Dormant stages in freshwater bryozoans--an adaptation to transcend environmental constraints

Freshwater invertebrates often disperse between discrete habitat patches via the production of dormant propagules. Being dispersed passively by animal vectors or wind, certain adaptations for exposures to terrestrial and aerial conditions like desiccation and freezing are required. In the present study, we investigate the mechanisms of survival and physiological adaptations due to desiccation and low temperatures in the statoblasts of two populations of the freshwater bryozoan Cristatella mucedo. Our results show that both sessoblasts and floatoblasts tolerate almost complete desiccation and subzero temperatures. Trehalose, a non-reducing disaccharide which has been related to desiccation tolerance, was detected by amperometric chromatography. However, due to the low concentrations found, it is unlikely that trehalose is playing a major part in desiccation tolerance of bryozoan statoblasts. Vitrification is assumed to be important in the survival of desiccation tolerant organisms. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed thermal transitions (T_g onset around 70 °C) in desiccated statoblasts, indicating that a vitreous matrix is present. During the exposure to subzero temperatures, freeze tolerance of statoblasts was confirmed by the detection of internal ice formation, which took place at a crystallisation temperature of between −6 °C and −12 °C.     

Comparative proteome analysis of Milnesium tardigradum in early embryonic state versus adults in active and anhydrobiotic state

Tardigrades have fascinated researchers for more than 300 years because of their extraordinary capability to undergo cryptobiosis and survive extreme environmental conditions. However, the survival mechanisms of tardigrades are still poorly understood mainly due to the absence of detailed knowledge about the proteome and genome of these organisms. Our study was intended to provide a basis for the functional characterization of expressed proteins in different states of tardigrades. High-throughput, high-accuracy proteomics in combination with a newly developed tardigrade specific protein database resulted in the identification of more than 3000 proteins in three different states: early embryonic state and adult animals in active and anhydrobiotic state. This comprehensive proteome resource includes protein families such as chaperones, antioxidants, ribosomal proteins, cytoskeletal proteins, transporters, protein channels, nutrient reservoirs, and developmental proteins. A comparative analysis of protein families in the different states was performed by calculating the exponentially modified protein abundance index which classifies proteins in major and minor components. This is the first step to analyzing the proteins involved in early embryonic development, and furthermore proteins which might play an important role in the transition into the anhydrobiotic state.     

Clinical Efficacy of Simulated Vitreoretinal Surgery to Prepare Surgeons for the Upcoming Intervention in the Operating Room

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy of the virtual reality training simulator Eyesi to prepare surgeons for performing pars plana vitrectomies and its potential to predict the surgeons’ performance.

Methods

In a preparation phase, four participating vitreoretinal surgeons performed repeated simulator training with predefined tasks. If a surgeon was assigned to perform a vitrectomy for the management of complex retinal detachment after a surgical break of at least 60 hours it was randomly decided whether a warmup training on the simulator was required (n = 9) or not (n = 12). Performance at the simulator was measured using the built-in scoring metrics. The surgical performance was determined by two blinded observers who analyzed the video-recorded interventions. One of them repeated the analysis to check for intra-observer consistency. The surgical performance of the interventions with and without simulator training was compared. In addition, for the surgeries with simulator training, the simulator performance was compared to the performance in the operating room.

Results

Comparing each surgeon’s performance with and without warmup trainingshowed a significant effect of warmup training onto the final outcome in the operating room. For the surgeries that were preceeded by the warmup procedure, the performance at the simulator was compared with the operating room performance. We found that there is a significant relation. The governing factor of low scores in the simulator were iatrogenic retinal holes, bleedings and lens damage. Surgeons who caused minor damage in the simulation also performed well in the operating room.

Conclusions

Despite the large variation of conditions, the effect of a warmup training as well as a relation between the performance at the simulator and in the operating room was found with statistical significance. Simulator training is able to serve as a warmup to increase the average performance.     

The ontogeny of pollinia and elastoviscin in the anther of Doritis pulcherrima (Orchidaceae)

Wolter, M., Seuffert, C. & Schill, R. 1988. The ontogeny of pollinia and elastoviscin in the anther of Doritis pulscherrima (Orchidaceae). - Nord. J. Bot. 8: 77–88. Copenhagen. ISSN 0107–055X.
The ontogeny of pollinia of Doritis pulcherrima shows some features not commonly found in other angiosperms. The cell wails of the mature pollinium are almost identical with those of the pollen mother cells, and a callose envelope is lacking during the formation of sporopollenin. This fact may be related to the absence of a clear substructure of the exine and its low resistance to acetolysis. An exine is found only at the outer tetrads of the pollinium. The pollen grains in the tetrads possess irregularly spaced cell walls. The ontogeny of elastoviscin (specialized pollenkitt) begins in the ground cytoplasm of some tapetal cells, where small droplets are surrounded by myelin-like structures. Before anthesis the droplets fuse, flow into the loculus, and attach the pollinia to the stipe, thus forming a pollinarium. In the region in front of the elastoviscin-producing cells, some cells with specialized helical wall thickenings develop.     

