A life cycle assessment of reprocessing face masks during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Covid-19 pandemic led to threatening shortages in healthcare of medical products such as face masks. Due to this major impact on our healthcare society an initiative was conducted between March and July 2020 for reprocessing of face masks from 19 different hospitals. This exceptional opportunity was used to study the costs impact and the carbon footprint of reprocessed face masks relative to new disposable face masks.

Towards understanding partial adaptation to the subterranean habitat in the European cave spider, Meta menardi: An ecocytological approach.

The European cave spider, Meta menardi, is a representative of the troglophiles, i.e. non-strictly subterranean organisms.

"In the mood for ageing": determinants of subjective well-being in older men and women of the population-based KORA-Age study.

Background: To investigate risk factors associated with low subjective well-being (SWB) in men and women (≥65 years) separately with a special focus on emotional distress.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 3602 participants (50.6% women) aged 65-90 years (mean age 72.

[Effects on health of the Chernobyl accident: 30 years on].

This paper reflects the current state of research into the short- and long-term effects on health in the former Soviet Union and Europe of the nuclear accident in Chernobyl. It discusses the latest results of epidemiological studies and presents future research perspectives.

Malpighian Tubule Cells in Overwintering Cave Crickets Troglophilus cavicola (Kollar, 1833) and T. neglectus Krauss, 1879 (Rhaphidophoridae, Ensifera).

During winter, cave cricket larvae undergo dormancy in subterranean habitats; this dormancy is termed diapause in second year Troglophilus cavicola larvae because they mature during this time, and termed quiescence in T. neglectus, because they mature after dormancy. Here we used electron microscopy to analyze ultrastructural changes in the epithelial cells in the Malpighian tubules (MTs) of T.

Heat shock protein defenses in the neocortex and allocortex of the telencephalon.

The telencephalic allocortex develops protein inclusions before the neocortex in many age-related proteinopathies. One major defense mechanism against proteinopathic stress is the heat shock protein (Hsp) network. We therefore contrasted Hsp defenses in stressed primary neocortical and allocortical cells.

BpiB05, a novel metagenome-derived hydrolase acting on N-acylhomoserine lactones.

The N-acyl-homoserine lactones (N-AHLs) play an important role in bacterial cell-cell signaling. Up to date, however, only a few different experimentally proven classes of N-AHL ring-cleaving enzymes are known. Here we report on the isolation and biochemical characterization of a novel hydrolase derived from the soil metagenome and acting on N-AHLs.

Construction and screening of marine metagenomic libraries.

Marine microbial communities are highly diverse and have evolved during extended evolutionary processes of physiological adaptations under the influence of a variety of ecological conditions and selection pressures. They harbor an enormous diversity of microbes with still unknown and probably new physiological characteristics. Besides, the surfaces of marine multicellular organisms are typically covered by a consortium of epibiotic bacteria and act as barriers, where diverse interactions between microorganisms and hosts take place.

Expression of ribonuclease A and ribonuclease N1 in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa.

In this study, we investigated the ability of the fungus Neurospora crassa to produce and secrete two ribonucleases: the heterologous bovine RNase A and the endogenous RNase N(1). A set of expression vectors was constructed, each consisting of an RNase A open reading frame under the control of a specific promoter and each with a specific terminator. N.

The BEM46-like protein appears to be essential for hyphal development upon ascospore germination in Neurospora crassa and is targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum.

The bud emergence (BEM)46 proteins are evolutionarily conserved members of the alpha/beta-hydrolase super family, but their exact role remains unknown. To better understand the cellular role of BEM46 and its homologs, we used the model organism Neurospora crassa in conjunction with bem46 RNAi, over-expression vectors, and repeat induced point mutation analyzes. We clearly demonstrated that BEM46 is required for cell type-specific hyphal growth, which indicates a role for BEM46 in maintaining polarity.

Characterization of the growth behavior of Leishmania tarentolae: a new expression system for recombinant proteins.

Biotechnological production of recombinant proteins for human therapy requires a cultivation of the host organism in a nutrient medium free of animal substances. Therefore, various nutrient media for the new expression system Leishmania tarentolae were developed and examined according to their cultivation conditions as static suspension culture and agitated culture. Investigations resulted in the development of a serum-free but hemin containing medium, based on yeast extract and buffer salts.

Open cycle traveling wave thermoacoustics: mean temperature difference at the regenerator interface.

In an open cycle traveling wave thermoacoustic engine, the hot heat exchanger is replaced by a steady flow of hot gas into the regenerator to provide the thermal energy input to the engine. The steady-state operation of such a device requires that a potentially large mean temperature difference exist between the incoming gas and the solid material at the regenerator's hot side, due in part to isentropic gas oscillations in the open space adjacent to the regenerator. The magnitude of this temperature difference will have a significant effect on the efficiencies of these open cycle devices.

Heterogeneity of hippocampal GABA(A) receptors: regulation by corticosterone.

Chronic stressors produce changes in hippocampal neurochemistry, neuronal morphology, and hippocampal-dependent learning and memory processes. In rats, stress-induced changes in CA3 apical dendritic structure are mediated by corticosterone (CORT) acting, in part, on excitatory amino acid neurotransmission. CORT also alters GABA-mediated inhibitory neurotransmission, so the GABA(A) receptor system may also contribute to dendritic remodeling and other stress-related changes in hippocampal function.

Inhibition of dendritic spine induction on hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons by a nonsteroidal estrogen antagonist in female rats.

