The effect of genotype,media composition,pH and sugar concentrations on oat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Avena sativa</Emphasis> L.) doubled haploid production through oat × maize crosses

Doubled haploid (DH) technology in oat has not reached the same stage as in other cereals leading to its application in plant breeding. The objective of this investigation was to increase the effectiveness of Avena sativa L. haploid embryo germination obtained by the distant crosses with maize. Developed embryos (obtained from 22 genotypes) were transferred on five germination media: MS (Murashige and Skoog, Physiol Plant 15:473–497, 1962) with 3% sucrose, pH 5.8 (control medium), and 190-2 supplemented with 6 and 9% maltose. The pH of 190-2 was adjusted to 5.5 and 6.0. Of all tested genotypes, 591 haploid embryos were obtained, almost half of them (279) germinated. The rate of haploid embryo germination induced on 190-2 was 6.92%, while in MS it was 3.25%. The sugar and its concentration significantly affected the germination of haploid embryos. The highest percentage of haploid embryo germination (9.11%) and DH lines production (1.64%) was achieved on 190-2 with 9% maltose and pH 6.0. All DH lines are incorporated to breeding programs for the development of new cultivars.     

The effect of tyrphostins AG494 and AG1478 on the autocrine growth regulation of A549 and DU145 cells

We employed two selective EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors: AG494 (reversible) and AG1478 (irreversible) for growth regulation of human lung (A549) and prostate (DU145) cancer cell lines, cultured in chemically defined DMEM/F12 medium. Both tested tyrphostins significantly inhibited autocrine growth of the investigated cell lines. The action of AG494 was dose dependent, and at highest concentrations led to complete inhibition of growth. AG1478 seemed to be more effective at lower concentrations, but was unable to completely inhibit growth of A549 cells. Inhibition of EGFR kinase activity by AG494 in contrast to AG1478 had no effect on the activity of ERK in both cell lines. Both EGFR's inhibitors induced apoptosis of the investigated lung and prostate cancer cell lines, but the proapoptotic effect of the investigated tyrphostins was greater in A549 than in DU145 cells. The tyrphostins arrested cell growth of DU145 and A549 cells in the G1 phase, similarly to other known inhibitors of EGFR. The influence of AG494 and AG1478 on the activity of two signaling proteins (AKT and ERK) was dependent upon the kind of investigated cells. In the case of DU145 cells, there was an evident decline in enzymatic activity of both kinases (stronger for AG1478), while in A549, only AG1478 effectively inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt. Tyrphostins AG494 and AG1478 are ATP-competitors and are supposed to have a similar mechanism of action, but our results suggest that this is not quite true.     

Evolution under relaxed sexual conflict in the bulb mite Rhizoglyphus robini

The experimental evolution under different levels of sexual conflict have been used to demonstrate antagonistic coevolution in muscids, but among other taxa a similar approach has not been employed. Here, we describe the results of 37 generations of evolution under either experimentally enforced monogamy or polygamy in the bulb mite Rhizoglyphus robini. Three replicates were maintained for each treatment. Monogamy makes male and female interests congruent; thus selection is expected to decrease harmfulness of males to their partners. Our results were consistent with this prediction in that females from monogamous lines achieved lower fecundity when housed with males from polygamous lines. Fecundity of polygamous females was not affected by mating system under which their partners evolved, which suggests that they were more resistant to male-induced harm. As predicted by the antagonistic coevolution hypothesis, the decrease in harmfulness of monogamous males was accompanied by a decline in reproductive competitiveness. In contrast, female fecundity and embryonic viability, which were not expected to be correlated with male harmfulness, did not differ between monogamous and polygamous lines. None of the fitness components assayed differed between individuals obtained from crosses between parents from the same line and those obtained from crosses between parents from different lines within the same mating system. This indicates that inbreeding depression did not confound our results. However, interpretation of our results is complicated by the fact that both males and females from monogamous lines evolved smaller body size compared to individuals from polygamous lines. Although a decrease in reproductive performance of males from monogamous lines was still significant when body size was taken into account, we were not able to separate the effects of male body size and mating system in their influence on fecundity of their female partners.     

Phosphatidylglycerol Depletion Induces an Increase in Myxoxanthophyll Biosynthetic Activity in Synechocystis PCC6803 Cells

Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) depletion suppressed the oxygen-evolvingactivity of Synechocystis PCC6803 pgsA mutant cells. Shortageof PG led to decreased photosynthetic activity, which, similarto the effect of high light exposure, is likely to generatethe production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) or free radicals.Protection of the PG-depleted cells against light-induced damageincreased the echinenone and myxoxanthophyll content of thecells. The increased carotenoid content was localized in a solublefraction of the cells as well as in isolated thylakoid and cytoplasmicmembranes. The soluble carotenoid fraction contained carotenederivatives, which may bind to proteins. These carotene–proteincomplexes are similar to orange carotenoid protein that is involvedin yielding protection against free radicals and ROS. An increasein the content of myxoxanthophyll and echinenone upon PG depletionsuggests that PG depletion regulates the biosynthetic pathwayof specific carotenoids.     

