Cre mRNA Is Not Transferred by EVs from Endothelial and Adipose-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells during Vascular Network Formation

Coculture systems employing adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (ASC) and endothelial cells (EC) represent a widely used technique to model vascularization. Within this system, cell–cell communication is crucial for the achievement of functional vascular network formation. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have recently emerged as key players in cell communication by transferring bioactive molecules between cells. In this study we aimed to address the role of EVs in ASC/EC cocultures by discriminating between cells, which have received functional EV cargo from cells that have not. Therefore, we employed the Cre-loxP system, which is based on donor cells expressing the Cre recombinase, whose mRNA was previously shown to be packaged into EVs and reporter cells containing a construct of floxed dsRed upstream of the eGFP coding sequence. The evaluation of Cre induced color switch in the reporter system via EVs indicated that there is no EV-mediated RNA transmission either between EC themselves or EC and ASC. However, since Cre mRNA was not found present in EVs, it remains unclear if Cre mRNA is generally not packaged into EVs or if EVs are not taken up by the utilized cell types. Our data indicate that this technique may not be applicable to evaluate EV-mediated cell-to-cell communication in an in vitro setting using EC and ASC. Further investigations will require a functional system showing efficient and specific loading of Cre mRNA or protein into EVs.     

A review of the effects of pollution and water scarcity on the stream biota of an intermittent Mediterranean basin

This review presents the main results of a 10‐year research study conducted in a Mediterranean intermittent basin (Evrotas River). By assembling the main outcomes of past and ongoing research projects, this study provides an overview of multiple stressor effects, with emphasis on water scarcity, focusing on hydro‐biogeochemical processes, as well as on spatial and temporal variations in benthic macroinvertebrates and fish fauna. The major impact in the basin has been the over‐exploitation of surface and groundwater resources, which, in combination with droughts, has resulted in the recurrent artificial desiccation of large parts of the hydrological network. The response to intermittency of the macroinvertebrate fauna is characterized by high resilience through various drought‐resistant evolutionary mechanisms, with assemblages recovering successfully after recurrent droughts. However, when pollution is evident in combination with drought, effects on benthic species richness, abundance, and assemblage structure can be severe. Similarly, pollution and water stress may result in massive fish mortalities due to hypoxic conditions, with fish populations requiring long periods to recover. However, the fish fauna appears to be relatively resilient to drought‐driven reach‐scale desiccation, and ultimately recovers, provided that aquatic refugia are available to supply colonists and that there are no physical barriers impeding recolonisation. Appropriate conservation measures are urgently required to address the effects of recurrent bouts of water stress, as well as of other stressors on the freshwater communities of the Evrotas River, both at the level of water management and of water policy and at the local and the national level.     

Microbiological,chemical and sensory changes of whole and filleted Mediterranean aquacultured sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) stored in ice

The effect of filleting on the microbiological, chemical and sensory properties of aquacultured sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) stored in ice was studied. Pseudomonads, H₂S‐producing bacteria (including Shewanella putrefaciens) and Brochothrix thermosphacta were the dominant bacteria at the end of the 16 day storage period in ice for both whole ungutted and filleted sea bass. Enterobacteriaceae were also found in the spoilage microflora of whole ungutted and filleted sea bass, but their counts were always lower than those of pseudomonads, H₂S‐producing bacteria (including S putrefaciens) and B thermosphacta. Total viable counts for whole ungutted sea bass were always lower than those for filleted sea bass samples. Of the chemical indicators of spoilage, TMA (trimethylamine) values of whole ungutted sea bass increased very slowly, whereas significantly higher values were obtained for filleted samples, with respective values of 0.253 and 1.515 mg N per 100 g muscle being reached at the end of their shelf‐life (days 13 and 9 respectively). TVB‐N (total volatile basic nitrogen) values showed a slight increase for whole ungutted sea bass during storage, reaching a value of 26.77 mg N per 100 g muscle (day 13), whereas for filleted fish a corresponding value of 26.88 mg N per 100 g muscle was recorded (day 9). TBA (thiobarbituric acid) values increased slowly for whole ungutted and filleted sea bass samples throughout the entire storage period, reaching final values of 4.48 (day 13) and 13.84 (day 9) mg malonaldehyde kg^?1 respectively. Sensory assessment of raw fish using the EC freshness scale gave a grade E for up to 5 days for whole ungutted sea bass, a grade A for a further 4 days and a grade B for an additional 4 days, after which sea bass was graded as C (unfit). Overall acceptability scores for odour, taste and texture of cooked whole ungutted and filleted sea bass decreased with increasing time of storage. The results of this study indicate that the shelf‐life of sea bass stored in ice, as determined by overall acceptability sensory scores and microbiological data, is 8–9 days for filleted and 12–13 days for whole ungutted fish. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Differentiation of Wines Treated with Wood Chips Based on Their Phenolic Content,Volatile Composition,and Sensory Parameters

The effects of both wood chips addition and contact time on phenolic content, volatile composition, color parameters, and organoleptic character of red wine made by a native Greek variety (Agiorgitiko) were evaluated. For this purpose, chips from American, French, Slavonia oak, and Acacia were added in the wine after fermentation. A mixture consisting of 50% French and 50% Americal oak chips was also evaluated. In an attempt to categorize wine samples, various chemical parameters of wines and sensory parameters were studied after 1, 2, and 3 mo of contact time with chips. The results showed that regardless of the type of wood chips added in the wines, it was possible to differentiate the samples according to the contact time based on their phenolic composition and color parameters. In addition, wood‐extracted volatile compounds seem to be the critical parameter that could separate the samples according to the wood type. The wines that were in contact with Acacia and Slavonia chips could be separated from the rest mainly due to their distinct sensory characters.     

