Lack of trade-offs between the male and female sexual functions in the gynodioecious herb <Emphasis Type="Italic">Geranium sylvaticum</Emphasis>

Resource allocation trade-offs between sexual functions are predicted, but these are usually measured only at the whole plant level. In some gynodioecious species, individuals with partially restored male fertility exist providing an opportunity to investigate whether the costs associated with male fertility restoration are linked to seed production. In this study, we examined whether there is a relationship between the numbers of stamens and seeds produced both at the flower level and at the plant level in the gynodioecious herb Geranium sylvaticum. We individually marked flowers in plants varying in the degree of male sterility in the field and counted the number of seeds produced. There was no significant correlation between the numbers of stamens and seeds produced at the flower level suggesting an absence of resource trade-off between female and male functions. Furthermore, the numbers of stamens and seeds were positively correlated at the plant level. The lack of trade-offs between the two sexual functions in this species indicates that relative sex allocation was not affected by resources within a single season and/or that the male costs were relatively small.     

Comparison of different culture conditions for smooth muscle cell differentiation of human umbilical cord vein CD146+ perivascular cells

Pericytes are CD146+ perivascular cells (PCs) that have multipotential differentiation capacity as mesenchymal stem cells. Beside their crucial roles in vascular development and blood flow regulation, they have ability to differentiate into vascular cell types in vivo. These properties make pericytes preferred cells in the field of vascular tissue engineering. Culture medium for in vitro differentiation of pericytes to vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) has not been defined yet. The aim of this study is to try different culture media for SMC differentiation of CD146+ PCs. For this purpose, CD146+ PCs were isolated from human umbilical cord vein. Then they were characterized by immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometric analysis. Three different culture media including; (1) Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)+ bone morphogenic protein 4, (2) TGF-β1+ l-ascorbic acid (l-AA) and (3) Horse serum, were compared for differentiation of CD146+ PCs to SMCs by IFS and real time polymerase chain reaction. As a result, in the case of SMC differentiation of CD146+ PCs, second culture medium including TGF-β1 and l-AA was found to be more effective than other two media. These results are important for establishing proper culture conditions for in vitro SMC differentiation of CD146+ PCs.     

Linkage disequilibrium studies in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1)

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterised by tumours of the parathyroids, pancreas and anterior pituitary. The MEN1 gene has been localised to a 2-Mb region of chromosome 11q13 by meiotic mapping studies in MEN1 families. Such studies may have a limited resolution of approximately 1 cM (i.e. 1 Mb) and we have therefore investigated 96 MEN1 families (40 British, 17 French, 12 Finnish, 7 Swedish, 7 Dutch, 7 North American, 2 Australian, 1 New Zealand, 1 German, 1 Spanish and 1 Danish) for linkage disequilibrium, in order to facilitate a finer mapping resolution. We have utilised five microsatellite DNA sequence polymorphisms from the candidate region and have accurately determined their allele sizes, which ranged from 161 bp to 272 bp. The heterozygosity and number of alleles (given in brackets), respectively, at the loci were: D11S1883 (76%, 11), D11S457 (55%, 5), PYGM (94%, 18), D11S1783 (10%, 4) and D11S449 (87%, 16). Allelic association was assessed by Chi-square 2 ×n contingency tables, by Fisher exact 2 ×n contingency tables and by a likelihood-based approach. The results of haplotype analysis revealed 91 different affected haplotypes in the 96 families, an identical affected haplotype being observed in no more than two families. These results indicate the absence of an ancestral affected haplotype. Significant linkage disequilibrium (P < 0.005) could be established amongst the microsatellite loci but not between the loci and MEN1 in either the total population or in any of the geographical sub-populations. The absence of linkage disequilibrium between MEN1 and the polymorphic loci is probably the result of the occurrence of multiple different disease-causing mutations in MEN1. Received: 1 April 1997 / Accepted: 25 June 1997     

Nanosilver inhibits nitrification and reduces ammonia‐oxidising bacterial but not archaeal amoA gene abundance in estuarine sediments

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) enter estuaries via wastewater treatment effluents, where they can inhibit microorganisms, because of their antimicrobial properties. Ammonia‐oxidising bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA) are involved in the first step of nitrification and are important to ecosystem function, especially where effluent discharge results in high nitrogen inputs. Here, we investigated the effect of a pulse addition of AgNPs on AOB and AOA ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) gene abundances and benthic nitrification potential rates (NPR) in low‐salinity and mesohaline estuarine sediments. Whilst exposure to 0.5 mg L^?1 AgNPs had no significant effect on amoA gene abundances or NPR, 50 mg L^?1 AgNPs significantly decreased AOB amoA gene abundance (up to 76% over 14 days), and significantly decreased NPR by 20‐fold in low‐salinity sediments and by twofold in mesohaline sediments, after one day. AgNP behaviour differed between sites, whereby greater aggregation occurred in mesohaline waters (possibly due to higher salinity), which may have reduced toxicity. In conclusion, AgNPs have the potential to reduce ammonia oxidation in estuarine sediments, particularly where AgNPs accumulate over time and reach high concentrations. This could lead to long‐term risks to nitrification, especially in polyhaline estuaries where ammonia‐oxidation is largely driven by AOB.     