Estrogens regulate the formation of excitatory synaptic connections in the hippocampus of female rats. Because the adult hippocampus has a very low concentration of intracellular estrogen receptors, it is unclear whether a conventional genomic mechanism is involved. Nonsteroidal estrogen antagonists are useful tools to study estrogen action because they can provide pharmacological data in favor of a particular pathway of estrogen action and evidence against other pathways.

Clinically relevant basic science studies of gender differences and sex hormone effects.

Ovarian steroids produce a variety of effects on the brain, influencing diverse nonreproductive processes such as cognitive function, motor activity, seizure susceptibility, and pain sensitivity, as well as pathological processes such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Studies of ovarian hormone effects on animal brains have revealed a wide array of neurochemical and structural effects of ovarian steroids, which are reviewed in this article. These studies provide a foundation for understanding hormone effects on mood, behavior, and cognition in the menstrual cycle, during reproductive transitions and in depressive illness.

Differential colocalization of estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) with oxytocin and vasopressin in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the female rat brain: an immunocytochemical study.

Evidence exists for the localization of the newly identified estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) within the rat paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON), regions which lack ERalpha. Presently, we investigate whether ERbeta-like-immunoreactivity (-ir) is found within cells of several major neuropeptide systems of these regions. Young adult Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized (OVX), and 1 week later half of the animals received estradiol-17beta (E).

Immunocytochemical localization of nuclear estrogen receptors and progestin receptors within the rat dorsal raphe nucleus.

Estradiol and progesterone modulate central serotonergic activity; however, the mechanism(s) of action remain unclear. Recently, estradiol-induced progestin receptors (PRs) have been localized within the majority of serotonin (5-HT) neurons in the female macaque dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN; Bethea [1994] Neuroendocrinology 60:50-61). In the present study, we investigated whether estrogen receptors (ERs) and/or PRs exist within 5-HT and/or non-5-HT cells in the female and male rat DRN and whether estradiol treatment alters the expression of these receptors.

Distribution and hormone regulation of estrogen receptor immunoreactive cells in the hippocampus of male and female rats.

Estrogen regulates the synaptic plasticity and physiology of the hippocampus as well as learning behaviors that are mediated by the hippocampus. The density of dendritic spines and synapses, the number of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) binding sites, the levels of NMDA receptor subunit NR1 protein, muscimol binding to the gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)A receptor, and levels of glutamic acid decarboxylase message in the CA1 region of the hippocampus are altered with estrogen treatment. In addition, some of these parameters exhibit sex differences in their response to estrogen treatment.

Chronic corticosterone treatment induces parallel changes in N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit messenger RNA levels and antagonist binding sites in the hippocampus.

Some of the effects of glucocorticoids on the function and neuronal plasticity of the hippocampus are mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor activation. We tested the hypothesis that chronic corticosterone administration increases N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor expression in the hippocampus of the rat. We used in situ hybridization histochemistry to measure the messenger RNA levels for the NR1, NR2A and NR2B subunits of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and [3H]dizocilpine maleate (a non-competitive antagonist) binding to measure N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor density.

Ovarian steroids and the brain: implications for cognition and aging.

Ovarian steroids have many effects on the brain throughout the lifespan, beginning during gestation and continuing into senescence. These hormones affect areas of the brain that are not primarily involved in reproduction, such as the basal forebrain, hippocampus, caudate putamen, midbrain raphe, and brainstem locus coeruleus. Here we discuss three effects of estrogens and progestins that are especially relevant to memory processes and identify hormonal alterations associated with aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

Estradiol increases the sensitivity of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells to NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic input: correlation with dendritic spine density.

Previous studies have shown that estradiol induces new dendritic spines and synapses on hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells. We have assessed the consequences of estradiol-induced dendritic spines on CA1 pyramidal cell intrinsic and synaptic electrophysiological properties. Hippocampal slices were prepared from ovariectomized rats treated with either estradiol or oil vehicle.

Aging of the female reproductive system: a window into brain aging.

The menopause marks the permanent end of fertility in women. It was once thought that the exhaustion of ovarian follicles was the single, most important explanation for the transition to the menopause. Over the past decade, this perception has gradually changed with the realization that there are multiple pacemakers of reproductive senescence.

Differential regulation of NMDAR1 mRNA and protein by estradiol in the rat hippocampus.

Estradiol treatment increases the number of NMDA receptor binding sites, and changes evoked synaptic currents in a manner consistent with a steroid-induced functional enhancement of NMDA receptors in rat hippocampus. In this study, we investigate the cellular mechanisms of estradiol-induced NMDA receptor regulation at the protein and mRNA levels in ovariectomized rats treated with ovarian steroids using immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization techniques. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to quantify alterations in immunofluorescence intensity levels of NMDAR1 subunit proteins within neuronal somata and dendrites of discrete hippocampal fields, whereas in parallel, in situ hybridization was used to examine NMDAR1 mRNA levels in corresponding hippocampal regions.

Chronic exposure to stress levels of corticosterone alters GABAA receptor subunit mRNA levels in rat hippocampus.

Chronic exposure to stress levels of corticosteroids alters many aspects of hippocampal function and may lead to neurodegeneration. Male rats were treated for 10 days with corticosterone (CORT) or vehicle pellets, and mRNA levels for six gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor subunits were measured. Effects of castration on subunit mRNA levels in CORT- and vehicle-treated animals were also examined.