Effects of Thallus Temperature and Hydration on Photosynthetic Parameters of Cetraria Islandica from Contrasting Habitats

Two methods of induced in vivo chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence were used to investigate the effects of varying thallus temperature and hydration on the performance of photosynthetic apparatus of a foliar lichen Cetraria islandica: slow Chl fluorescence induction kinetic with the analysis of quenching mechanisms, and rapid irradiance response curves of photosynthesis derived from quantum yield of photochemical reactions of photosystem 2 (₂) recorded at increasing irradiances. We compared responses of photosynthetic apparatus in populations of C. islandica growing in lower altitude (LAP: 1 350 m a.s.l.) and in higher altitude (HAP: 2 000 m a.s.l.). At each altitude, the samples were collected both in fully irradiated sites (HI) and in shade (LI). Temperature optimum of photosynthetic processes was the same for LAP and HAP thalli of LI populations (18 °C), while it was significantly lower for HI HAP (14 °C). Gradual dehydration of fully hydrated thalli led to initial increase (up to 20 % of water saturation deficit, WSD) in F_V/F_M and ₂, no change at 20–50 % WSD, and a dramatic decrease of the parameters within 50–80 % of WSD. LI HAP of C. islandica was the best adapted population to low temperature having higher rates of photochemical processes of photosynthesis than HI HAP within temperature range of –5 to +5 °C. The differences between populations were apparent also in Chl content and thallus morphology.     

An adaptive model of sensory integration in a dynamic environment applied to human stance control

An adaptive estimator model of human spatial orientation is presented. The adaptive model dynamically weights sensory error signals. More specific, the model weights the difference between expected and actual sensory signals as a function of environmental conditions. The model does not require any changes in model parameters. Differences with existing models of spatial orientation are that: (1) environmental conditions are not specified but estimated, (2) the sensor noise characteristics are the only parameters supplied by the model designer, (3) history-dependent effects and mental resources can be modelled, and (4) vestibular thresholds are not included in the model; instead vestibular-related threshold effects are predicted by the model. The model was applied to human stance control and evaluated with results of a visually induced sway experiment. From these experiments it is known that the amplitude of visually induced sway reaches a saturation level as the stimulus level increases. This saturation level is higher when the support base is sway referenced. For subjects experiencing vestibular loss, these saturation effects do not occur. Unknown sensory noise characteristics were found by matching model predictions with these experimental results. Using only five model parameters, far more than five data points were successfully predicted. Model predictions showed that both the saturation levels are vestibular related since removal of the vestibular organs in the model removed the saturation effects, as was also shown in the experiments. It seems that the nature of these vestibular-related threshold effects is not physical, since in the model no threshold is included. The model results suggest that vestibular-related thresholds are the result of the processing of noisy sensory and motor output signals. Model analysis suggests that, especially for slow and small movements, the environment postural orientation can not be estimated optimally, which causes sensory illusions. The model also confirms the experimental finding that postural orientation is history dependent and can be shaped by instruction or mental knowledge. In addition the model predicts that: (1) vestibular-loss patients cannot handle sensory conflicting situations and will fall down, (2) during sinusoidal support-base translations vestibular function is needed to prevent falling, (3) loss of somatosensory information from the feet results in larger postural sway for sinusoidal support-base translations, and (4) loss of vestibular function results in falling for large support-base rotations with the eyes closed. These predictions are in agreement with experimental results. Received: 12 November 1999 / Accepted in revised form: 30 June 2000     

Influence of morphology and rheology on the production characteristics of the basidiomycete Cyathus striatus

The influence of the pellet morphology of the basidiomycete Cyathus striatus on the production of the antibiotics striatals A, B, and C was investigated. The main operating parameters in fermenters of different sizes were the tip speed and the volumetric power input. Different methods were developed for quantification of morphological characteristics. The apparent viscosity of the suspension was measured with a cylinder rheometer. Sediment density was measured with a sedimentation apparatus. Particle size distributions were recorded with an image analysis system. By means of the presented measuring methods, morphological characteristics could be determined and enabled an early assessment of the fermentation course and the antibiotics production. During the exponential growth phase of the fungus the relative sediment height correlated with the biomass concentration. The pellet morphology at this stage influenced the later production of striatals. The yield of the striatals was markedly influenced by pellet size and sediment density. Since these morphological characteristics determine the rheological properties of the culture the measurement of the apparent viscosity of the culture in the production phase allowed predictions of the production yield.     

