Search

Raloxifene has low bioavailability due to extensive glucuronidation in the intestine and the liver, and its pharmacokinetics is associated with high intra‐ and interindividual variability. Some of this variability could be explained by the enterohepatic recycling of raloxifene, which is driven by transporter‐mediated uptake and efflux and gut microbial deglucuronidation of raloxifene glucuronides. These individual processes involved in raloxifene disposition, however, have not been characterized in full detail. In this study, we evaluated the interactions of raloxifene and its three glucuronide metabolites (raloxifene 4′‐glucuronide, raloxifene 6‐glucuronide and raloxifene 4′,6‐diglucuronide) with drug transporters using Sf9 membrane vesicles and HEK293 cells. Additionally, we measured the deglucuronidation of raloxifene glucuronides in human faecal extracts. All raloxifene glucuronides were transported by MRP2 and MRP3, whereas raloxifene monoglucuronides were identified as substrates of OATP1B1, OATP1B3 and OATP2B1. All three raloxifene glucuronides were readily deglucuronidated in the presence of faecal extracts, although with high between‐subject variability. The results of this study provide further understanding of the disposition of raloxifene, which can help understand the sources behind the interindividual variability in raloxifene pharmacokinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of cyanobacteria for bioproduction, bioremediation and biotransformation is being increasingly explored. Photoautotrophs are carbon-negative by default, offering a direct pathway to reducing emissions in production systems. More robust and versatile host strains are needed for constructing production strains that would function as efficient and carbon-neutral cyanofactories. We have tested if the engineering of sigma factors, regulatory units of the bacterial RNA polymerase, could be used to generate better host strains of the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Overexpressing the stress-responsive sigB gene under the strong psbA2 promoter (SigB-oe) led to improved tolerance against heat, oxidative stress and toxic end-products. By targeting transcription initiation in the SigB-oe strain, we could simultaneously activate a wide spectrum of cellular protective mechanisms, including carotenoids, the HspA heat shock protein, and highly activated non-photochemical quenching. Yellow fluorescent protein was used to test the capacity of the SigB-oe strain to produce heterologous proteins. In standard conditions, the SigB-oe strain reached a similar production as the control strain, but when cultures were challenged with oxidative stress, the production capacity of SigB-oe surpassed the control strain. We also tested the production of growth-rate-controlled host strains via manipulation of RNA polymerase, but post-transcriptional regulation prevented excessive overexpression of the primary sigma factor SigA, and overproduction of the growth-restricting SigC factor was lethal. Thus, more research is needed before cyanobacteria growth can be manipulated by engineering RNA polymerase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobacteria utilize CO2 and HCO3− as inorganic carbon (Ci) sources. In low Ci, like in ambient air, cyanobacteria efficiently collect Ci using a carbon concentrating mechanism (CCM). The CCM includes bicarbonate transporters SbtA, BicA and BCT1; the specialized NDH complexes NDH‐13 and NDH‐14, which convert CO2 to HCO3− in the cytoplasm; and carboxysomes that are protein shell encapsulated ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCo) and carbonic anhydrase containing bodies in which the first reaction of carbon fixation occurs. Ci‐dependent regulation of bicarbonate transporters and specialized NDH complexes, especially the regulation of the SbtA transporter, are well understood. CcmR (also called NdhR), CyAbrB2, CmpR and RbcR act as transcription factors regulating CCM genes. Ci signalling molecules detecting the metabolic status of the cells include 2‐oxoglutarate, which accumulates when the Ci/nitrogen ratio of the cell is high, and 2‐phosphoglycolate, the first intermediate of the photorespiration pathway, whose accumulation indicates low Ci. These signalling molecules act as corepressors and coactivators of the CcmR repressor protein, whereas 2‐phosphoglycolate and ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate activate transcription activator CmpR. In addition, bicarbonate or CO2 activates the adenylyl cyclase that produces cAMP, and ATP/ADP/AMP provide information about the energy status of the cell. Less is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating carboxysome dynamics or how production, activity and degradation of photosynthetic complexes are regulated by prevailing Ci conditions or which mechanisms adjust cell division according to Ci. This minireview summarizes the present knowledge about molecular mechanisms regulating cyanobacterial acclimation to prevailing Ci. