Resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia buffers against rejection sensitivity via emotion control.

Emerging evidence suggests that high resting heart rate variability in the respiratory frequency band, or respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) may capture individual differences in the capacity to engage in situationally appropriate regulation of affect and behavior. The authors therefore hypothesized that high RSA may act as a protective factor against difficulties controlling negative affect and hostile behaviors in conflicts with romantic partners in highly rejection-sensitive individuals--a population otherwise vulnerable to these responses. Results were consistent with this hypothesis such that highly rejection-sensitive participants reported less emotion control and more hostility in conflicts only if they were also low in RSA. Furthermore, emotion control mediated the joint effect of rejection-sensitivity and RSA on hostile conflict behavior. These results are consistent with the argument that resting RSA is a marker of flexible responding in the context of highly emotional situations, and further suggest that it may serve as a protective factor particularly in vulnerable populations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sustainable energy development in Austria until 2020: Insights from applying the integrated model "e3.at"

This paper reports on the Austrian research project "Renewable energy in Austria: Modeling possible development trends until 2020". The project investigated possible economic and ecological effects of a substantially increased use of renewable energy sources in Austria. Together with stakeholders and experts, three different scenarios were defined, specifying possible development trends for renewable energy in Austria. The scenarios were simulated for the period 2006-2020, using the integrated environment-energy-economy model "e3.at". The modeling results indicate that increasing the share of renewable energy sources in total energy use is an important but insufficient step towards achieving a sustainable energy system in Austria. A substantial increase in energy efficiency and a reduction of residential energy consumption also form important cornerstones of a sustainable energy policy.     

Sorption-induced effects of humic substances on mass transfer of organic pollutants through aqueous diffusion boundary layers: the example of water/air exchange

This study examines the effect of dissolved humic substances (DHS) on the rate of water-gas exchange of organic compounds under conditions where diffusion through the aqueous boundary layer is rate-determining. A synthetic surfactant was applied for comparison. Mass-transfer coefficients were determined from the rate of depletion of the model compounds by means of an apparatus containing a stirred aqueous solution with continuous purging of the headspace above the solution. In addition, experiments with continuous passive dosing of analytes into the water phase were conducted to simulate a system where thermodynamic activity of the chemical in the aqueous phase is identical in the presence and absence of DHS. The experimental results show that DHS and surfactants can affect water-gas exchange rates by the superposition of two mechanisms: (1) hydrodynamic effects due to surface film formation ("surface smoothing"), and (2) sorption-induced effects. Whether sorption accelerates or retards mass transfer depends on its effect on the thermodynamic activity of the pollutant in the aqueous phase. Mass transfer will be retarded if the activity (or freely dissolved concentration) of the pollutant is decreased due to sorption. If it remains unchanged (e.g., due to fast equilibration with a sediment acting as a large source phase), then DHS and surfactant micelles can act as an additional shuttle for the pollutants, enhancing the flux through the boundary layer.     

The Inhibitory Response to PI3K/AKT Pathway Inhibitors MK-2206 and Buparlisib Is Related to Genetic Differences in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cell Lines

The aberrant activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/ protein kinase B (AKT) pathway is common in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC). The application of inhibitors against PI3K and AKT has been considered as a therapeutic option. We investigated PDAC cell lines exposed to increasing concentrations of MK-2206 (an AKT1/2/3 inhibitor) and Buparlisib (a pan-PI3K inhibitor). Cell proliferation, metabolic activity, biomass, and apoptosis/necrosis were evaluated. Further, whole-exome sequencing (WES) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) were performed to analyze the recurrent aberrations and expression profiles of the inhibitor target genes and the genes frequently mutated in PDAC (Kirsten rat sarcoma virus (KRAS), Tumor protein p53 (TP53)). MK-2206 and Buparlisib demonstrated pronounced cytotoxic effects and limited cell-line-specific effects in cell death induction. WES revealed two sequence variants within the direct target genes (PIK3CA c.1143C > G in Colo357 and PIK3CD c.2480C > G in Capan-1), but a direct link to the Buparlisib response was not observed. RNA-seq demonstrated that the expression level of the inhibitor target genes did not affect the efficacy of the corresponding inhibitors. Moreover, increased resistance to MK-2206 was observed in the analyzed cell lines carrying a KRAS variant. Further, increased resistance to both inhibitors was observed in SU.86.86 carrying two TP53 missense variants. Additionally, the presence of the PIK3CA c.1143C > G in KRAS-variant-carrying cell lines was observed to correlate with increased sensitivity to Buparlisib. In conclusion, the present study reveals the distinct antitumor effects of PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors against PDAC cell lines. Aberrations in specific target genes, as well as KRAS and TP53, individually or together, affect the efficacy of the two PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors.     

Biodistribution and Cellular Internalization of Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 in Wild-Type Mice

Despite the growing list of identified SARS-CoV-2 receptors, the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is still viewed as the main cell entry receptor mediating SARS-CoV-2 internalization. It has been reported that wild-type mice, like other rodent species of the Muridae family, cannot be infected with SARS-CoV-2 due to differences in their ACE2 receptors. On the other hand, the consensus heparin-binding motif of SARS-CoV-2’s spike protein, PRRAR, enables the attachment to rodent heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), including syndecans, a transmembrane HSPG family with a well-established role in clathrin- and caveolin-independent endocytosis. As mammalian syndecans possess a relatively conserved structure, we analyzed the cellular uptake of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 particles in in vitro and in vivo mice models. Cellular studies revealed efficient uptake into murine cell lines with established syndecan-4 expression. After intravenous administration, inactivated SARS-CoV-2 was taken up by several organs in vivo and could also be detected in the brain. Internalized by various tissues, inactivated SARS-CoV-2 raised tissue TNF-α levels, especially in the heart, reflecting the onset of inflammation. Our studies on in vitro and in vivo mice models thus shed light on unknown details of SARS-CoV-2 internalization and help broaden the understanding of the molecular interactions of SARS-CoV-2.     

Fe-Zeolite as on-Site Regenerable Adsorber for Chlorohydrocarbons in Groundwater – from Laboratory to Pilot Test

This study describes the design and upscaling of an on-site regenerable adsorbent fixed bed of Fe-loaded MFI zeolite for removal of chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHCs) from contaminated groundwater from laboratory studies to pilot scale. The zeolite has an excellent adsorption performance for the hydrophilic CHCs and can be regenerated on-site by flushing with H₂O₂ to degrade adsorbed contaminants by a catalytic Fenton-like reaction. In the pilot test, the Fe-zeolite (30 kg) maintained its performance over treatment of 1470 m³ of groundwater in 12 adsorption/regeneration cycles.     

Spirooxindol-1,3-oxazine Alkaloids: Highly Potent and Selective Antitumor Agents Evolved from Iterative Structure Optimization

Spirooxindole-1,3-oxazines are a small and structurally unique class of spirooxindole alkaloids. To date, only four of these compounds have been isolated from natural sources, and their biological properties remained unknown thus far. Dioxyreserpine is a synthetic spirooxindole-1,3-oxazine, that can readily be prepared from the Rauvolfia alkaloid (–)-reserpine by catalytic photooxygenation. While dioxyreserpine itself was now identified as a moderately effective antitumoral agent, structurally modified analogs of it emerged as a new class of highly potent and selective growth inhibitors of various human cancers, including pancreatic cancers. Systematic structural optimization ultimately led to an inhibitor displaying low-micromolar IC₅₀-values against six cancer cell lines as well as selective apoptosis induction in vitro.