The little-known Dipteropeltis hirundo Calman, 1912 (Crustacea, Branchiura): SEM investigations of paratype material in light of recent phylogenetic analyses

The Branchiura are fish ectoparasites which include the well-known and very commonly found genus Argulus. But the Branchiura also contains the monotypic genus Dipteropeltis, about which only very little is known. In this investigation of two female paratype specimens we describe for the first time the external morphology of Dipteropeltis based on Scanning Electron Microscopy. We show that Dipteropeltis has a pre-oral spine, unique suction disc support structures, an Argulus-like mouth cone and second maxillae with a combination of features seen in both Argulus and Chonopeltis. These data are compared with data from the three remaining branchiuran genera Dolops, Chonopeltis and Argulus and discussed in a phylogenetic context based on a recently proposed phylogeny of the group.     

NADPH-dependent reductase solubilized from microsomes by peroxidation and its activity

Isolated rat liver microsomes were subjected to enzymatic or non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation $\text{in vitro}$. NADPH-dependent cytochrome $\text{c}$ reductase activity was released from the microsomes into the media during peroxidation. This activity could be recovered from the media by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The recovered enzyme retained high activity for the reduction of cytochrome $\text{c}$ and a lower level of activity for the reduction of cytochrome P-450. The active fractions were capable of enzymatically supporting the peroxidation of isolated mitochondria in the presence of organically complexed Fe⁺³ and NADPH, and in this respect the specific activity was found to be about ten times higher than in microsomes.     

Sphagnum divinum (sp. nov.) and S. medium Limpr. and their relationship to S. magellanicum Brid.

Sphagnum magellanicum has been viewed as being a predominantly circumpolar species in the northern hemisphere, but it occurs in the southern hemisphere and was originally described from the southern parts of Chile. It is an ecologically important species in mire ecosystems and has been extensively used as a model to study processes of growth, carbon sequestration and peat decomposition. Molecular and experimental studies have, however, revealed genetic structure within S. magellanicum, and morphological differences associated with these genetic groups. Here we describe Sphagnum divinum in Sphagnum subgenus Sphagnum (Sphagnaceae, Bryophyta) as a new species, based on molecular and morphological evidence. Sphagnum medium is reinstated as a distinct species and is epitypified. Consequently, a new species concept of S. magellanicum is presented including an epitypification. Important morphological characters to separate these three species in the field and under the microscope are presented. Ecology and distribution differ among the species; S. divinium has a wide habitat range including mire margin, forested peatlands and moist heaths, and a circumpolar distribution around the northern hemisphere. Sphagnum medium seems to be more restricted to ombrotrophic mire expanse habitats and shows an amphi-Atlantic distribution in the northern hemisphere. Sphagnum magellanicum has a very broad ecological niche in peatlands and is found in most mire habitats in Tierra del Fuego on the southern tip of South America.     

High levels of multiple paternity in a spermcast mating freshwater mussel

Multiple paternity is an important characteristic of the genetic mating system and common across a wide range of taxa. Multiple paternity can increase within‐population genotypic diversity, allowing selection to act on a wider spectre of genotypes, and potentially increasing effective population size. While the genetic mating system has been studied in many species with active mating behavior, little is known about multiple paternity in sessile species releasing gametes into the water. In freshwater mussels, males release sperm into the water, while eggs are retained and fertilized inside the female (spermcast mating). Mature parasitic glochidia are released into the water and attach to the gills of fish where they are encapsulated until settling in the bottom substrate. We used 15 microsatellite markers to detect multiple paternity in a wild population of the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera). We found multiple paternity in all clutches for which more than two offspring were genotyped, and numbers of sires were extremely high. Thirty‐two sires had contributed to the largest clutch (43 offspring sampled). This study provides the first evidence of multiple paternity in the freshwater pearl mussel, a species that has experienced dramatic declines across Europe. Previous studies on other species of freshwater mussels have detected much lower numbers of sires. Multiple paternity in freshwater pearl mussels may be central for maintaining genetic variability in small and fragmented populations and for their potential to recover after habitat restoration and may also be important in the evolutionary arms race with their fish host with a much shorter generation time.     

In Vivo Labeling by CD73 Marks Multipotent Stromal Cells and Highlights Endothelial Heterogeneity in the Bone Marrow Niche

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A missense mutation in the FALDH gene identified in Sjögren-Larsson syndrome patients originating from the northern part of Sweden

Sjögren-Larsson syndrome (SLS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by congenital ichthyosis, spastic di- or tetraplegia, and mental retardation. SLS has been reported to occur in many populations but the highest incidence is in the north of Sweden. The gene causing SLS encodes a fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase (FALDH). In the present study, a point mutation in exon 7 of the FALDH gene was found in SLS patients of northern Swedish origin. The mutation consists of a C-to-T exchange at nucleotide position 943 in the cDNA. As a consequence, a highly conserved proline is replaced by a serine. The mutation was found in 49 out of 58 affected chromosomes and could be the most widely spread SLS mutation in the world.     

Marked differences between prone and supine sheep in effect of PEEP on perfusion distribution in zone II lung.

The classic four-zone model of lung blood flow distribution has been questioned. We asked whether the effect of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is different between the prone and supine position for lung tissue in the same zonal condition. Anesthetized and mechanically ventilated prone (n = 6) and supine (n = 5) sheep were studied at 0, 10, and 20 cm H2O PEEP. Perfusion was measured with intravenous infusion of radiolabeled 15-microm microspheres. The right lung was dried at total lung capacity and diced into pieces (approximately 1.5 cm3), keeping track of the spatial location of each piece. Radioactivity per unit weight was determined and normalized to the mean value for each condition and animal. In the supine posture, perfusion to nondependent lung regions decreased with little relative perfusion in nondependent horizontal lung planes at 10 and 20 cm H2O PEEP. In the prone position, the effect of PEEP was markedly different with substantial perfusion remaining in nondependent lung regions and even increasing in these regions with 20 cm H2O PEEP. Vertical blood flow gradients in zone II lung were large in supine, but surprisingly absent in prone, animals. Isogravitational perfusion heterogeneity was smaller in prone than in supine animals at all PEEP levels. Redistribution of pulmonary perfusion by PEEP ventilation in supine was largely as predicted by the zonal model in marked contrast to the findings in prone. The differences between postures in blood flow distribution within zone II strongly indicate that factors in addition to pulmonary arterial, venous, and alveolar pressure play important roles in determining perfusion distribution in the in situ lung. We suggest that regional variation in lung volume through the effect on vascular resistance is one such factor and that chest wall conformation and thoracic contents determine regional lung volume.     

Transport of Kinetin-814C in Petioles

Several differences in the translocation pattern of radioactive kinetin in plant petioles were determined. Radioactivity from kinetin-8-¹⁴C (Kn*) moved from donor agar blocks through petioles of bean and cocklebur but not of cotton. There was no difference in basipetal or acropetal movement of radioactivity from Kn* in cocklebnr petioles, but there was in bean petioles. In bean petioles this movement was preferentially basipetal, but it was influenced by the age of the petiole and by the presence of added indoleactic acid. The combination treatment accelerated the basipetal movement of radioactivity from Kn* in young bean petioles and not in old ones. All data is based on radioactivity translocated into receiver agar blocks which were assayed individually in a liquid scintillation spectrometer. The results show that plant species, direction of transport, age of tissue, and presence of IAA can all influence the translocation of Kn* in petioles.