Effect of Extraction Method on the Yield and Quality of Mullet Roe Oil

Striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) roe is used for the production of high nutritional and added-value delicacies. Its lipid fraction is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and bioactive compounds. This study examines scalable oil extraction methods for mullet roe oil extraction. Namely, solvent extraction (SE) using ethanol in two different temperatures, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using CO₂-ethanol mixture (SFE-E) in two different temperatures, expeller oil press (EP) extraction, expeller oil press combined with ethanol extraction (EP-SE) and wet reduction (WR) are examined. The methods are evaluated with regard to the oil yield and recovery, the oil oxidation and the composition in fatty acids, and polar compounds and unsaponifiable matter. EP-SE and SE provide the highest oil recovery for tested extraction temperatures (76% and 65% respectively), followed by SFE-E (46%) and EP (36%). Extracted oils present high PUFA content (28.5–33.9%). The type of extraction process and the process variables affect oil oxidation as well as the concentration of polar compounds and unsaponifiable matter. In terms of oxidation levels, 85% of the extracted oil samples were within the limits set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The potential of the examined methods for industrial mullet roe oil production is discussed. Practical applications : Oil rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids was extracted from stripped mullet roe. The work proposes several scalable extraction methods using mild conditions which could be applied to obtain edible and high nutritional value mullet roe oil with high recovery reaching up to 76%. The same methods could be employed also for mullet roe by-products. The obtained results improve the knowledge regarding the potential of roe valorization for oil extraction as well as the effect of the extraction method on the oil yield, main composition features and the quality characteristics of oil extracted by mullet roe. This research could offer new opportunities for the food industry for fish roe valorization for high nutritional quality oil production.     

A Combined Methodology for Transboundary River Basin Management in Europe. Application in The Nestos–Mesta Catchment Area

Water management has been the focus of research, not only because of water scarcity, but also as a result of its sharing across national boundaries. Approximately 40% of the global population lives in tranboundary water basins, shared by more than one country, emphasizing the need for concerted management of transboundary water bodies and harmonization of policies. Under this view, water should be managed in an internationalized way, integrating methodologies and techniques used in natural as well as social sciences. Public participation and information are vital procedural safeguards of transboundary water recourses management and sustainable regional development. The paper presents a combined methodology based on traditional engineering oriented tools on the one hand and interactive public participation procedures on the other, applied in the Greek–Bulgarian transboundary Mesta/Nestos river basin.     

Preparation by melt mixing and characterization of isotactic polypropylene/SiO2 nanocomposites containing untreated and surface‐treated nanoparticles

In the present study two series of isotactic polypropylene (iPP)/SiO₂ nanocomposites containing 1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 wt % SiO₂ nanoparticles were prepared by melt‐mixing on a twin‐screw corotating extruder. In the first series untreated fumed silica nanoparticles were used, whereas in the second nanoparticles were surface‐treated with dimethyldichlorosilane. In both cases, the average size of the primary nanoparticles was 12 nm. Tensile and impact strength were found to increase and to be affected mainly by the type and content of silica nanoparticles. A maximum was observed, corresponding to samples containing 2.5 wt % SiO₂. These findings are discussed in light of the SEM and TEM observations. By increasing the amount of nanoparticles, large aggregates of fumed silica could be formed, which may explain the reduction of mechanical properties with higher concentrations of SiO₂. However, it was found that surface‐treated nanoparticles produced larger aggregates than did those derived from untreated nanoparticles, despite the increased adhesion of the iPP matrix, as was postulated from yield strength. This behavior negatively affected mechanical properties. In addition, an effort was made to determine if toughening theories, mainly the critical interparticle distance for rubber toughening or composites, also might be applicable in nanocomposites. From DSC measurements it was demonstrated that silica nanoparticles acted as effective nucleating agents, increasing the crystallization rate and the degree of crystallinity of iPP. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 2684–2696, 2006     

Effective curriculum policy and cross-curricularity: analysis of the new curriculum design of the Hellenic Pedagogical Institute

In this paper we perform text analysis on the new Cross Thematic Curriculum Framework Syllabus Design for compulsory education, which was constructed by the Hellenic Pedagogical Institute and is soon going to be applied in Greek schools. This curriculum text is treated as a policy text which introduces important changes in Greek school practice, mainly through the adoption of a specifically defined cross-curricular approach to syllabus design. The core argument of the policy actors involved in this reform is that this particular innovation is a good curricular practice that will contribute to the further modernization of compulsory schooling in Greece. It is also claimed that this intervention is based on the Greek educational context as well as European educational policy. We investigate this argument by examining the way the idea of cross-curricularity (or unifying school knowledge and teaching and learning across the curriculum) is introduced in the text as well as at the level of educational practice. In doing so the interrelationships of the various stages of implementation are investigated. The issues identified in the analysis that relate to the educational and policy basis of this change are finally presented in a comparative way.