Immuno and Affinity Cytochemical Analysis of Cell Wall Composition in the Moss Physcomitrella patens

In contrast to homeohydric vascular plants, mosses employ a poikilohydric strategy for surviving in the dry aerial environment. A detailed understanding of the structure, composition, and development of moss cell walls can contribute to our understanding of not only the evolution of overall cell wall complexity, but also the differences that have evolved in response to selection for different survival strategies. The model moss species Physcomitrella patens has a predominantly haploid lifecycle consisting of protonemal filaments that regenerate from protoplasts and enlarge by tip growth, and leafy gametophores composed of cells that enlarge by diffuse growth and differentiate into several different types. Advantages for genetic studies include methods for efficient targeted gene modification and extensive genomic resources. Immuno and affinity cytochemical labeling were used to examine the distribution of polysaccharides and proteins in regenerated protoplasts, protonemal filaments, rhizoids, and sectioned gametophores of P. patens. The cell wall composition of regenerated protoplasts was also characterized by flow cytometry. Crystalline cellulose was abundant in the cell walls of regenerating protoplasts and protonemal cells that developed on media of high osmolarity, whereas homogalactuonan was detected in the walls of protonemal cells that developed on low osmolarity media and not in regenerating protoplasts. Mannan was the major hemicellulose detected in all tissues tested. Arabinogalactan proteins were detected in different cell types by different probes, consistent with structural heterogneity. The results reveal developmental and cell type specific differences in cell wall composition and provide a basis for analyzing cell wall phenotypes in knockout mutants

Rationally 3D-Textured Copper Surfaces for Laplace Pressure Imbalance-Induced Enhancement in Dropwise Condensation

ISSN:1944-8244ISSN:1944-825

EXOMIO virtual simulation ; oropharynx , prostate and breast cancers

Simulators are medical devices used in the oncology clinics to perform the simulation for the external beam radiotherapy treatment. Unlikely for a clinic to obtain a real Simulator is a high investment in terms of money, space and personnel. The alternative here can be a Virtual Simulator (VS). The CT simulators are system-software that can perform the simulation process using the Computed Tomography (CT) data set of the patient, including the external patient's skin landmarks, instead of the physical patient. In this paper we present a new high performance CT based virtual simulation system running on a low cost widely available PC hardware - EXOMIO. The implemented high-end visualization techniques allow the users to simulate every function of the real simulator including the mechanical component movements, radiation beam projection and fluoroscopy. Further more this virtual simulation concept provides the physicians with ergonomic volume definition and navigation tools. Our clinical experience is described using three patient examples: Neck cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer. The advantages of virtual simulation system over classical simulation are stated and its clinical effectiveness is emphasized