The expression of the salt-responsive gene salT from rice is regulated by hormonal and developmental cues

The expression pattern of the salT gene was analyzed in different cell types and organs of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in response to saline and hormonal treatments to obtain detailed information on the physiological cues controlling gene expression. Gel blot analysis of RNA and in-situ hybridization performed on seedlings grown for 10 ds in the presence of 1% NaCl revealed that salT was expressed mainly in the younger tissues of the plant. In contrast, 6-week-old plants exhibited maximal salT mRNA accumulation in sheaths of older leaves. In addition, salT was normally expressed in rapidly dividing suspension-cultured cells, but not in quiescent ones. Altogether, these results may indicate that salT expression in each region of the plant is dependent on the metabolic activity of the cells as well as on whether or not they are stressed. The effects of two growth regulators, abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellic acid, were investigated in combination with the effects of NaCl. Gibberellic acid had a synergistic effect on the induction of the salT gene when combined with 0.5% NaCl, but did not induce salT on its own. At 10 μM, ABA induced salT both in the absence of NaCl and in its presence. Whereas 1 μM ABA acted additively with NaCl to induce gene expression, 5 μM ABA with NaCl was only as effective as NaCl alone. This may indicate that the two stimuli act independently and possibly through antagonistic signal transduction pathways. Received: 26 March 1998 / Accepted: 11 July 1998     

Reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method for the determination of 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl-labelled lipid analogues

This paper reports the development of a dual column system for the simultaneous separation of fluorescent short-chain ceramide, 6-[(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3,-diazol-4-yl[NBD])amino]hexanoyl-sphingosine and its metabolites, C6-NBD-sphingomyelin and C6-NBD-glucosylceramide, as well as the fluorescent derivatives of choline and serine phosphatides. The method enables the separation of these lipids in a single run on the basis of the polarity of their headgroups and hydrophobicity of their acyl backbone. The fluorescent properties of the NBD-label make it possible to quantitate small amounts of NBD-lipid analogues. The sensitivity of the presented method thus permits the use of small sample volumes and the determination of NBD-lipid analogues secreted into mouse bile directly, without prior extraction or concentration steps.     

Decoupled pelvis rotation in sitting: A passive motion technique that regulates buttock load associated with pressure ulcer development

Wheelchair-users who cannot reposition themselves often suffer from pressure ulcers which are places of tissue breakdown in the buttock region under the sacrum and ischial tuberosities. Periodic pressure relief is needed to recover the buttock tissue from continuous deformation and impairment of tissue perfusion. Because pelvis alignment directly affects body posture and buttock load, a passive motion technique was developed that adjusts pelvis orientation independent from the trunk and seat support. This study investigates the effects of the so-called decoupled pelvis rotation (DPR) on the loads at the buttock–seat interface and evaluates whether this technique is applicable to regulate buttock load in sitting. Eighteen healthy male subjects participated in this study. Experiments were performed with a computer-aided adjustable simulator chair, instrumented with a concept of DPR. Measurements involved quasi-static actuated pelvis movements in the sagittal and frontal plane. Pelvis orientation, buttock interface pressures, seat reaction forces and centre of pressure were simultaneously measured. As a result of the induced passive pelvis movements, the pelvis rotated 19±2° and 9±2° in the sagittal and frontal plane, respectively. Significant relations were found between pelvis rotation and most quantities of buttock load. Findings suggest that DPR is an effective technique to regulate buttock load in able-bodied individuals. For clinical application, this technique is still to be evaluated on individuals who cannot functionally reposition themselves. Impairments to the neuromuscular function influence postural response from chair adjustments which makes clinical investigation necessary.     

