Diffusivity in a marine macrophyte canopy: implications for submarine pollination and dispersal

The dispersion and capture of differently shaped particles within a Zostera marina L. (eelgrass; Zosteraceae) bed were examined to understand submarine pollination and other dispersals. During periods of moderate flow in the canopy, the capture rate of "spherical" (the shape of ancestral pollen) and "filamentous" (the shape of eelgrass pollen) particles was greater for particles released at the top of the canopy (3.07 and 4.53% × 10(-5) cm(-2) of collector; i.e., percentage of particles captured normalized to collector area) and greater for filamentous than for spherical particles (4.51% × 10(-5) cm(-2) vs. 2.01% × 10(-5) cm(-2)). Estimates of the horizontal P (Joseph-Sendner diffusion velocity) and the vertical diffusivity (Gaussian K) of filamentous particles were small (P ≈ 4 × 10(-4) m/s; K ≈ 10(-4) m(2)/s) compared to theoretical values that do not consider plant canopies. These findings support the concept that eelgrass canopies modify the fluid dynamics (i.e., reduced turbulent mixing) within their canopies. These results indicate that 1000-10?000 Z. marina pollen are required to pollinate a single flower. Similarly, it was estimated that under some conditions, the probability of particle impaction on eelgrass vegetation approaches certainty. These results provide insight into the evolution of filamentous pollen and submarine pollination, as well as dispersal and other mass transport phenomena within macrophyte canopies.     

SEK1/MKK4-mediated SAPK/JNK signaling participates in embryonic hepatoblast proliferation via a pathway different from NF-kappaB-induced anti-apoptosis

Mice lacking the stress-signaling kinase SEK1 die from embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5) to E12.5. Although a defect in liver formation is accompanied with the embryonic lethality of sek1(-/-) mice, the mechanism of the liver defect has remained unknown. In the present study, we first produced a monoclonal antibody specifically recognizing murine hepatoblasts for the analysis of liver development and further investigated genetic interaction ofsek1 with tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1 gene (tnfr1) and protooncogene c-jun, which are also responsible for liver formation and cell apoptosis. The defective liver formation in sek1(-/-) embryos was not protected by additionaltnfr1 mutation, which rescues the embryonic lethality of mice lacking NF-kappaB signaling components. There was a progressive increase in the hepatoblast cell numbers of wild-type embryos from E10.5 to E12.5. Instead, impaired hepatoblast proliferation was observed in sek1(-/-) livers from E10.5, though fetal liver-specific gene expression was normal. The impaired phenotype in sek1(-/-) livers was more severe than in c-jun(-/-) embryos, and sek1(-/-) c-jun(-/-) embryos died more rapidly before E8.5. The hepatoblast proliferation required no hematopoiesis, since liver development was not impaired in AML1(-/-) mice that lack hematopoietic functions. Stimulation of stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase by hepatocyte growth factor was attenuated in sek1(-/-) livers. Thus, SEK1 appears to play a crucial role in hepatoblast proliferation and survival in a manner apparently different from NF-kappaB or c-Jun.     

Der Austrocknungsverlauf von Blättern und Blatteilen verschiedenen Alters und verschiedener Insertion

Ohne ZusammenfassungEs ist mir eine angenehme Pflicht, Herrn Univ. Prof. Dr. R.Biebl vom pflanzenphysiologischen Institut der Universität Wien für die kritische Durchsicht des Manuskripts und wertvolle Verbesserungsvorschläge meinen verbindlichsten Dank auszusprechen.     

Bericht über die botanischen Untersuchungen und deren vorläufige Ergebnisse der III. Kreuzung S. M. S. „Najade” im Sommer 1911

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Anton Rochel

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Improved method for routine determination of nicotine and its main metabolites in biological fluids

Extrelut^R extraction and glass capillary gas chromatography were applied to the routine determination of nicotine and its metabolites cotinine, nicotine-1′-N-oxide and cotinine-1-N-oxide in urine and plasma. After extraction of nicotine and cotinine both N-oxides and phendimetrazine-N-oxide (used as internal standard) were reduced to their bases by SO₂ on-column and eluted by a mixture of diethyl ether and dichloromethane. The minimum detectable concentrations are 0.03 μg/ml for urinary nicotine and cotinine and 0.1 μg/ml for the N-oxides. In plasma samples the corresponding values are 5 ng/ml and 15 ng/ml, respectively, with sample values as small as 2 ml. The advantage of the direct determination of all four compounds of interest in one sample reduced the amount of plasma required. The straightforward and rapid extraction and reduction procedure as well as the long-term stability of the gas chromatographic separation system make the method suitable for routine application.     