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ticagrelor and rosuvastatin are often used concomitantly after atherothrombotic events. Several cases of rhabdomyolysis during concomitant ticagrelor and rosuvastatin have been reported, suggesting a drug–drug interaction. We showed recently that ticagrelor inhibits breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B1, 1B3, and 2B1‐mediated rosuvastatin transport in vitro. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ticagrelor on rosuvastatin pharmacokinetics in humans. In a randomized, crossover study, 9 healthy volunteers ingested a single dose of 90 mg ticagrelor or placebo, followed by a single 10 mg dose of rosuvastatin 1 hour later. Ticagrelor 90 mg or placebo were additionally administered 12, 24, and 36 hours after their first dose. Ticagrelor increased rosuvastatin area under the plasma concentration‐time curve (AUC) and peak plasma concentration 2.6‐fold (90% confidence intervals: 1.8–3.8 and 1.7–4.0, P = 0.001 and P = 0.003), and prolonged its half‐life from 3.1 to 6.6 hours (P = 0.009). Ticagrelor also decreased the renal clearance of rosuvastatin by 11% (3%–19%, P = 0.032). The N‐desmethylrosuvastatin:rosuvastatin AUC0–10h ratio remained unaffected by ticagrelor. Ticagrelor had no effect on the plasma concentrations of the endogenous OATP1B substrates glycodeoxycholate 3‐O‐glucuronide, glycochenodeoxycholate 3‐O‐glucuronide, glycodeoxycholate 3‐O‐sulfate, and glycochenodeoxycholate 3‐O‐sulfate, or the sodium‐taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide substrate taurocholic acid. These data indicate that ticagrelor increases rosuvastatin concentrations more than twofold in humans, probably mainly by inhibiting intestinal BCRP. Because the risk for rosuvastatin‐induced myotoxicity increases along with rosuvastatin plasma concentrations, using ticagrelor concomitantly with high doses of rosuvastatin should be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Measuring venous plasma paracetamol concentrations is time‐ and resource‐consuming. We aimed to validate a novel electrochemical point‐of‐care (POC) assay for rapid paracetamol concentration determinations. Methods: Twelve healthy volunteers received 1 g oral paracetamol, and its concentrations were analysed 10 times over 12 h for capillary whole blood (POC), venous plasma (high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS/MS)), and dried capillary blood (HPLC‐MS/MS). Results: At concentrations >30 μM, POC showed upward biases of 20% (95% limits of agreement [LOA] −22 to 62) and 7% (95% LOA −23 to 38) compared with venous plasma and capillary blood HPLC‐MS/MS, respectively. There were no significant differences between mean concentrations for the paracetamol elimination phase. Conclusions: Upward biases in POC compared with venous plasma HPLC‐MS/MS were likely due to higher paracetamol concentrations in capillary blood than in venous plasma and to faulty individual sensors. The novel POC method is a promising tool for paracetamol concentration analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is a model cyanobacterium, glucose‐tolerant substrains of which are commonly used as laboratory strains. In recent years, it has become evident that 'wild‐type' strains used in different laboratories show some differences in their phenotypes. We report here the chromosome sequence of our Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 substrain, named substrain GT‐T. The chromosome sequence of GT‐T was compared to those of two other commonly used laboratory substrains, GT‐S and PCC‐M. We identified 11 specific mutations in the GT‐T substrain, whose physiological consequences are discussed. We also provide an update on evolutionary relationships between different Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 substrains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facial emotion recognition (FER) is a fundamental element in human interaction. It begins to develop soon after birth and is important in achieving developmental tasks of middle childhood, such as developing mutual friendships and acquiring social rules of peer groups. Despite its importance, FER research during middle childhood continues to be rather limited. Moreover, research is ambiguous on how the quality of one's early social‐emotional environment shapes FER development, and longitudinal studies spanning from infancy to later development are scarce. In this study, we examine how the cohesive, authoritarian, disengaged and enmeshed family system types, assessed during pregnancy and infancy, predict children's FER accuracy and interpretative biases towards happiness, fear, anger and sadness at the age of 10 years (N = 79). The results demonstrated that children from disengaged families (i.e., highly distressed relationships) show superior FER accuracy to those from cohesive families (i.e., harmonious and stable relationships). Regarding interpretative biases, children from cohesive families showed a greater fear bias compared to children from disengaged families. Our findings suggest that