A HyperCard program for the identification of biological specimens

The authors with to make the following corrections to the abovepaper:

• page 64 and References: Omodeo, (1956) not (1965)
• page 68and References: Rosa, (1893) not (1981)
• Table I. Line 1. Cognetti,not Cogneni Line 20. delete (1906) Line 28. Kvavadze (1985)not (1975) Line 29. Kvavadze (1971) not (1981) Line 44.delete (1906) Line 52. delete (1906)
• page 68 in Note sectionthe address given should read ‘A.Colosimo,Departmentof Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome (La Sapienza),PiazzaleA.Moro I-00185, Rome, Italy.’

     

Age,tissue, genotype and virus infection regulate Wolbachia levels in Drosophila

The bacterial symbiont Wolbachia can protect insects against viral pathogens, and the varying levels of antiviral protection are correlated with the endosymbiont load within the insects. To understand why Wolbachia strains differ in their antiviral effects, we investigated the factors controlling Wolbachia density in five closely related strains in their natural Drosophila hosts. We found that Wolbachia density varied greatly across different tissues and between flies of different ages, and these effects depended on the host–symbiont association. Some endosymbionts maintained largely stable densities as flies aged while others increased, and these effects in turn depended on the tissue being examined. Measuring Wolbachia rRNA levels in response to viral infection, we found that viral infection itself also altered Wolbachia levels, with Flock House virus causing substantial reductions in symbiont loads late in the infection. This effect, however, was virus‐specific as Drosophila C virus had little impact on Wolbachia in all of the five host systems. Because viruses have strong tissue tropisms and antiviral protection is thought to be cell‐autonomous, these effects are likely to affect the virus‐blocking phenomenon. However, we were unable to find any evidence of a correlation between Wolbachia and viral titres within the same tissues. We conclude that Wolbachia levels within flies are regulated in a complex host–symbiont–virus‐dependent manner and this trinity is likely to influence the antiviral effects of Wolbachia.     

Factors influencing productivity of eastern wild turkeys in northeastern South Dakota

Population growth is highly sensitive to changes in reproductive rates for many avian species. Understanding how reproductive rates are related to environmental conditions can give managers insight into factors contributing to population change. Harvest trends of eastern wild turkey in northeastern South Dakota suggest a decline in abundance. We investigated factors influencing reproductive success of this important game bird to identify potential factors contributing to the decline. We monitored nesting rate, nest survival, renesting rate, clutch size, hatchability, and poult survival of 116 eastern wild turkey hens using VHF radio transmitters during the springs and summers of 2017 and 2018. Heavier hens were more likely to attempt to nest than lighter hens, and adult hens were more likely to renest than yearling hens. Nest survival probability was lowest in agricultural fields relative to all other cover types and positively related to horizontal visual obstruction and distance to the nearest road. Daily nest survival probability demonstrated an interaction between temperature and precipitation, such that nest survival probability was lower on warm, wet days, but lowest on dry days. Egg predation was the leading cause of nest failure, followed by haying of the nest bowl and death of the incubating hen. Poults reared by adult hens had a greater probability of survival than poults reared by yearling hens. Our estimate of survival probability of poults raised by yearling hens was low relative to other studies, which may be contributing to the apparent regional population decline. However, there is little managers can do to influence poult survival in yearling hens. Alternatively, we found nest survival probability was lowest for nests initiated in agricultural fields. Wildlife‐friendly harvesting practices such as delayed haying or installation of flushing bars could help increase productivity of eastern wild turkey in northeastern South Dakota.     

Minimally manipulated whole human umbilical cord is a rich source of clinical-grade human mesenchymal stromal cells expanded in human platelet lysate

