Assignment of the dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPP4) gene to pig Chromosome 15q21

A porcine 2-kb partial dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPP4, EC 3.4.14.5) cDNA clone and a porcine 16-kb genomic fragment containing parts of the DPP4 gene were isolated, characterized, and used as probes to map the DPP4 gene to pig Chr (Chr) 15q21 by fluorescence in situ hybridization. A two-allele RFLP was revealed for the DPP4 gene. This polymorphism was utilized in a linkage test against the erythrocyte antigen G (EAG), previously assigned to Chr 15, and the microsatellite S0088, which is linked to EAG. The linkage analyses revealed significant evidence for linkage confirming the assignment of DPP4 to Chr 15.     

Individual day-to-day variations in plasma amino acid levels in healthy persons

Summary Fasting plasma levels of the large neutral amino acids (LNAA;l-forms) andl-tryptophan (TRP) ratios were determined in thirteen healthy volunteers (7 males, 6 females) on five consecutive mornings, and the same procedure was repeated for each individual three months later. We found characteristic overall ranges for the parameters studied, and, in addition to certain differences between the sexes, considerable inter- and intraindividual daily variations. Although the individuals showed statistically identifiable mean levels that, in the majority of subjects, were maintained over a period of three months, it is concluded that the degree of intraindividual variability does not allow us to regard a single value as characteristic for a given individual. This should be borne in mind in particular in follow-up studies of plasma LNAA in patients with, for example, depressive disorders.     

Prehistoric land use as recorded in a lake-shore core at Lake Constance

The second part of a pollen profile from Hornstaad/Lake Constance (Germany), containing the Atlantic and Subboreal (6400 cal B.C. to 700 cal B.C.) is presented. The diagram has a sampling interval of 1 cm and an average time resolution of 10 years. The cereal curve provided the basis for cereal zones, which are used to classify the human impact. Twenty-six cereal zones can be distinguished, most of them divided into subzones, from 5500 cal B.C. to 700 cal B.C. They correspond to both known and, mostly, unknown settlements in the surrounding landscape from the Early Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age. Charcoal and chemical analyses as well as sediment accumulation, confirmed by accelerator dates, provide evidence for human impact on the environment.A contribution to the 8th IPC, Aix-en-Provence, Sept. 1992     

A comparison of transplantable bicoid activity and partial bicoid homeobox sequences in several Drosophila and blowfly species (Calliphoridae)

In order to test for bicoid-like activity in insects other than Drosophila melanogaster, anterior egg cytoplasm from the following species was injected into cleavage stage embryos from mutant D. melanogaster lacking a functional bicoid (bcd) product: six other Drosophila species, the housefly, three blowfly species, the primitive cyclorrhaphic dipteran Megaselia, and the honeybee Apis mellifera; preliminary tests were made with four lower dipterans (Nematocera). Rescue effects were only observed with the drosophilids, housefly, and two of the three blowfly species. Rescue was stronger with the drosophilids than with the other flies as donors. Where checked (D. pseudoobscura), a positive correlation was found between the amount of cytoplasm injected and the number of pattern elements formed, suggesting threshold effects upon target genes as with the endogenous bcd product. By polymerase chain reaction, fragments from a bcd-orthologous homeobox were cloned from the three blowfly species. The derived sequence of 43 amino acids was identical in all blowflies and the housefly but differed at 4 positions from the orthologous D. melanogaster sequence. Localization of the mRNA recognized by the respective fragments in the blowflies Lucilia and Phormia resembled that known from D. melanogaster, while Calliphora — the blowfly species lacking rescue activity —showed remarkable differences of localization in both ovarian follicles and the deposited egg cell. This surprising divergence within a morphologically rather uniform family of cyclorrhaphic dipterans should be of interest from both functional and evolutionary points of view.     

