Melodea (Israel)

Microbial aggregation is central in environmental processes, such as marine snow and harmful marine mucilage events. Nutrient enrichment positively correlates with microbial aggregation. This correlation is largely attributed to the overgrowth of microalgae and the overproduction of agglomerating exopolysaccharides (EPS). However, recent studies highlight the significant contribution of bacterial EPS to algal-bacterial aggregation. Here, using controlled laboratory experiments and environmental metatranscriptomic analysis, we investigate the impact of nutrient enrichment on bacterial EPS production, while bacteria are in the context of their algal hosts. Our findings demonstrate a marked increase in bacterial EPS production in response to an increase of inorganic phosphorus and nitrogen levels, both in the lab and in the environment. These results highlight the interplay between nutrient regimes, bacterial physiology, and microbial aggregation in marine ecosystems and emphasize gaps in our understanding regarding the bacterial role in environmental processes that involve microbial aggregation.

Abstract The excision of the root tip, including the stem cell niche, triggers rapid regeneration from remnant cells in the stump. In plants, cell identity relies on positional information transported through cytoplasmatic bridges known as plasmodesmata. However, how such information is reset to allow the regeneration of lost identities is unknown. Here, we show that the movement of mobile signals is temporarily restricted near the incision site and that regeneration-induced members of the LATERAL ORGAN DOMAIN (LBD) plant-specific developmental regulators are necessary and sufficient for this restriction. Regeneration was disrupted in high-orderlbdmutants but was restored by transient localized plasmodesmata closure. We propose that LBD-mediated modulation of intercellular connectivity is crucial for plant regeneration and may have widespread roles inde novopattern formation.One Sentence SummaryPlant-specific DNA binding genes mediate a transient restriction of intercellular communication to allow root regeneration

Abstract Atherosclerosis is a pathology affecting the arteries, characterized by the buildup of plaques in the blood vessel walls. Atherosclerosis is the main cause of cardiovascular diseases, which constitute the leading cause of death in the world. Cholesterol crystals are the main components of the plaques, which actively participate in plaque growth and rupture and do not dissolve in aqueous environments. Employing novel cryo-scanning electron microscopy techniques, we examined human atherosclerotic plaques at high resolution, in 3D, and in close to native conditions. We show that cholesterol crystal clearance occurs in advanced human plaques through the activity of cells. We suggest that this occurs by enzymatic esterification of cholesterol to cholesteryl ester, which aggregates into intra- and extra-cellular pools. This discovery provides further understanding of the disease process in atherosclerosis, and may inspire new therapeutic approaches.

Novel printed electronics are projected to grow and be manufactured in the future in large volumes. In many applications, printed electronics are envisaged as sustainable alternatives to conventional (PCB-based) electronics. One such application is in the semi-quantitative drug detection and point-of-care device called ‘GREENSENSE’ that uses paper-based printed electronics. This paper analyses the carbon footprint of GREENSENSE in order to identify and suggest means of mitigating disproportionately high environmental impacts, labeled ‘sustainability hotspots’, from materials and processes used during production which would be relevant in high-volume applications. Firstly, a life cycle model traces the flow of raw materials (such as paper, CNCs, and nanosilver) through the three ‘umbrella’ processes (circuit printing, component mounting, and biofunctionalization) manufacturing different electronic components (the substrate, conductive inks, energy sources, display, etc) that are further assembled into GREENSENSE. Based on the life cycle model, life cycle inventories are modeled that map out the network of material and energy flow throughout the production of GREENSENSE. Finally, from the environmental impact and sustainability hotspot analysis, both crystalline nanocellulose and nanosilver were found to create material hotspots and they should be replaced in favor of lower-impact materials. Process hotspots are created by manual, lab-, and pilot-scale processes with unoptimized material consumption, energy use, and waste generation; automated and industrial-scale manufacturing can mitigate such process hotspots.

