, both belong to the Type B subfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors. This group is evolutionally as well as structurally distinct from the much larger Type A, or rhodopsin-type, subfamily. We have mapped the ligand-activating epitopes of the human VIP1 receptor by the use of hybrid recep
Postmenopausal decline of estrogen production is associated with development of several degenerative disorders such as osteoporosis, neuroinflammatory diseases and vascular wall degeneration. These are associated with the activation of the cells of the monocyte-macrophage system in a context-dependent manner. Estrogen regulates differentiation, maturation and function of many cell types in this sy
Toll-like receptor-4 activation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces the expression of interferon-P (IFN-beta) in a MyD88-independent manner. Here we report that mice devoid of the JAK protein tyrosine kinase family member, Tyk2, were resistant to shock induced by high doses of LPS. Basal and LPS-induced expression of IFN-beta and IFN-alpha4 mRNA in Tyk2-null macrophages were diminished. However, T
The S.T.A.R. Design Studio (Space and Terrestrial Architectural Research) studies pre-industrial habitats in i.a. Tanzania, and develops design concepts for future habitats in space in cooperation with Johnson Space Centre, Houston, Texas. In both cases our studies focus on "extreme" circumstances. Perhaps studying the conditions of a crew sealed in a capsule can better prepare us for the problems
Background: Sexual dimorphism occurs widely across the animal kingdom and has profound effects on evolutionary trajectories. Here, we investigate sex-specific gene expression in Ischnura elegans (Odonata: dragonflies and damselflies), a species with pronounced sexual differences including a female-limited colour polymorphism with two female-like gynochrome morphs and one male-mimicking, androchrom
Through new tracking techniques, data on timing and routes of migration in long-distance migrant birds are accumulating. However, studies of the consistency of migration of the same individuals between years are still rare in small-sized passerine birds. This type of information is important to understand decisions and migration abilities at the individual level, but also for life history theory,
Rationale and Objectives: The effects of locally delivered angiogenic factors or stem cells on the coronary artery perfusion territory are not well defined. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the ability of the selective injection of magnetic resonance contrast media (MR-CM) to map and quantify the territories of the major coronary arteries. Materials and Methods: Selective coronary
Packaging is becoming increasingly important from a marketing as well as logistics perspective, particularly for actors in consumer product supply chains. However, the role of packaging in creating or contributing to the competitive advantage of a company or a whole supply chain is still unexplored to a large extent. This is even the case in businesses where research has shown the benefits of cons
There are water vapour condensation and two-phase flow in plate heat exchangers when they are used as condensers. Water phase change and flow dynamics modelling is an important but complicated task due to large change in water physical/transport properties across the water liquid-vapour interface boundary. In particular, singular-link behaviour in governing equations is present due to the large st
A decisive set of steps in the terrestrial carbon (C) cycle is the fixation of atmospheric C by plants and the subsequent C-transfer to rhizosphere microorganisms. With climate change winters are expected to become milder in temperate ecosystems. Although the rate and pathways of rhizosphere C input to soil could be impacted by milder winters, the responses remain unknown. To address this knowledg
Eukaryotic phytoplankton form the basis of aquatic food webs and play a key role in the global carbon cycle. Many of these evolutionarily diverse microalgae are also capable of feeding on other microbes, and hence simultaneously act both as primary producers and consumers. The net ecosystem impact of such mixotrophs depends on their nutritional strategy which is likely to alter with environmental
Disentangling the contributions of different processes that influence plant recruitment, such as competition and seed dispersal, is important given the increased human-mediated changes in tropical forest ecosystems. Previous studies have shown that seedling communities in an Afrotropical rainforest in southeastern Nigeria are strongly affected by the loss of important seed-dispersing primates, inc