Comparison of patient‐derived high and low phosphatidylserine‐exposing colorectal carcinoma cells in their interaction with anti‐cancer peptides

Current cancer treatment is frequently compromised by severe adverse effects on healthy cells and tissues as well as by the increasing burden of (multi‐)drug resistances. Some representatives of small, amphipathic peptides known as host defense peptides possess the potential to overcome these limitations and to evolve as future anti‐cancer therapeutics. Peptide NK‐2, derived from porcine NK‐lysin, was originally discovered due to its broad‐spectrum antimicrobial activities. Today, also potent anti‐cancer activity is proven and accompanied by low toxicity towards normal human cells. The molecular basis underlying this target selectivity remains rather elusive. Nevertheless, it is presumptive that preferential peptide interactions with surface factors non‐abundant on healthy human cells play a key role. Here, we investigated the cytotoxicity of peptide NK‐2 and structurally improved anti‐cancer variants thereof against two patient‐derived colorectal cancer cell lines, exposing high and low levels of phosphatidylserine on their cell surfaces, respectively. Concluding from a range of in vitro tests involving cellular as well as lipid vesicle‐based methods, it is proposed that the magnitude of the accessible membrane surface charge is not a primarily decisive factor for selective peptide interactions. Instead, it is suggested that the level of membrane surface‐exposed phosphatidylserine is of crucial importance for the activity of peptide NK‐2 and enhanced variants thereof in terms of their cancer cell selectivity, the overall efficacy, as well as the underlying mode of action and kinetics. Copyright © 2017 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cephalic anatomy and three-dimensional reconstruction of the head of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Catops ventricosus</Emphasis> (Weise, 1877) (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Cholevinae)

Adult head structures are well known in the coleopteran suborders Archostemata and Adephaga, whereas the available information is very fragmentary in the megadiverse Polyphaga, including the successful superfamily Staphylinoidea. In the present study, the cephalic morphology of the cholevine species Catops ventricosus is described in detail and documented. The results were compared to conditions occurring in other polyphagan lineages, especially staphylinoid and scarabaeoid representatives. Specific external features documented in Catops and potential autapomorphies of Leiodidae include a five-segmented antennal club with a reduced eighth antennomere and the presence of periarticular grooves filled with sensilla on antennomeres 7, 9, and 10. The firm connection of the head and pronotum is possibly an apomorphy of Cholevinae. The monophyly of Cholevinae excluding Eucatopini and Oritocatopini is supported by the apical maxillary palpomere as long as or shorter than the subapical one, and the presence of cryptic pore plates on the surface of these palpomeres—a feature described and documented here for the first time. The internal cephalic structures of Catops are mostly plesiomorphic, as for instance the complete tentorium. The pattern of the muscles is similar to what is found in other staphylinoid taxa. The unusual maxillary muscle “Mx” is likely a groundplan apomorphy of the clade Staphyliniformia?+?Scarabaeoidea. M. hypopharyngomandibularis (M13) was identified in Catops and is ancestral for Coleoptera, even though it is often missing. The same applies to M. tentoriohypopharyngalis (M42).     

Fears,attitudes and opinions of suburban residents with regards to their urban foxes

Throughout Central Europe, foxes have taken over urban areas as their habitat. In Southern Germany, these foxes are also carriers of the small fox tapeworm, which causes a serious zoonotic infection in humans. Therefore, a survey was carried out in a suburb of the city of Munich. A postal questionnaire was used to analyse the attitudes, opinions and fears of these participants towards their urban foxes and the background to these attitudes. Questionnaires were sent to all households with gardens and collected in again via the community council. Seven hundred and seventy-nine or 31% of questionnaires were returned. Only a few people are afraid of the fox itself; however, 55% are afraid of the fox tapeworm. Worming the animals is the preferred counter-measure, with 81% in favour. The majority of inhabitants are pleased to see a fox in the community and feel the animals have a right to live. People are afraid of the tapeworm either because they have children in the household or because of increased knowledge of the subject or because it has increasingly become an issue. On the basis of the results of this study, it is to be expected that radical solutions such as killing the foxes are unlikely to be accepted among the population. Worming of the foxes does, however, meet with general approval.