Thinning followed by slash burning enhances growth and reduces vulnerability to drought for Pinus nigra.

Increasingly frequent severe drought events are pushing Mediterranean forests to unprecedented responses. Lack of management leads to dense forests that are highly susceptible to drought stress, potentially resulting in extensive dieback and increased vulnerability to other disturbances. Forest treatments like thinning and slash burning reduce competition for resources and have the potential to enhance tree growth and vigor and minimize tree vulnerability to drought.

Unplugging lateral fenestrations of NALCN reveals a hidden drug binding site within the pore region.

The sodium (Na) leak channel (NALCN) is a member of the four-domain voltage-gated cation channel family that includes the prototypical voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels (Nas and Cas, respectively). Unlike Nas and Cas, which have four lateral fenestrations that serve as routes for lipophilic compounds to enter the central cavity to modulate channel function, NALCN has bulky residues (W311, L588, M1145, and Y1436) that block these openings. Structural data suggest that occluded fenestrations underlie the pharmacological resistance of NALCN, but functional evidence is lacking.

Unplugging lateral fenestrations of NALCN reveals a hidden drug binding site within the pore module.

Unlabelled: The sodium (Na ) leak channel (NALCN) is a member of the four-domain voltage-gated cation channel family that includes the prototypical voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels (Na s and Ca s, respectively). Unlike Na s and Ca s, which have four lateral fenestrations that serve as routes for lipophilic compounds to enter the central cavity to modulate channel function, NALCN has bulky residues (W311, L588, M1145 and Y1436) that block these openings. Structural data suggest that oc-cluded lateral fenestrations underlie the pharmacological resistance of NALCN to lipophilic compounds, but functional evidence is lacking.

Immune cell profiling of vaginal blood from patients with early pregnancy bleeding.

Problem: Vaginal bleeding during early pregnancy is estimated to occur in 20% of all pregnancies and it is often difficult to predict who will ultimately miscarry. The role of immune cells in early pregnancy loss is poorly understood.

Method Of Study: In this prospective cohort study, 28 pregnant women presenting with first-trimester vaginal bleeding donated vaginal blood, peripheral venous blood, and saliva during their initial emergency room visit, and at a follow-up.

Structural architecture of the human NALCN channelosome.

Depolarizing sodium (Na) leak currents carried by the NALCN channel regulate the resting membrane potential of many neurons to modulate respiration, circadian rhythm, locomotion and pain sensitivity. NALCN requires FAM155A, UNC79 and UNC80 to function, but the role of these auxiliary subunits is not understood. NALCN, UNC79 and UNC80 are essential in rodents, and mutations in human NALCN and UNC80 cause severe developmental and neurological disease.

New Ag PO comparison material for stable oxygen isotope analysis.

Rationale: A silver phosphate reference material (Ag PO ) for the measurement of stable oxygen isotope compositions is much needed; however, it is not available from the authorities distributing reference materials. This study aims to fill this gap by calibrating a new Ag PO stable isotope comparison material produced by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU).

Methods: Aliquots of Ag PO were distributed to four laboratories who frequently measure the δ O value in Ag PO ; the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), the University of Western Australia (UWA), the University of Helsinki (UH), and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ).

Temporal and spatial distribution of isotopes in river water in Central Europe: 50 years experience with the Austrian network of isotopes in rivers.

The Austrian network of isotopes in rivers comprises about 15 sampling locations and has been operated since 1976. The Danube isotope time series goes back to 1963. The isotopic composition of river water in Central Europe is mainly governed by the isotopic composition of precipitation in the catchment area; evaporation effects play only a minor role.

Analysis of isotopic signals in the Danube River water at Tulln, Austria, based on daily grab samples in 2012.

Results of stable isotope measurements (δ(2)H, δ(18)O) of daily grab samples, taken from the Danube River at Tulln (river km 1963) during 2012, show seasonal and short-term variations depending on the climatic/hydrological conditions and changes in the catchment area (temperature changes, heavy rains and snow melt processes). Isotope ratios in river water clearly reflect the isotopic composition of precipitation water in the catchment area since evaporation influences play a minor role. Average δ(2)H and δ(18)O values in 2012 are-78‰ and-11.