Background aimsMesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have recently been identified as a therapeutic option in several clinical conditions. Whereas bone marrow (BM) is considered the main source of MSC (BM-MSC), the invasive technique required for collection and the decline in allogeneic donations call for alternative sources. Human umbilical cord (UC) represents an easily available source of MSC (UC-MSC).MethodsSections of full-term UC were transferred to cell culture flasks and cultured in 5% human platelet lysate (PL)-enriched medium. Neither enzymatic digestion nor blood vessel removal was performed. After 2 weeks, the adherent cells were harvested (P1), replated at low density and expanded for two consecutive rounds (P2 and P3).ResultsWe isolated and expanded MSC from 9/9 UC. UC-MSC expanded with a mean fold increase (FI) of 42 735 ± 16 195 from P1 to P3 in a mean of 29 ± 2 days. By processing the entire cord unit, we theoretically could have reached a median of 9.5 × 10¹⁰ cells (ranging from 1.0 × 10¹⁰ to 29.0 × 10¹⁰). UC-MSC expressed standard surface markers; they contained more colony-forming unit (CFU)-fibroblast (F) and seemed less committed towards osteogenic, chondrogenic and adipogenic lineages than BM-MSC. They showed immunosuppressive properties both in vitro and in an in vivo chronic Graft versus Host disease (cGvHD) mouse model. Both array-Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) analysis and karyotyping revealed no chromosome alterations at the end of the expansion. Animal studies revealed no tumorigenicity in vivo.ConclusionsUC constitute a convenient and very rich source of MSC for the production of third-party ‘clinical doses’ of cells under good manufacturing practice (GMP) conditions.     

A data-driven integrative model of sepal primordium polarity in Arabidopsis

Flower patterning is determined by a complex molecular network but how this network functions remains to be elucidated. Here, we develop an integrative modeling approach that assembles heterogeneous data into a biologically coherent model to allow predictions to be made and inconsistencies among the data to be found. We use this approach to study the network underlying sepal development in the young flower of Arabidopsis thaliana. We constructed a digital atlas of gene expression and used it to build a dynamical molecular regulatory network model of sepal primordium development. This led to the construction of a coherent molecular network model for lateral organ polarity that fully recapitulates expression and interaction data. Our model predicts the existence of three novel pathways involving the HD-ZIP III genes and both cytokinin and ARGONAUTE family members. In addition, our model provides predictions on molecular interactions. In a broader context, this approach allows the extraction of biological knowledge from diverse types of data and can be used to study developmental processes in any multicellular organism.     

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy Reduces Oxidative Stress Markers and Blood Pressure in Sleep Apnea–Hypopnea Syndrome Patients

Sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) is characterized by recurrent episodes of hypoxia/reoxygenation, which seems to promote oxidative stress. SAHS patients experience increases in hypertension, obesity and insulin resistance (IR). The purpose was to evaluate in SAHS patients the effects of 1?month of treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on oxidative stress and the association between oxidative stress and insulin resistance and blood pressure (BP). Twenty-six SAHS patients requiring CPAP were enrolled. Measurements were recorded before and 1?month after treatment. Cellular oxidative stress parameters were notably decreased after CPAP. Intracellular glutathione and mitochondrial membrane potential increased significantly. Also, total antioxidant capacity and most of the plasma antioxidant activities increased significantly. Significant decreases were seen in BP. Negative correlations were observed between SAHS severity and markers of protection against oxidative stress. BP correlated with oxidative stress markers. In conclusion, we observed an obvious improvement in oxidative stress and found that it was accompanied by an evident decrease in BP with no modification in IR. Consequently, we believe that the decrease in oxidative stress after 1?month of CPAP treatment in these patients is not contributing much to IR genesis, though it could be related to the hypertension etiology.     

MR-Based PET Motion Correction Procedure for Simultaneous MR-PET Neuroimaging of Human Brain

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) images are prone to motion artefacts due to the long acquisition time of PET measurements. Recently, simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and PET have become available in the first generation of Hybrid MR-PET scanners. In this work, the elimination of artefacts due to head motion in PET neuroimages is achieved by a new approach utilising MR-based motion tracking in combination with PET list mode data motion correction for simultaneous MR-PET acquisitions. The method comprises accurate MR-based motion measurements, an intra-frame motion minimising and reconstruction time reducing temporal framing algorithm, and a list mode based PET reconstruction which utilises the Ordinary Poisson Algorithm and avoids axial and transaxial compression. Compared to images uncorrected for motion, an increased image quality is shown in phantom as well as in vivo images. In vivo motion corrected images show an evident increase of contrast at the basal ganglia and a good visibility of uptake in tiny structures such as superior colliculi.