Kinetic properties of the sodium bicarbonate (carbonate) symport in monkey kidney epithelial cells (BSC-1). Interactions between Na+, HCO-3, and pH

BSC-1 kidney epithelial cells derived from the African green monkey are known to express a Na+HCO3- symport (Jentsch, T. J., Schill, B. S., Schwartz, P., Matthes, H., Keller, S. K., and Wiederholt, M. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 15554-15560). In the present work, 4,4-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS)-sensitive 22Na+ uptake into confluent monolayers of BSC-1 is measured in the presence of ouabain (10(-4) M) and amiloride (10(-3) M) to define the interactions between Na+ and HCO3- binding and pH. Dependence of DIDS-sensitive 22Na+ fluxes on either Na+ or HCO3- can be described by Michaelis-Menten kinetics. External apparent Km for HCO3- decreases with increasing Na+ concentration (Km app (HCO3-) = 36 +/- 10, 18 +/- 5, and 9 +/- 3 mM at 20, 45, and 151 mM Na+o, respectively (pHo = 7.4)). Similarly, external apparent Km for Na+ decreases with increasing HCO3- concentration (Km app (Na+) = 73 +/- 22, 28 +/- 8, and 14 +/- 4 mM at 6, 17, and 56 mM HCO3o-, respectively (pHo = 7.4)). Vmax app remains constant within the experimental error. When data are replotted as a function of calculated NaCO3- concentration, they can be approximated by a single Michaelis-Menten equation. DIDS-sensitive uptake at constant Na+ and HCO3- displays a broad pH optimum in the range between 7.2 and 7.6. The data are compatible with the ion pair model in which the transported species, NaCO3-, binds to the transport site with Km = 15.3 +/- 4 microM. However, the data may also be fitted by either a random or ordered bireactant system. Sets of parameters necessary for these fits are given.     

Mechanical induction of critically delayed bone healing in sheep: radiological and biomechanical results

This study aimed to mechanically produce a standardized ovine model for a critically delayed bone union. A tibial osteotomy was stabilized with either a rigid (group I) or mechanically critical (group II) external fixator in sheep. Interfragmentary movements and ground reaction forces were monitored throughout the healing period of 9 weeks. After sacrifice at 6 weeks, 9 weeks and 6 months, radiographs were taken and the tibiae were examined mechanically. Interfragmentary movements were considerably larger in group II throughout the healing period. Unlike group I, the operated limb in group II did not return to full weight bearing during the treatment period. Radiographic and mechanical observations showed significantly inferior bone healing in group II at 6 and 9 weeks compared to group I. After 6 months, five sheep treated with the critical fixator showed radiological bridging of the osteotomy, but the biomechanical strength of the repair was still inferior to group I at 9 weeks. The remaining three animals had even developed a hypertrophic non-union. In this study, mechanical instability was employed to induce a critically delayed healing model in sheep. In some cases, this approach even led to the development of a hypertrophic non-union. The mechanical induction of critical bone healing using an external fixation device is a reasonable attempt to investigate the patho-physiological healing cascade without suffering from any biological intervention. Therefore, the presented ovine model provides the basis for a comparative evaluation of mechanisms controlling delayed and standard bone healing.     

Tardigrades survive exposure to space in low Earth orbit

Vacuum (imposing extreme dehydration) and solar/galactic cosmic radiation prevent survival of most organisms in space [1]. Only anhydrobiotic organisms, which have evolved adaptations to survive more or less complete desiccation, have a potential to survive space vacuum, and few organisms can stand the unfiltered solar radiation in space. Tardigrades, commonly known as water-bears, are among the most desiccation and radiation-tolerant animals and have been shown to survive extreme levels of ionizing radiation [2-4]. Here, we show that tardigrades are also able to survive space vacuum without loss in survival, and that some specimens even recovered after combined exposure to space vacuum and solar radiation. These results add the first animal to the exclusive and short list of organisms that have survived such exposure.     

Mean, genetic variance, and usefulness of selfing progenies from intra- and inter-pool crosses in faba beans (Vicia faba L.) and their prediction from parental parameters

 Determining the genetic potential of a base population from the properties of their parental lines would improve the efficiency of a breeding program. In the present study, we investigated whether the means of the parents and the genetic distance determined from RAPD data (GD) or multivariate analysis (Mahalanobis D²), mid-parent heterosis (MPH), and the absolute difference between means of the parents (∣P₁−P₂∣) can be used for predicting the means and genetic variances (σ^² _g ) of F_3:4 lines derived from different crosses in faba beans. The material comprised 18 intra- and 18 inter-pool crosses among lines from the Minor, Major, and Mediterranean germplasm pools. Fifty F_3:4 lines from each cross were evaluated for days to anthesis, plant height, seeds per plant, and seed yield in German (GE) and Mediterranean (ME) environments. GD estimates between parent lines ranged from 0.38 to 0.58, while D² ranged from 45.5 to 134.7. Correlations between means of the parents and F_3:4 lines were highly significant for most traits. Estimates of σ² _g for all traits showed non-significant correlations with MPH, GD, D². In one ME, ∣P₁−P₂∣ had significant associations with σ^² _g for seed yield and days to anthesis. The predicted usefulness of crosses, defined as the sum of the population mean and selection responses, was most closely associated with the means of F_3:4 lines. We conclude from this study that the means of F_3:4 lines can be predicted from the means of the parents, whereas the prediction of genetic variance is still an unsolved problem Received: 12 December 1997 / Accepted: 13 July 1998