Corticotroph,somatotroph and mammotroph cell kinetics in the postnatal infant female rat

The aim of this work was to detect if hypothalamic-pituitary maturation was accompanied by significant proliferation changes in differentiated pituitary cell pools. For this purpose, pituitary corticotroph (Ct), mammotroph (Mt) and somatotroph (St) proliferation activities were scanned in intact female rats during the postnatal (P) period (1–35 postnatal days). The techniques of tritiated thymidine labelling, immunostaining and autoradiography were combined to visualize DNA synthesis of hormone containing cells. Immunoreactive cell densities were measured using image analysis, and double labelled cells were counted. Corticotroph proliferation activity increased significantly on day P12, followed by an increase in the Ct proportion on days P13–14. This is the first observation of a spontaneous change of corticotroph proliferation at the end of the stress nonresponsive period. The mammotroph density and proliferation rate increased gradually during postnatal maturation, until the Mt pool overran other cell types of the female hypophysis on day 35. The somatotroph pool was the most numerous until day P20; the proliferation rate remained constant while St proportions increased reaching a plateau between days P13 and 20, then decreased to the adult level. Each cell type examined showed a characteristic, individual density and proliferation pattern.     

Effects of reconstruction methods on dose distribution for lung stereotactic body radiotherapy treatment plans

Radiation and Environmental Biophysics - The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of tumour motion on various imaging strategies as well as on treatment plan accuracy for lung...     

Modelling motor units in 3D: influence on muscle contraction and joint force via a proof of concept simulation

Functional heterogeneity is a skeletal muscle’s ability to generate diverse force vectors through localised motor unit (MU) recruitment. Existing 3D macroscopic continuum-mechanical finite element (FE) muscle models neglect MU anatomy and recruit muscle volume simultaneously, making them unsuitable for studying functional heterogeneity. Here, we develop a method to incorporate MU anatomy and information in 3D models. Virtual fibres in the muscle are grouped into MUs via a novel “virtual innervation” technique, which can control the units’ size, shape, position, and overlap. The discrete MU anatomy is then mapped to the FE mesh via statistical averaging, resulting in a volumetric MU distribution. Mesh dependency is investigated using a 2D idealised model and revealed that the amount of MU overlap is inversely proportional to mesh dependency. Simultaneous recruitment of a MU’s volume implies that action potentials (AP) propagate instantaneously. A 3D idealised model is used to verify this assumption, revealing that neglecting AP propagation results in a slightly less-steady force, advanced in time by approximately 20 ms, at the tendons. Lastly, the method is applied to a 3D, anatomically realistic model of the masticatory system to demonstrate the functional heterogeneity of masseter muscles in producing bite force. We found that the MU anatomy significantly affected bite force direction compared to bite force magnitude. MU position was much more efficacious in bringing about bite force changes than MU overlap. These results highlight the relevance of MU anatomy to muscle function and joint force, particularly for muscles with complex neuromuscular architecture.

     

Comparative LCA studies of simulated HMF biorefineries from maize and miscanthus as an example of first- and second-generation biomass as a tool for process development

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a versatile platform chemical for a fossil free, bio-based chemical industry. HMF can be produced by using fructose as a feedstock. Using edible, first-generation biomass to produce chemicals has been questioned in terms of potential competition with food supply. Second-generation biomass like miscanthus could be an alternative. However, there is a lack of information if second-generation lignocellulosic biomass is a more sustainable feedstock to produce HMF. Therefore, a life cycle assessment was performed in this study to determine the environmental impacts of HMF production from miscanthus and to compare it with HMF from high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). HFCS from either Hungary or Baden-Württemberg (Germany) was considered. Compared to the HFCS biorefineries the miscanthus concept is producing less emissions in all impact categories studied, except land occupation. Overall, the production and usage of second-generation biomass could be especially beneficial in areas where the use of N fertilizers is restricted. Besides, conclusions for the further development of the on-farm biorefinery concept were elaborated. For this purpose, process simulations from a previous study were used. Results of the previous study in terms of TEA and the current LCA study in terms of environmental sustainability indicate that the lignin depolymerization unit in the miscanthus biorefinery has to be improved. The scenario without lignin depolymerization performs better in all impact categories. The authors recommend to not further convert the lignin to products like phenol and other aromatic compounds. The results of the contribution analyses show that the major impact in the HMF production is caused by the auxiliary materials in the separation units and the required heat. Further technical development should focus on efficient heat as well as solvent use and solvent recovery. At this point further optimizations will lead to reduced emissions and costs at the same time.