Abstract The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of high importance, among others because of its role in cellular respiration and in the operation of fuel cells. Recently, a possible relation between respiration and general anesthesia has been found. This work aims to explore whether anesthesia related gases affect the ORR. In ORR, oxygen which is in its triplet ground state is reduced to form products that are all in the singlet state. While this process is “in principle” forbidden because of spin conservation, it is known that if the electrons transferred in the ORR are spin polarized, the reaction occurs efficiently. Here we show, in electrochemical experiments, that the efficiency of the oxygen reduction is reduced by the presence of general anesthetics in solution. We suggest that a spin-orbit coupling to the anesthetics depolarizes the spins. This causes both a reduction in reaction efficiency and a change in the reaction products. The findings may point to a possible relation between ORR efficiency and anesthetic action. TOC

Abstract Long-term genetic studies of wild populations are very scarce, but are essential for connecting ecological and population genetics models, and for understanding the dynamics of biodiversity. We present a study of a wild wheat population sampled over a 36-year period at high spatial resolution. We genotyped 832 individuals from regular sampling along transects during the course of the experiment. Genotypes were clustered into ecological microhabitats over scales of tens of metres, and this clustering was remarkably stable over the 36 generations of the study. Simulations show that it is difficult to explain this spatial and temporal stability using only limited dispersal, suggesting a role for fine-scale local adaptation to ecological parameters. Using a common-garden experiment, we showed that the genotypes found in distinct microhabitats differ phenotypically, further supporting the hypothesis of local adaptation. Our results provide a rare insight into the population genetics of a natural population over a long monitoring period.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic limits access to diabetes clinics. Remote communication by phone calls and WhatsApp messages became available in the past years. However, the current need to avoid face-to-face meetings necessitates further expansion of telemedicine services. There are limited data whether the option of virtual meetings is a preferred therapeutic modality for patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Objective: To assess in a cohort of T1D patients, their preference and perception of telemedicine. Methods: T1D patients who are followed in a hospital-affiliated diabetes clinic were asked to fill a structured questionnaire aimed to determine their attitude towards telemedicine and their preference of virtual versus conventional visits. The questionnaire was offered to consecutive T1D patients who visited the clinic between August to October 2020. Results: Seventy one T1D patients that fulfilled the questionnaire were included. Mean age was 42±15 years, 39% were male, and the mean duration of diabetes was 21±14 years. Fourteen percent of the participants preferred only virtual visits, 24% only conventional visits and 62% preferred a combination of these modalities. Sex, origin, education, duration of diabetes, mode of insulin treatment and distance from the clinic were not associated with patients’ preference, but older patients (≥ 61 years) tended to prefer conventional visits. Sixty-seven percent felt confident in their ability to download data from their personal medical devices. Conclusions: Patients from a wide range of treatment modalities are willing to use telemedicine. However, virtual meetings cannot fully replace conventional visits in T1D especially in the older age group. Disclosure A. Kirzhner: Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Novo Nordisk. T. Zornitzki: Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Novo Nordisk. V. Ostrovsky: None. H. Knobler: None. T. Schiller: Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc.

Background: Post-bariatric surgery hypoglycemia has been previously reported. However, its prevalence remains uncertain due to variability of diagnostic criteria, types of bariatric procedures and possible lack of awareness. Objective: To determine the frequency and severity of symptomatic and asymptomatic hypoglycemia in persons following 3 different surgical procedures ≥ 1 years before evaluation, and a group of non-operated obese persons. Design and Setting: Observational cohort study conducted at an out-patient clinic. Fifty-one consecutive individuals were enrolled: post Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) (n=16), post omega loop gastric bypass (OLGB) (n=12), post sleeve gastrectomy (SG) (n=15), obese persons prior to surgery (controls) (n=8). Hypoglycemic events (blood glucose ≤ 54 mg/dL) and severe hypoglycemia (blood glucose ≤ 40 mg/dL) were evaluated by: symptoms' questionnaire, mixed meal tolerance test (MMT) and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Results: According to questionnaires, meal-related complaints were reported in 11 (26%) of the surgical group and 1/8 of controls. During MMT, 88%, 82% and 67% experienced hypoglycemia in the RYGB, OLGB and SG groups respectively, vs. none in the controls (P < 0.001). Severe hypoglycemia occurred in 38%, 45% and 7% of the RYGB, OLGB and SG groups respectively, (P= 0.025) but only 10 of the total operated group (24%) reported any symptoms. During CGM, fasting hypoglycemic events occurred more in the RYGB and OLGB vs. the SG group: 55%, 63% vs.17% respectively, (P= 0.036). Conclusions: Post-bariatric surgery hypoglycemia is a very common phenomenon after 3 types of bariatric surgery and can be severe especially following bypass procedures. Intriguingly, our results show that hypoglycemia occurs not only in postprandial but also in fasting state, especially following bypass procedures. In many cases there were no specific complaints that may lead to underestimation of this serious complication. Disclosure H. Knobler: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk A/S. L. Lazar: None. S. Sapojnikov: None. G. Pines: None. E. Mavor: None. V. Ostrovsky: None. T. Schiller: Advisory Panel; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi-Aventis. T. Zornitzki: None.