Assessment of embryonic growth in chicken eggs by means of visible transmission spectroscopy

During this work, it was investigated whether spectral measurements can be used to monitor embryonic growth. An experiment was conducted in which both the transmission spectra and embryonic weight were determined on 240 eggs (Cobb, 37 weeks) between Day 5 and Day 10 of incubation. The spectral data were linked to embryonic weight by means of a partial least squares analysis. Different preprocessing procedures were compared during this work, that is, smoothing, multiplicative scatter correction (MSC), and first‐ and second‐order derivative. Compared to the remainder of the preprocessing procedures, MSC leads to a considerable improvement of the prediction capability of the embryonic weight. The ratio of performance to deviation obtained for the MSC spectra equaled 4.5 indicating that a very accurate prediction of embryonic weight is feasible based on the VIS/NIR transmission measurements. Important regions for the prediction are situated around 685–740 nm. It is suggested that the spectral changes in these spectral regions result from the displacement of carotenoids from the yolk into the blood circuitry. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010     

How Could Hospitalisations at the End of Life Have Been Avoided? A Qualitative Retrospective Study of the Perspectives of General Practitioners,Nurses and Family Carers

Background

Although many patients prefer to stay and die at home at the end of life, many are hospitalised. Little is known about how to avoid hospitalisations for patients living at home.

Aim

To describe how hospitalisation at the end of life can be avoided, from the perspective of the GPs, nurses and family carers.

Method

A qualitative design with face-to-face interviews was used. Taking 30 cases of patients who died non-suddenly, 26 GPs, 15 nurses and 18 family carers were interviewed in depth. Of the 30 patients, 20 were hospitalised and 10 were not hospitalised in the last three months of life.

Results

Five key themes that could help avoid hospitalisation at the end of life emerged from the interviews. The key themes were: 1) marking the approach of death, and shifting the mindset; 2) being able to provide acute treatment and care at home; 3) anticipatory discussions and interventions to deal with expected severe problems; 4) guiding and monitoring the patient and family in a holistic way through the illness trajectory; 5) continuity of treatment and care at home. If these five key themes are adopted in an interrelated way, this could help avoid hospitalisations, according to GPs, nurses and family carers.

Conclusions

The five key themes described in this study can be seen as strategies that could help in avoiding hospitalisation at the end of life. It is recommended that for all patients residing at home, GPs and community nurses work together as a team from the moment that it is marked that death is approaching up to the end of life.     

Anodal tDCS over the Primary Motor Cortex Facilitates Long-Term Memory Formation Reflecting Use-Dependent Plasticity

Previous research suggests that anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) modulates NMDA receptor dependent processes that mediate synaptic plasticity. Here we test this proposal by applying anodal versus sham tDCS while subjects practiced to flex the thumb as fast as possible (ballistic movements). Repetitive practice of this task has been shown to result in performance improvements that reflect use-dependent plasticity resulting from NMDA receptor mediated, long-term potentiation (LTP)-like processes. Using a double-blind within-subject cross-over design, subjects (n=14) participated either in an anodal or a sham tDCS session which were at least 3 months apart. Sham or anodal tDCS (1 mA) was applied for 20 min during motor practice and retention was tested 30 min, 24 hours and one week later. All subjects improved performance during each of the two sessions (p < 0.001) and learning gains were similar. Our main result is that long term retention performance (i.e. 1 week after practice) was significantly better when practice was performed with anodal tDCS than with sham tDCS (p < 0.001). This effect was large (Cohen’s d=1.01) and all but one subject followed the group trend. Our data strongly suggest that anodal tDCS facilitates long-term memory formation reflecting use-dependent plasticity. Our results support the notion that anodal tDCS facilitates synaptic plasticity mediated by an LTP-like mechanism, which is in accordance with previous research.