An analytical framework to assess SDG targets within the context of WEFE nexus in the Mediterranean region.

Understanding the complex relationships amongst Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystems (WEFE nexus) together with the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is critical for the development of a sustainable and secure future in the Mediterranean area. In this study, we analysed 29 case studies across the Mediterranean region which describe potential success stories for the implementation of good nexus practices. We developed an analytical framework for investigating the impacts on 15 SDG targets and we also explicitly quantified the magnitude of interconnection of nexus pillars with SDGs.

Peripheral Proinsulin Expression Controls Low-Avidity Proinsulin-Reactive CD8 T Cells in Type 1 Diabetes.

Low-avidity autoreactive CD8 T cells (CTLs) escape from thymic negative selection, and peripheral tolerance mechanisms are essential for their regulation. We report the role of proinsulin (PI) expression on the development and activation of insulin-specific CTLs in the NOD mouse model of type 1 diabetes. We studied insulin B-chain-specific CTL from different T-cell receptor transgenic mice (G9Cα) expressing normal PI1 and PI2 or altered PI expression levels.

Anti-BSA antibodies are a major cause of non-specific binding in insulin autoantibody radiobinding assays.

Insulin autoantibodies (IAA) are usually the first risk-markers detected during the type 1 diabetes prodrome, but precise measurement is difficult as insulin binding is often low. Non-specific binding (NSB) of (125)I-labelled insulin necessitates competitive displacement with unlabelled insulin to demonstrate specificity. NSB varies with different batches of label, suggesting that it is caused by impurities in the label.

Attenuation of myocardial injury in mice with functional deletion of the circadian rhythm gene mPer2.

Variations in circadian rhythms are evident in the incidence of cardiovascular disease, and the risk of cardiovascular events increases when rhythms are disrupted. The suprachiasmatic nucleus is the central circadian pacemaker that regulates the daily rhythm of peripheral organs. Diurnal rhythms have more recently been shown to exist in myocardial tissue and are involved in metabolism and contractile function.

S-Nitrosoglutathione inactivation of the mitochondrial and cytosolic BCAT proteins: S-nitrosation and S-thiolation.

Specific proteins with reactive thiol(ate) groups are susceptible to nitric oxide (NO) modification, which can result in S-nitrosation, S-thiolation, or disulfide bond formation. In the present study the effect of NO modification on the functionality of human mitochondrial and cytosolic branched-chain aminotransferases (hBCATm and hBCATc, respectively) was investigated. Here, the NO reactive agents, S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), S-nitroso-N-acetyl-dl-penacillamine, and sodium nitroprusside, inactivated both isoforms in a dose-dependent manner.