even in a relatively low‐risk population, variation in the quality of children's early family relationships may shape children's subsequent FER development, perhaps as an evolution‐based adaptation to their social‐emotional environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capability of viscoelastic measurement parameters to screen anticoagulation activity of edoxaban in relation to its plasma concentrations was evaluated in 15 healthy male volunteers. Blood samples were drawn before the oral administration of edoxaban 60 mg and 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24 hours after administration. At each time, standard coagulation tests were performed, blood viscoelastic properties were measured with a thromboelastometry device ROTEM delta analyzer (Instrumentation Laboratory, Werfen, Barcelona, Spain), and edoxaban plasma concentrations were measured. Our primary interest was the possible correlation between edoxaban plasma concentrations and values for ROTEM ExTEM, and FibTEM. We also studied the correlation of edoxaban plasma concentrations with the results of standard coagulation tests. We saw the effect of a single dose of edoxaban most clearly in clotting time (CT) of ROTEM ExTEM and FibTEM. Changes in these parameters correlated significantly with edoxaban plasma concentrations up to 6 hours from the ingestion of the drug. Activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, and anti–factor Xa were also affected. Peak changes were observed 2 and 4 hours after administration of edoxaban. The changes were mostly reversed after 8 hours. In conclusion, ROTEM CT correlates significantly with edoxaban plasma concentrations and can be used to estimate the effect of edoxaban. ROTEM should be considered as part of the assessment of coagulation, with the big advantage of being readily available on site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conserved omega (ω) subunit of RNA polymerase (RNAP) is the only nonessential subunit of bacterial RNAP core. The small ω subunit (7 kDa–11.5 kDa) contains three conserved α helices, and helices α2 and α3 contain five fully conserved amino acids of ω. Four conserved amino acids stabilize the correct folding of the ω subunit and one is located in the vicinity of the β′ subunit of RNAP. Otherwise ω shows high variation between bacterial taxa, and although the main interaction partner of ω is always β′, many interactions are taxon‐specific. ω‐less strains show pleiotropic phenotypes, and based on in vivo and in vitro results, a few roles for the ω subunits have been described. Interactions of the ω subunit with the β′ subunit are important for the RNAP core assembly and integrity. In addition, the ω subunit plays a role in promoter selection, as ω‐less RNAP cores recruit fewer primary σ factors and more alternative σ factors than intact RNAP cores in many species. Furthermore, the promoter selection of an ω‐less RNAP holoenzyme bearing the primary σ factor seems to differ from that of an intact RNAP holoenzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectrotemporally complex sounds carry important information for acoustic communication. Among the important features of these sounds is the temporal duration. An event‐related potential called mismatch negativity indexes auditory change detection in humans. An analogous response (mismatch response) has been found to duration changes in speech sounds in rats but not yet in mice. We addressed whether mice show this response, and, if elicited, whether this response is functionally analogous to mismatch negativity or whether adaptation‐based models suffice to explain them. Auditory‐evoked potentials were epidurally recorded above the mice auditory cortex. The differential response to the changes in a repeated human speech sound /a/ was elicited 53–259 ms post‐change (oddball condition). The differential response was observable to the largest duration change (from 200 to 110 ms). Any smaller (from 200 to 120–180 ms at 10 ms steps) duration changes did elicit an observable response. The response to the largest duration change did not robustly differ in amplitude from the response to the change‐inducing sound presented without its repetitive background (equiprobable condition). The findings suggest that adaptation may suffice to explain responses to duration changes in spectrotemporally complex sounds in anaesthetized mice. The results pave way for development of a variety of murine models of acoustic communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One study estimated specificity of saliva-based test in a subsample of patients, which excluded most of the test negative patients. Average sensitivity was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.77-0.91) and average specificity 0.99 (95% CI: 0.98-1.00) with saliva-based index test compared with NPS or OPS based reference test (Figure 1). Some reasons, like lower viral loads in saliva specimens, might explain why saliva is an inferior specimen type compared with swab specimen for the detection of SARS-COV-2. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract: By combining game engines with indoor mapping, it is possible to create interactive virtual environments that represent the real world. In this paper a virtual version of an audio installation in a historic building is produced, where the user freely explores the building and experiences a set of audio clips, creating a virtual radio play. A depth camera indoor mapping system, Matterport, captured a set of staged interiors. The aim was to evaluate the quality and usability of the indoor models and to demonstrate applying them in 3D application development. The quality of the models was evaluated by comparison with laser scanning, revealing limitations with Matterport: increasing the size of the measured area lowered the level of detail and accuracy of volumetric models. The quality of textures was not affected by this limitation, maintaining the appearance of models. To obtain optimised models for mobile 3D applications, a manual revision process was applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pressurized circulating fluidized-bed gasification by steam-oxygen has been developed at VTT for syngas applications. In this process, wood feedstocks are first converted into raw gasification gas, which is then filtered at about 600°C before catalytic reforming of tars and hydrocarbon gases. This article presents results of the gasification and gas filtration tests carried out with wood pellets, crushed pellets, bark, and crushed forest residues. The effects of operating pressure, bed material used, and other main operating variables were examined. Dolomite, magnesium oxide, and sand were used as bed materials. Gasification pressure was in the range 0.25-0.6 MPa and operating temperature 860-930°C. In best operating conditions, over 98% carbon conversion was achieved with very smooth long-term operation. The feedstock particle size, operation pressure, and the presence of calcium-based bed material had strong effects on tar formation and filter operability. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 33: 681-687, 2014 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sindbis virus (SINV; family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus) is an enveloped RNA virus widely distributed in Eurasia, Africa, Oceania and Australia. SINV is transmitted among its natural bird hosts via mosquitoes. Human disease caused by SINV infection has been reported mainly in South Africa and in Northern Europe. Vector mosquito abundance affects the annual incidence of SINV infections with occasional outbreaks of up to 1500 patients. Symptoms include fever, malaise, rash and musculoskeletal pain. In a significant portion of patients the debilitating musculoskeletal symptoms persist for years. Chronic disease after SINV infection shares many features with autoimmune diseases. Currently there is no specific treatment available. Recently SINV infections have been detected outside the previously known distribution range. In this article we will summarize the current knowledge on epidemiology, clinical disease and pathogenesis of SINV infection in man. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In eubacteria, replacement of one σ factor in the RNA polymerase (RNAP) holoenzyme by another one changes the transcription pattern. Cyanobacteria are eubacteria characterized by oxygenic photosynthesis, and they typically encode numerous group 2 σ factors that closely resemble the essential primary σ factor. A mutant strain of the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 without functional group 2 σ factors (named as ΔsigBCDE) could not acclimate to heat, high salt or bright light stress, but in standard conditions ΔsigBCDE grew only 9% slower than the control strain. One-fifth of the genes in ΔsigBCDE was differently expressed compared with the control strain in standard growth conditions and several physiological changes in photosynthesis, and pigment and lipid compositions were detected. To directly analyze the σ factor content of RNAP holoenzyme in vivo, a His-tag was added to the γ subunit of RNAP in Synechocystis and RNAPs were collected. The results revealed that all group 2 σ factors were recruited by RNAP in standard conditions, but recruitment of SigB and SigC increased in heat stress, SigD in bright light, SigE in darkness and SigB, SigC and SigE in high salt, explaining the poor acclimation of ΔsigBCDE to these stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research on carbon conversion in pressurized fluidized-bed gasification of biomass for applications in Finland. It notes solid-char residue reactivity as a key factor affecting carbon-conversion efficiency in the gasifier and the associated roles of alkaline and earth-alkaline metal compounds. Silicon is noted as an example biomass constituent that can impede carbon conversion. It notes carbon-conversion efficiency enhancements that can be achieved by increasing reactor temperature, but that care must be taken to avoid ash sintering.

