Self-Calibrated Line-Scan STED-FCS to Quantify Lipid Dynamics in Model and Cell Membranes

Only a limited number of noninvasive techniques are available to directly measure the dynamic behavior of lipids in model and cell membranes. Here, we explored whether a commercial instrument could be used for fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) under pulsed stimulated emission depletion (STED). To overcome issues with photobleaching and poor distinction between confocal and STED signals, we implemented resonant line-scan STED with filtered FCS, which has the additional benefit of autocalibrating the dimensions of the point-spread function and obtaining spatially resolved molecular mobility at subdiffraction resolution. With supported lipid bilayers, we achieved a detection spot radius of 40 nm, although at the expense of decreased molecular brightness. We also used this approach to map the dynamics of Atto646N-labeled sphingomyelin and phosphatidylethanolamine in the plasma membrane. Despite the reliability of the method and the demonstration that photobleaching and the photophysical properties of the dye did not influence diffusion measurements, we found great heterogeneities even within one cell. For both lipids, regions of high local density correlated with slow molecular diffusion, indicating trapping of Atto646N-labeled lipids. Future studies with new dyes are needed to reveal the origin of the trapping.     

Phylogeny and systematics of Old World serotine bats (genus Eptesicus,Vespertilionidae, Chiroptera): an integrative approach

Integrative taxonomy aims to document biodiversity by incorporating all useful characters to increase confidence in hypotheses about phylogenetic relationships. In this study, we combine data obtained independently from morphology, two maternally inherited mtDNA genes and two biparentally inherited nuDNA genes to make phylogenetic and taxonomic hypotheses about the Palaearctic members of the bat genus Eptesicus (Vespertilionidae). This genus is distributed worldwide (except for Antarctica) and is highly diversified, presenting one of the most entangled taxonomic puzzles among all mammals. Our results support restoring the genus Rhyneptesicus and separating E. isabellinus and E. pachyomus from E. serotinus and E. ognevi and E. anatolicus from E. bottae. Differences in the phylogenetic hypotheses from mtDNA and nuDNA data suggest the occurrence within E. serotinus of evolutionary processes such as mtDNA capture and secondary contacts between partially differentiated ecomorphs. These two evolutionary processes deserve more in‐depth studies within the group.     

Analysis of catch data from 1968 to 1976 from nine fish landings in the Kenya waters of Lake Victoria

Fish landing data collected by the Kenya regional fisheries officers from Homa Bay, Kaloka, Karungu, Marenga, Wichlum, Kendu Bay, Usenge, Dunga and Ngegu from 1968 to 1976 were statistically analysed to determine trends in the traditional fisherman's catch in the Kenya waters of Lake Victoria. Over the nine years a significant decline occurred for total catch and catches of Haplochromis spp., Tilapia spp. and Protopterus aethiopicus. Engraulcypris spp. catch increased significantly; while catches of Bagrus docmac and Clarias mossambicus fluctuated and no clearly defined trend emerged, although B. docmac catch seemed to be declining.
Overall indications were that as the catch of traditionally preferred fish declined, Engraulicypris spp., B. docmac, C. mossambicus and recently introduced Lates niloticus were becoming more important to the total catch.     

Trophic niche and diet composition of the northernmost population of the Mediterranean horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus euryale) with conservation implications

Mammal Research - The diet of Rhinolophus euryale was studied in southeastern Slovakia by an analysis of faeces collected from netted bats. Prey availability was studied using light traps, counting...     

Polarization clustering of biological structures with Mueller matrix parameters

Mueller matrix imaging polarimetry (MMIP) is a promising technique for the characterization of biological tissues, including the classification of microstructures in pathological diagnosis. To expand the parameter space of Mueller matrix parameters, we propose new vector parameters (VPs) according to the Mueller matrix polar decomposition method. We measure invasive bladder cancer (IBC) with extensive necrosis and high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) with MMIP, and the regions of cancer cells and fibrotic stroma are classified with the VPs. Then the proposed and existing VPs are mapped on the Poincaré sphere with 3D visualization, and an indicator of spatial feature is defined based on the minimum enclosing sphere to evaluate the classification capability of the VPs. For both IBC and DCIS, the results show that the proposed VPs exhibit evident contrast between the regions of cancer cells and fibrotic stroma. This study broadens the fundamental Mueller matrix parameters and helps to improve the characterization ability of the MMIP technique.     

Cytologic presentation of alveolar soft-part sarcoma of the vagina. A case report

Alveolar soft-part sarcoma primary in the vagina is an exceptionally rare neoplasm. The cytologic features in a case of this rare sarcoma are described, with a discussion of the differential diagnosis. Structures suggestive of the characteristic PAS-positive, diastase-resistant cytoplasmic crystals were seen in the cytologic specimen; the crystals were well-demonstrated in the histologic material and at the electron microscopic level.     

Regulation of specific functions of glial cells in somatic hybrids. I. Control of S100 protein

Hybrids were isolated between rat glial cells and mouse fibroblasts. Micro complement (C′) fixation was used to assay S100, a highly acidic protein specific for nervous tissues. The glial cells contain large amounts of S100. Extracts of the fibroblasts contain some C′ fixing material which is detected only at very high protein concentrations and which fixes C′ only weakly. The identity of this material is not known. The hybrids contain some C′ fixing material, but the concentrations of protein necessary to reach the point of antigen-antibody equivalence is ten times greater with an extract of hybrids than with an extract of glial cells. This increase in the concentration of protein is associated with a decrease in the amount of C′ fixed. The possible significance of the C′ fixing material in the hybrids is discussed.     

RECOVERY FROM CURLY-TOP DISEASE IN TOMATO SEEDLINGS

Plants of commercial varieties of tomato cease to grow normally and usually die, when infected by curly-top virus by means of the beet leafhopper. Only rarely does an infected plant resume and maintain growth, i.e., recover. However, when tomato seedlings were infected with curly-top virus by means of the beet leafhopper, some plants of six of seven commercial varieties recovered. The best recovery of plants in a single trial was 20% in ‘Penn Orange’ infected with the Paso Robles strain of virus. The per cent and degree of recovery of infected seedlings were influenced by the variety of tomato, severity of the virus strain on the seedlings, and probably by factors affecting rate of development of both plant and virus.     

Torulopsis Burgeffiana nov. spec., eine von Weinbeeren isolierte,neue Hefeart

Zusamenfassung Von den Trauben einer blaubeerigen “Hybriden”-Rebe wurde eine neue Hefeart,Torulopsis burgeffiana nov. spec., isoliert. Die Hefeart wird beschrieben und durch morphologische und physiologische Untersuchungen, insbesondere durch eine erweiterte Untersuchung der Kohlenstoff-Assimilation eine klare Abgrenzung zu der HefeartCandida pulcherrima gezogen.