Der Kohlehydratstoffwechsel der Panseninfusorien und die Bedeutung der grünen Pflanzenteile für diese Organismen

Zusammenfassung An frisch entnommenem oder im Thermostaten aufbewahrtem Panseninhalte von Schafen wurde zu verschiedenen Zeiten nach verschiedenartiger Fütterung des Wirtstieres die Aufnahme und Verarbeitung der Nahrung durch die Panseninfusorien mikrochemisch verfolgt. Es lassen sich dabei, unter Zuhilfenahme der Fütterung der Infusorien im Thermostaten, der Vorgang der Nahrungsaufnahme und besonders der Kohlehydratstoffwechsel mikroskopisch beobachten. Stärkekörner werden als Ganzes aufgenommen und innerhalb des Nahrungssackes arrodiert und aufgelöst; dafür tritt im Ektoplasma Ablagerung von Glykogen auf. Diese erfolgt auch bei Fütterung mit Traubenzucker oder Milchzucker. Das Glykogen wird bei mangelnder weiterer Nahrungszufuhr sehr bald wieder aufgelöst und im ZellstoffWechsel verarbeitet.Im Gegensatze zu der gierigen Aufnahme von Stärke wird tierisches Eiweiß von den Infusorien nicht aufgenommen. Stets aber finden sich in ihrem Zelleibe normalerweise Bruchstücke pflanzlicher Nahrung und besonders grüne Pflanzenteile, ohne deren Aufnahme seitens des Wirtstieres die Infusorien aus dem Pansen verschwinden, um sich mit ihrer Neuaufnahme wieder einzustellen. Auch die grünen Pflanzenteile, die mit ihrem Bestand an Chlorophyll und Zellulose ebenfalls sowohl im Pansen wie auch von im Thermostaten aufbewahrten Infusorien aufgenommen werden, Werden im Innern der Infusorien in charakteristischer Weise verändert und aufgelöst.     

Untersuchungen über Schimmelpilze bayrischer und tunesischer Böden

Ohne ZusammenfassungAuszug aus einer Dissertation der Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Universität München.     

Effects of Feed Contaminant Deoxynivalenol on Plasma Cytokines and mRNA Expression of Immune Genes in the Intestine of Broiler Chickens

An experiment was conducted to investigate the individual and combined effects of dietary deoxynivalenol (DON) and a microbial feed additive on plasma cytokine level and on the expression of immune relevant genes in jejunal tissues of broilers. A total of 40 broiler chicks were obtained from a commercial hatchery and divided randomly into four groups (10 birds per group). Birds were reared in battery cages from one day old for 5 weeks. The dietary groups were 1) control birds fed basal diet; 2) DON group fed basal diet contaminated with 10 mg DON/ kg feed; 3) DON + Mycofix group fed basal diet contaminated with 10 mg DON/ kg feed and supplemented with a commercial feed additive, Mycofix® Select (MS) (2.5 kg/ton of feed); 4) Mycofix group fed basal diet supplemented with MS (2.5 kg/ton of feed). At 35 days, the plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) were quantified by ELISA test kits. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-8, IL-1β, interferon gamma (IFNγ), transforming growth factor beta receptor I (TGFBR1) and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells 1 (NF-κβ1) in jejunum were quantified by qRT-PCR. The results showed that the plasma TNF-α decreased in response to DON, while in combination with MS, the effect of DON was reduced. DON down-regulated the relative gene expression of IL-1β, TGFBR1 and IFN-γ, and addition of MS to the DON contaminated diet compensates these effects on IL-1β, TGFBR1 but not for IFN-γ. Furthermore, supplementation of MS to either DON contaminated or control diet up-regulated the mRNA expression of NF-κβ1. In conclusion, DON has the potential to provoke and modulate immunological reactions of broilers and subsequently could increase their susceptibility to disease. The additive seemed to have almost as much of an effect as DON, albeit on different genes.     

Evaluation of the long term monitoring of phytoplankton assemblages in a canyon-shape reservoir using multivariate statistical methods

Hydrobiologia - Long term monitoring of the Římov Reservoir provided a data set for the analysis of phytoplankton composition and biomass in coincidence with physical, chemical,...