Background The mechanisms behind prostate cancer progression are largely unknown, but macrophage inhibitory cytokine 1 (MIC-1) has been suggested to be involved in tumour dissemination in vivo due to its reductive effect on cell adhesion. Materials and methods We used two PC-3 prostate cancer epithelial cell line variants as tools to screen for gene expression differences during prostate cancer progression by cDNA microarray analysis. Selected genes were further analysed by Northern blot analysis using mRNA isolated from prostatic cell lines and tissues. MIC-1 expression was studied by in situ hybridization in archival patient specimens containing benign and malignant prostatic tissue. Results Gene expression of human collagen type VI, basement membrane heparan sulphate proteoglycan, integrin alpha 1, and fibronectin I were remarkably decreased in suspension-adapted PC-3 (saPC-3) cells, indicating a gene expression profile of reduced cell adhesion. Asparagine synthetase, serine protease 1, stanniocalcin homologue, NAD-dependent methylene tetrahydrate dehydrogenase cyclohydrolase (NMDMC), fortilin, and MIC-1 were overexpressed in saPC-3 cells. In prostate, the MIC-1 gene was mainly expressed in cancer tissue. However, MIC-1 transcripts were detected in benign tissue areas, especially in specimens containing prostate cancer with Gleason sum scores of 5–8. A significant inverse correlation (Spearman's rho correlation coefficient −0·928**) was observed between the ratio of cancerous to benign MIC-1 expression levels and Gleason scores. Conclusions Differential expression of the MIC-1 gene occurs during prostate cancer progression. The transcript level of the MIC-1 gene in histologically benign tissue seems to approach that in paired cancer tissue concomitant with an increasing Gleason score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-one Gremmeniella abietina var. abietina type A and 12 type B samples with ripened apothecia were collected in Sweden and Finland. Morphological dimensions of the ascospores were determined with an image analyser (Leica Qwin). Measured variables included length, width, perimeter and roundness of ascospores. Variations in these variables overlapped between the two types. Type A ascospores were significantly shorter (mean length 15.8 μm) than the type B ascospores (mean length 17.1 μm). Type A ascospores were also significantly rounder than type B ascospores. Differences between these morphological characters were, however, too small to distinguish the types as separate taxonomical species. Round-pointed and acute ascospores were found in the same apothecium but in different asci. According to the hypervariable marker GAAA1000, both round-pointed and acute ascospores originated from the same two parents in normal segregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The foliar chemistry of diseased and healthy trees was studied one growing season after severe reduction in living crown caused by Gremmeniella abietina in four young Scots pine, scientifically called Pinus sylvestris, stands. Sample trees were chosen pairwise on the basis of the living crown length which had a diseased tree with about 50% live crown reduction and a healthy tree in each pair. Fifteen elements were determined in the youngest healthy needles on the lateral top shoots of each sample tree.

The article focuses on short-term variation in ascospore release by Phacidium infestans on the needles of Pinus sylvestris. Ascospore release by this species was monitored with volumetric-recording spore traps in Finland. Detached branches of Scots pine infected naturally during the previous winter were used as a spore source. The number of spores had a higher correlation both with relative humidity and with precipitation delayed 3 to 7 hours than with current precipitation. Temperature did not directly affect the ascospore release. The effect of wind on the release of spores was mainly negative.

This article focuses on concentration of CO2 under snow cover and the winter activity of the snow blight fungus Phacidium infestans. The main source of carbon dioxide in snow was due to the respiration of soil organisms when the soil was not frozen and the respiration activity during snow blight infection of Scots pine branches that had been inoculated with Phacidium infestans. Soil CO2 diffusion and respiration in inoculated branches reached about the same level under the snow cover.

This article focuses on effects of pruning young Scots pines on host vigour and susceptibility to two blue-stain fungi Leptographium wingfieldii and Ophiostoma minus associated with pine shoot beetle Tomicus piniperda. Tomicus piniperda were inoculated into 25-year old Scots pines. Both fungi invaded the inner bark and the sapwood at the points of inoculation. Leptographium wingfieldii caused larger lesions in the bark but Ophiostoma minus tended to grow faster in the sapwood. The lesion formation and the content of resin acids in lesion did not differ between fungi.

Spontaneous infection with Tuberculina maxima (T. maxima) was observed in late August 1976 in a plastic greenhouse on 14-week-old seedlings of Pinus Sylvestris (P. Sylvestris) inoculated with Melampsora pinitorqua (M. pinitorqua). T. maxima occurred on needles, branches and stems and in some cases had overgrown the aecium so that no aeciospores could be seen. Incubation time, spore dimensions and colour agreed well with those previously reported for other hosts. In nature T. maxima may not be able to co-parasitize with M. pinitorqua. Pine tissue infected with M. pinitorqua is, however, a suitable substrate for T. maxima.