Filter bed systems treating domestic wastewater in the Nordic countries – Performance and reuse of filter media

Nine filter beds have been constructed in the Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Filter beds consist of a septic tank followed by an aerobic pre-treatment biofilter and a subsequent saturated flow grass-covered filter. Thus, filter beds are similar to subsurface flow constructed wetlands with pre-treatment biofilters, but do not have wetland plants with roots submerged into the saturated filter. All saturated filters contain Filtralite^®P, a light-weight expanded clay aggregate possessing high phosphorus sorption capacity. The filter bed systems showed stable and consistent performance during the testing period of 3 years. Removal of organic matter measured as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) was >80%, total phosphorus (TP) >94% and total nitrogen (TN) ranged from 32 to 66%. Effluent concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria met the European bathing water quality criteria in all systems. One system was investigated for virus removal and somatic viruses were not detected in the effluent. The investigations revealed that the majority of the BOD and nitrogen removal occurred in the pre-treatment filters and the phosphorus and bacteria removal was more prominent in the saturated filters. The saturated filters could be built substantially smaller than the current design guidelines without sacrificing treatment performance. The used filter material met the Norwegian regulations for reuse in agriculture with respect to heavy metals, bacteria and parasites. When saturated with phosphorus, the light-weight aggregate, Filtralite^®P used in the saturated bed is a suitable phosphorus fertilizer and additionally has a liming effect.     

Low inbreeding depression in a sexual trait in the stalk-eyed fly <Emphasis Type="Italic">Teleopsis dalmanni</Emphasis>

The genic capture hypothesis implies that the expression of sexual ornaments largely depends on genes affecting resource acquisition and use. The ornaments should thus show high degree of directional dominance typical of life-history traits, and consequently, they should be severely affected by inbreeding. Here we investigated the effect of inbreeding on a sexual ornament (male eyespan) in stalk-eyed fly, Teleopsis dalmanni. For comparison, we also measured inbreeding depression in non-sexual morphological traits: female eyespan as well as wing and thorax lengths in both sexes. Both eyespan, and other morphological traits we measured, showed significant inbreeding depression. In accord with predictions of genic capture hypothesis, male eyespan did decrease under inbreeding significantly more than female eyespan. However, the decline in male eyespan was fully explained by overall decline in body length. Moreover, the magnitude of inbreeding depression in male eyespan was considerably lower than that typically observed for life-histories; in fact, it fitted within the range typically characterizing morphological traits. We therefore conclude that our results provide weak support for genic capture hypothesis.     

Stable transformation of unicellular green alga Coccomyxa subellipsoidea C-169 via electroporation

Protoplasma - In this study, we have shown the applicability of electroporation and hygromycin B as a convenient selectable marker for stable nuclear transformation of Coccomyxa subellipsoidea...     

The contributions of Indigenous Peoples and local communities to ecological restoration

Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLC) are affected by global environmental change because they directly rely on their immediate environment for meeting basic livelihood needs. Therefore, safeguarding and restoring ecosystem resilience is critical to support their well‐being. Based on examples from the literature, we illustrate how IPLC participate in restoration activities maintaining traditional practices, restoring land degraded by outsiders, and joining outside groups seeking to restore ecosystems. Our review also provides examples of how Indigenous and Local Knowledge can be incorporated in the planning, execution, and monitoring of restoration activities. However, not all restoration initiatives engaging IPLC are beneficial or successful, and the factors that lead to success are not fully known. While local involvement in restoration projects is often mentioned as an element of success, this is primarily associated to projects that actively involve IPLC in codesigning restoration activities affecting their territories, ensure both short‐term direct benefits to IPLC and long‐term support of the maintenance of restored areas, and recognize IPLC local traditions and customary institutions. Based on these examples, we argue that IPLC should be a more important focus in any post‐2020 CBD agenda on restoration.     

Dinuclear versus mononuclear ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) complexes as potent mediators of glucose oxidase; crystal structure of [OsCl(4,4′-bpy)(bpy)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]BF<Subscript>4</Subscript>

New and known homo- and heterodinuclear Ru^II and Os^II complexes with 4,4-bipyridine (4,4-bpy), pyrazine, and 4-pyCH=CHpy-4 as bridging ligands (LL) of the type [Cl(bpy)₂M(LL)MCl(bpy)₂]X₂ (bpy=2,2-bipyridine; X=PF₆ or BF₄) have been studied in their capacity to exchange electrons with a reduced active site of glucose oxidase (GO) from Aspergillus niger. Cyclic voltammograms (CVs) of the dimers in the aqueous buffered solution, when compared with CVs of the parent monomeric species [MCl(LL)(bpy)₂]BF₄ and [MCl₂(bpy)₂] which could be generated at pH7, if the dimers undergo monomerization, indicate that the dimers are the dominating species under such conditions. All electrochemically oxidized dinuclear complexes studied show high rates of oxidation of GO reduced by d-glucose and the corresponding observed second-order rate constants are in the range (5–64)×10⁵ M^–1 s^–1 at 25 °C. However, these values are lower than that for the mononuclear complex [OsCl(4,4-bpy)(bpy)₂]BF₄ (1.1×10⁷ M^–1 s^–1), suggesting that potentially two-electron dimeric mediators have no advantage compared with corresponding monomeric complexes of Ru^II and Os^II. The structure of [OsCl(4,4-bpy)(bpy)₂]BF₄ was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The monodentate 4,4-bpy ligand is coordinated cis to the chloride. Its higher reactivity toward reduced GO is accounted for in terms of the antenna effect of the monodentate 4,4-bpy ligand. The antenna length equals 9.2 Å and matches the depth of the enzyme active site pocket of ca. 10 Å. The mechanism of the antenna effect is discussed     

Status report on the chemotherapy of ovarian cancer at special cancer centers in Hungary (2002-2003)

Data on the first-line treatment of ovarian cancer in special centers of Hungary 2002 and 2003 are presented, involving 283 and 416 patients, respectively. Patients' age, clinical stage and histological type of the tumor were highly similar to literature data, while grades were different. Surgical effectiveness in case of IIIc staged tumors with >1 cm residual mass was 37%. The ratio of interval laparotomy was about 15%. Overall response rates of the first-line treatment of ovarian cancer was 82%, while the rate of complete remissions was 60%. The authors provide detailed analysis of factors that can improve the chemotherapy of ovarian cancer in Hungary.