Perennial biomass cropping and use: Shaping the policy ecosystem in European countries

Demand for sustainably produced biomass is expected to increase with the need to provide renewable commodities, improve resource security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with COP26 commitments. Studies have demonstrated additional environmental benefits of using perennial biomass crops (PBCs), when produced appropriately, as a feedstock for the growing bioeconomy, including utilisation for bioenergy (with or without carbon capture and storage). PBCs can potentially contribute to Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) (2023-27) objectives provided they are carefully integrated into farming systems and landscapes. Despite significant research and development (R&D) investment over decades in herbaceous and coppiced woody PBCs, deployment has largely stagnated due to social, economic and policy uncertainties. This paper identifies the challenges in creating policies that are acceptable to all actors. Development will need to be informed by measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) of greenhouse gas emissions reductions and other environmental, economic and social metrics. It discusses interlinked issues that must be considered in the expansion of PBC production: (i) available land; (ii) yield potential; (iii) integration into farming systems; (iv) R&D requirements; (v) utilisation options; and (vi) market systems and the socio-economic environment. It makes policy recommendations that would enable greater PBC deployment: (1) incentivise farmers and land managers through specific policy measures, including carbon pricing, to allocate their less productive and less profitable land for uses which deliver demonstrable greenhouse gas reductions; (2) enable greenhouse gas mitigation markets to develop and offer secure contracts for commercial developers of verifiable low-carbon bioenergy and bioproducts; (3) support innovation in biomass utilisation value chains; and (4) continue long-term, strategic R&D and education for positive environmental, economic and social sustainability impacts.

GRID: a novel Grb-2-related adapter protein that interacts with the activated T cell costimulatory receptor CD28

Adapter proteins such as Grb2 play a central role in the formation of signaling complexes through their association with multiple protein binding partners. These interactions are mediated by specialized domains such as the well-characterized Src homology SH2 and SH3 motifs. Using yeast three-hybrid technology, we have identified a novel adapter protein, expressed predominantly in T lymphocytes, that associates with the activated form of the costimulatory receptor, CD28. The protein is a member of the Grb2 family of adapter proteins and contains an SH3-SH2-SH3 domain structure. A unique glutamine/proline-rich domain (insert domain) of unknown function is situated between the SH2 and N-terminal SH3 domains. We term this protein GRID for Grb2-related protein with insert domain. GRID coimmunoprecipitates with CD28 from Jurkat cell lysates following activation of CD28. Using mutants of CD28 and GRID, we demonstrate that interaction between the proteins is dependent on phosphorylation of CD28 at tyrosine 173 and integrity of the GRID SH2 domain, although there are also subsidiary stabilizing contacts between the PXXP motifs of CD28 and the GRID C-terminal SH3 domain. In addition to CD28, GRID interacts with a number of other T cell signaling proteins, including SLP-76 (SH2 domain-containing leukocyte protein of 76 kDa), p62dok, and RACK-1 (receptor for activated protein kinase C-1). These findings suggest that GRID functions as an adapter protein in the CD28-mediated costimulatory pathway in T cells.

The plantar fasciotomy: MR imaging findings in asymptomatic volunteers

OBJECTIVE

To determine the postoperative appearance of the plantar fascia on MR imaging after a fasciotomy has been performed, and to compare the postsurgical appearance of the fascia after an open and endoscopic procedure.

DESIGN AND PATIENTS

Fifteen asymptomatic volunteers (12 women, 3 men; age range 22-49 years, mean age 33 years) with prior fasciotomies for treatment of longstanding plantar fasciitis were studied. Fourteen volunteers had a unilateral release and one volunteer had bilateral releases, allowing for assessment of 16 ankles. Eight fasciotomies were performed through an open incision and eight were performed endoscopically. The average time between surgery and imaging was 24 months (range 11-46 months). The site of surgery was established from the operative reports. Proton density (PD)-weighted and T2-weighted images in three orthogonal planes were obtained on a 1.5-T magnet. In eight studies, T1-weighted sagittal and STIR sagittal images were included. The fascia in each ankle was assessed for morphology and signal intensity. Perifascial soft tissues and bone marrow were assessed for edema. Preoperative MR studies were available in five volunteers.

RESULTS

There was no apparent difference in the postoperative appearance of the ankle after an open or endoscopic procedure except for scar formation in the subcutaneous fat which was common after an open procedure (P<0.05). Three ankles had a gap in the fascia (one open, two endoscopic). The plantar fascia measured a mean of 7.0 mm (range 5-10 mm) at the fasciotomy, and 8.3 mm (range 6-12 mm) at the enthesis. At the fasciotomy, 11 of 13 ankles had an indistinct deep contour and 9 of 13 had an indistinct superficial contour. At the enthesis, 13 of 16 ankles had an indistinct deep contour and 6 of 16 had an indistinct superficial contour. Compared with preoperative MR studies there was an average reduction in the fascial thickness at the enthesis of 14% (range 9-20%), but the thickness at the fasciotomy nearly doubled. No edema was evident in the fascia, perifascial tissues, deep plantar muscles, or calcaneal bone marrow.

CONCLUSIONS

The average thickness of the plantar fascia in asymptomatic volunteers after surgery is nearly 2-3 times that of normal. While there is increased thickness at the site of surgery, the changes in morphology and signal intensity were most prominent at the enthesis. The key observation was absence of edema in the fascia and perifascial soft tissues. This baseline information may be of value when assessing MR studies of symptomatic patients.

Association of simian immunodeficiency virus Nef with the T-cell receptor (TCR) zeta chain leads to TCR down-modulation

The Nef protein of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) is dispensable for replication in established T-cell lines but essential for high level virus replication in the adult host, though the mechanism by which Nef contributes to this has remained unclear. We demonstrate here that SIV Nef binds to the zeta chain of the T-cell receptor (TCR). SIV Nef proteins that interact with TCR zeta in a yeast two-hybrid system also reduce T-cell surface expression levels of TCR alphabeta, CD3 and CD4. These findings are the first demonstration that Nef can bind directly to a component of the TCR-CD3 complex and modulate its surface expression.

Immunomodulatory and antiviral activities of 2',3'-dideoxy-beta-L-cytidine and 2',3'-dideoxy-beta-L-5-fluorocytidine

Two dideoxynucleosides, 2',3'-dideoxy-beta-L-cytidine and 2',3'-dideoxy-beta-L-5-flurocytidine, containing unnatural L-configuration in their sugar moieties, were synthesized and assayed for antiviral activities. Both compounds were shown to possess potent anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and antihepatitis B virus activities, while demonstrating no anti-herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 activity. These two compounds exhibited in vitro cellular toxicities for several leukocytic cell lines and were shown to inhibit phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocyte proliferations. At inhibitory concentrations, both compounds caused accumulations of cells in the S phase. While demonstrating no obvious morphological toxicity in vivo in mice at concentrations of 75 and 150 mg/kg, 2',3'-dideoxy-beta-L-5-fluorocytidine- treated animals were shown to have considerable increases in CD4/CD8 double positive T lymphocyte population in their blood circulation.