No evidence of shelter providing a metabolic advantage to the false clown anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris

There was no evidence that shelter conveyed a metabolic advantage to the false clown anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris in terms of standard and routine rates of oxygen uptake. The metabolic and fitness benefit of shelter might not, therefore, be widespread among all fish species.     

18F]FHPG positron emission tomography for detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in experimental HSV encephalitis

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is one of the most common causes of sporadic encephalitis. The initial clinical course of HSV encephalitis (HSE) is highly variable, and the infection may be rapidly fatal. For effective treatment with antiviral medication, an early diagnosis of HSE is crucial. Subtle brain infections with HSV may be causally related to neuropsychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer's dementia. We investigated the feasibility of a noninvasive positron emission tomography (PET) imaging technique using [(18)F]FHPG as a tracer for the detection of HSE. For this purpose, rats received HSV-1 (infected group) or phosphate-buffered saline (control group) by intranasal application, and dynamic PET scans were acquired. In addition, the distribution of tracer accumulation in specific brain areas was studied with phosphor storage imaging. The PET images revealed that the overall brain uptake of [(18)F]FHPG was significantly higher for the infected group than for control animals. Phosphor storage images showed an enhanced accumulation of [(18)F]FHPG in regions known to be affected after intranasal infection with HSV. High-performance liquid chromatography metabolite analysis showed phosphorylated metabolites of [(18)F]FHPG in infected brains, proving that the increased [(18)F]FHPG uptake in infected brains was due to HSV thymidine kinase-mediated trapping. Freeze lesion experiments showed that damage to the blood-brain barrier could in principle induce elevated [(18)F]FHPG uptake, but this nonspecific tracer uptake could easily be discriminated from HSE-derived uptake by differences in the tracer kinetics. Our results show that [(18)F]FHPG PET is a promising tool for the detection of HSV encephalitis.     

Binding of TmHU to single dsDNA as observed by optical tweezers

Optical tweezers are employed to study the action of the histone-like protein from Thermotoga maritima (TmHU) on DNA at a single molecule level. Binding and disruption of TmHU to and from DNA are found to take place in discrete steps of 4-5 nm length and a net binding enthalpy of about 16kBT. This is in reasonable agreement with a microscopic model that estimates the extension of the binding sites of the protein and evaluates the energetics mainly for bending of the DNA in the course of interaction.     

Das gelbmosaik der eberesche (Sorbus aucuparia L.)

An Ebereschen (Sorbus aucuparia L.) wurden Blätter mit leuchtend gelben Flecken und Rändern sowie vollständig vergilbte Blätter beobachtet. Diese Symptome konnten durch Rinderschiidpfropfung auf gesunde Sämlinge von 5. aucuparia übertragen werden, nicht jedoch auf andere Gehölzarten. Die mechanische Übertragung eines Virus von kranken S. aucuparia‐Sämlingen auf krautige Testpflanzen gelang nicht. In kranken Blattgeweben konnten auch keine virus‐ oder phytoplasmaähnlichen Partikeln festgestellt werden.     

Image and Diagnosis Quality of X-Ray Image Transmission via Cell Phone Camera: A Project Study Evaluating Quality and Reliability

Introduction

Developments in telemedicine have not produced any relevant benefits for orthopedics and trauma surgery to date. For the present project study, several parameters were examined during assessment of x-ray images, which had been photographed and transmitted via cell phone.

Materials and Methods

A total of 100 x-ray images of various body regions were photographed with a Nokia cell phone and transmitted via email or MMS. Next, the transmitted photographs were reviewed on a laptop computer by five medical specialists and assessed regarding quality and diagnosis.

Results

Due to their poor quality, the transmitted MMS images could not be evaluated and this path of transmission was therefore excluded. Mean size of transmitted x-ray email images was 394 kB (range: 265–590 kB, SD ±59), average transmission time was 3.29 min ±8 (CI 95%: 1.7–4.9). Applying a score from 1–10 (very poor - excellent), mean image quality was 5.8. In 83.2±4% (mean value ± SD) of cases (median 82; 80–89%), there was agreement between final diagnosis and assessment by the five medical experts who had received the images. However, there was a markedly low concurrence ratio in the thoracic area and in pediatric injuries.

Discussion

While the rate of accurate diagnosis and indication for surgery was high with a concurrence ratio of 83%, considerable differences existed between the assessed regions, with lowest values for thoracic images. Teleradiology is a cost-effective, rapid method which can be applied wherever wireless cell phone reception is available. In our opinion, this method is in principle suitable for clinical use, enabling the physician on duty to agree on appropriate measures with colleagues located elsewhere via x-ray image transmission on a cell phone.     

Mono- and multispecies biofilms from a crustose coralline alga induce settlement in the scleractinian coral Leptastrea purpurea

Coral Reefs - Microorganisms have been reported to induce settlement in various marine invertebrate larvae but their specificity of inductive capacities for the settlement of coral larvae remains...     

Die Virusresistenzforschung im Ehemaligen Institut Für Phytopathologie Aschersleben der Deutschen Akademie der Landwirtschaftswissenschaften zu Berlin

Plant virology was founded in the former Institute of Phytopathology Aschersleben by Maximilian Klinkowski. Research in the field of plant virology was undertaken there in three areas. The research started with the analysis of virus diseases in cultivated plants in the GDR; the second main area was the virus diagnosis: the third - virus resistance. An important prerequisite, which was very important for an effective research in this field, was the close cooperation within the institute as well as with other institutions of scientific research and practice within our country and abraoad. From 1970 to 1990, 36 host-virus-combinations were investigated with regard to virus resistance by the department 'Research on Virus Diseases' at the institute. A research task was considered being resolved when the results were confirmed in the breeding practice. Reliable methods and procedures of testing for virus resistance represent an important basis for the investigation of virus resistance. Such methods were developed for each of the investigated host-virus-combinations and summarized in a catalugue. Methods of evaluation of virus resistance were included in the procedures. Research of virus resistance and testing for virus resistance were carried out in parallel and closely connected. One of the first results of the investigations was the characterization of types of resistance. Two basic types were, in fact, classified, "qualitative or localizing virus resistance" and "quantitative or non-localizing virus resistance". In this connection the most important characteristics of resistance and influencing factors as well as their interactions were investgated. Practical result was the transfer of 37 genotypes of various virus-resistant cultivars giving high yields. Some of the genotypes showed multiple or complex resistance. Furthermore, extensive breeding material was selected which was destined for further use in breeding. When the Institute of Phytopathology Aschersleben was closed in 1991, the department 'Research of Virus Diseases' also had to finsh its work.