The article studies the distribution of Lachnellula pini, cause of pine canker and Lachnellula flavovirens,occurring on pine needles and branches killed by snow light. The occurrence of pine canker caused by Lachnellula pini appeared to be restricted to the northern boreal vegetation zone, from lake Oulu to the northern line of pine forests in Finland. In the north the disease is common in young pine stands. In the southern part of its range it was only found in pine regeneration growing on barren sandy sites. Lachnellula flavovirens, however, was found throughout the country on pine branches killed by snow light.

To characterize prostate-specific antigen (PSA) produced by cancer cells, different isoforms of PSA secreted by the human prostate cancer cells, LNCaP, were purified. LNCaP-PSA production was induced by synthetic androgen, R1881. LNCaP-PSA was separated into four pools. The molecular mass of LNCaP-PSA isoforms in these pools was 34 kDa under reducing conditions and 29 kDa under non-reducing conditions on SDS/PAGE. pI of LNCaP-PSA isoforms varied from 6.8 to 8.2. Pool A had the highest specific activity, 37 nmol/(min×mg). All the pools formed stable complexes with α1-antichymotrypsin and α2-macroglobulin. The pools contained 10-60 % of N-terminally correctly processed LNCaP-PSA isoforms. According to the molecular modelling, the addition or deletion of two or four N-terminal amino acids could affect the three-dimensional structure and thereby remarkably reduce the enzyme activity of LNCaP-PSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of random amplified microsatellite (RAMS) markers among aecia of the causal agent of the resin top disease on Scots pine suggested that the genetic variation between the populations of this rust fungus is low in Finland. The method used allowed the identification of heterozygotic aecia in two loci, where the degree of heterozygosity was, however, low. The RAMS patterns of the Finnish aeciospores, other aeciospores from Thetford, England and Cronartium flaccidum from Italy were highly similar suggesting that the autoecious and heteroccious forms of these rust fungi would be genetically closely related.

The recently developed needle-trace method was successfully used to verify retrospectively the occurrence of a well-documented needle-cast epidemic caused by Lophodermella sulcigena in the 5-year period of 1977-81 in a stand of Pinus sylvestris. The NTM was developed to reveal past needle retention of Pinus species. Chronological series for needle retention, needle age and needle shedding can be constructed for long periods. In other words, NTM helps to understand the normal pattern of needle development and retention in pines. This has been found to be extremely important in discussions about forest decline.

Variations of terpene, resin acid and total phenolic concentrations in young seedlings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) from nine different seed origins growing in three locations of different latitudes, in Finland and Estonia, were investigated in autumn 1991 and spring 1992. Seasonal variation was remarkable in monoterpene, resin acid and total phenolic concentrations. In spring there was more 3-carene, α-pinene, β-pinene + sabinene and total monoterpenes in pine shoots, and less myrcene and tricyclene compared to autumn. Concentrations of some individual resin acids, levopimaric and dehydroabietic acids, were higher in autumn. The total phenolic concentration was higher in spring. In the most northern location, the concentrations of total monoterpenes and total phenolics were lowest. The total resin acid concentration was highest in the middle location and individual resin acids, palustric and neoabietic acids, were more common in the most northern location. Seed origin had no significant effects either to the resin acid or total phenolic concentrations. There were almost equal concentrations of total phenolics and resin acids in northern and southern origins. Instead some individual monoterpenes, limonene, tricyclene, camphene, β-pinene + sabinene and hornylacetate, were more common in northern seed origins. The results suggest that the origin of the seed material is not so important in affecting the concentrations of secondary compounds as are the environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An epidemic rust, Melampsoridium hiratsukanum, originating from East Asia has spread to Europe over the last two decades. We report the first observation of this rust in the British Isles on leaves of Alnus incana and A. glutinosa. In addition to M. hiratsukanum, a native M. betulinum-like rust co-occurred on the same leaves as a mixed infection. We also confirm that a rust on A. rubra in Western Canada is identical to M. hiratsukanum present in East Asia and Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]