PCP-B class pollen coat proteins are key regulators of the hydration checkpoint in Arabidopsis thaliana pollen-stigma interactions

The establishment of pollen–pistil compatibility is strictly regulated by factors derived from both male and female reproductive structures. Highly diverse small cysteine-rich proteins (CRPs) have been found to play multiple roles in plant reproduction, including the earliest stages of the pollen–stigma interaction. Secreted CRPs found in the pollen coat of members of the Brassicaceae, the pollen coat proteins (PCPs), are emerging as important signalling molecules that regulate the pollen–stigma interaction. Using a combination of protein characterization, expression and phylogenetic analyses we identified a novel class of Arabidopsis thaliana pollen-borne CRPs, the PCP-Bs (for pollen coat protein B-class) that are related to embryo surrounding factor (ESF1) developmental regulators. Single and multiple PCP-B mutant lines were utilized in bioassays to assess effects on pollen hydration, adhesion and pollen tube growth. Our results revealed that pollen hydration is severely impaired when multiple PCP-Bs are lost from the pollen coat. The hydration defect also resulted in reduced pollen adhesion and delayed pollen tube growth in all mutants studied. These results demonstrate that AtPCP-Bs are key regulators of the hydration ‘checkpoint’ in establishment of pollen–stigma compatibility. In addition, we propose that interspecies diversity of PCP-Bs may contribute to reproductive barriers in the Brassicaceae

Common variants at 12p11, 12q24, 9p21, 9q31.2 and in ZNF365 are associated with breast cancer risk for BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 mutation carriers

Abstract Introduction Several common alleles have been shown to be associated with breast and/or ovarian cancer risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. Recent genome-wide association studies of breast cancer have identified eight additional breast cancer susceptibility loci: rs1011970 (9p21, CDKN2A/B), rs10995190 (ZNF365), rs704010 (ZMIZ1), rs2380205 (10p15), rs614367 (11q13), rs1292011 (12q24), rs10771399 (12p11 near PTHLH) and rs865686 (9q31.2). Methods To evaluate whether these single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with breast cancer risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers, we genotyped these SNPs in 12,599 BRCA1 and 7,132 BRCA2 mutation carriers and analysed the associations with breast cancer risk within a retrospective likelihood framework. Results Only SNP rs10771399 near PTHLH was associated with breast cancer risk for BRCA1 mutation carriers (per-allele hazard ratio (HR) = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.81 to 0.94, P-trend = 3 × 10-4). The association was restricted to mutations proven or predicted to lead to absence of protein expression (HR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.74 to 0.90, P-trend = 3.1 × 10-5, P-difference = 0.03). Four SNPs were associated with the risk of breast cancer for BRCA2 mutation carriers: rs10995190, P-trend = 0.015; rs1011970, P-trend = 0.048; rs865686, 2df-P = 0.007; rs1292011 2df-P = 0.03. rs10771399 (PTHLH) was predominantly associated with estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer for BRCA1 mutation carriers (HR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.74 to 0.90, P-trend = 4 × 10-5) and there was marginal evidence of association with ER-negative breast cancer for BRCA2 mutation carriers (HR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.62 to 1.00, P-trend = 0.049). Conclusions The present findings, in combination with previously identified modifiers of risk, will ultimately lead to more accurate risk prediction and an improved understanding of the disease etiology in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers

Likhetstecknets betydelse

Syftet med denna studie var att ta reda på hur elever i skolår tre resonerade kring likhetstecknet när de löste pre- algebraiska uppgifter. För att kunna besvara vår frågeställning valde vi att göra en observationsstudie där eleverna fick sitta i grupp och lösa de olika uppgifter vi givit dem. Sju grupper observerades med tre elever i varje grupp och resultatet från vår studie visade att det fanns tre dominerande sätt att se på likhetstecknet. Det fanns de elever som såg likhetstecknet som ett resultattecken, de som kopplade ihop likhetstecknet med ett räknesätt och de som menade att likhetstecknet stod för ekvivalens. Vidare visade det sig att de elever som uppfattade likhetstecknet som ett resultattecken eller ett tecken som var kopplat till ett räknesätt hade svårt att lösa flertalet av de uppgifter vi givit dem

The role of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism in self-reported and laboratory aggression and testosterone reactivity

This experiment aimed to identify narcissistic risk factors for aggression. Grandiose narcissism, the more familiar form of narcissism involving overt assertion of personal superiority, was differentiated from vulnerable narcissism, which is found in people who present themselves as shy and humble. Aggression was measured in multiple ways, including laboratory behavior, self-report measures (reaction to provocation and proactive, instrumental aggression were measured separately), and hormonal reactivity (testosterone). Grandiose narcissism predicted behavioral, reactive, and proactive aggression and testosterone response. Vulnerable narcissism predicted self-reported aggression but was irrelevant to behavior and testosterone. Thus, testosterone responses in aggression depend on both situational context and trait, and grandiose narcissism may contribute more than vulnerable narcissism to externalizing aggression

Grundlegende Untersuchungen an diodengepumpten Festkoerperlasern im Wellenlaengenbereich um 2#mu#m Abschlussbericht

The research work on laser systems operating in the 2 #mu#m wavelength region mainly focused on flashlamp pumped solid state lasers. Ho and/or Tm doped crystals serve as an active medium. These conventionally excited systems operate at low repetition rates and low power levels. In order to reach higher output power levels in continous wave mode, diode pumped solid state lasers with Tm-doped crystals were investigated. The aim was to generate more than 20W of average output power with good beam quality. The characterization of the Tm-doped laser materials used for the 2 #mu#m wavelength region is the basis for new concepts concerning pump and resonator geometries. Such a new concept for longitudinal pumping, designed to reduce thermal effects, was subject of developement. For the pump light the principle of waveguides was intended to be used. The experimental work should be directed by theoretical considerations. Fiber coupled laserdiodes and laserdiode stacks were used as pump sources. In cw operating mode output powers up to 60W were achieved. Additionally this laser system was qualified for extended operational parameters, like Q-switch and wavelength tuned operation. These new cw lasers running in the NIR-wavelength region have various applications in science, industry and medicine. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: F99B1084 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie, Bonn (Germany)DEGerman

Wildnis als Thema einer Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung – Wildnisbezogene Dimensionen des Leitbildes der nachhaltigen Entwicklung und Analyse von Curricula verschiedener Bildungsbereiche am Beispiel des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt

Das 21. Jahrhundert stellt die Menschheit vor große globale Herausforderungen wie Klimawandel, Bevölkerungswachstum, Bodendegradation und Verlust von Biodiversität. Einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Lösung dieser Herausforderungen kann Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (BNE) leisten. Anne-Kathrin Lindau, Fabian Mohs, Alma Reinboth und Martin Lindner stellen Wildnisbildung als ein mögliches Konzept zur Umsetzung von BNE vor. Hierbei werden Lernende über das Erleben von wilder beziehungsweise verwildernder Natur zum Verstehen komplexer Systemzusammenhänge befähigt - um auf dieser Basis Nachhaltigkeitsfragen kritisch zu reflektieren und zu einem nachhaltigeren Handeln angeregt zu werden. Im ersten Teil des Buches werden theoretische Perspektiven (z. B. Wildnis als sozio-ökologisches System oder die Anknüpfungsfähigkeit von Wildnisbildung an eine BNE) vorgestellt, während der zweite Teil eher bildungsbezogene Forschungsergebnisse in Bezug auf Wildnis in den Blick nimmt. Der dritte Teil ist den Ergebnissen des von der Deutschen Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) geförderten Projektes »Wilde Nachbarschaft - Entwicklung, Erprobung und Evaluierung eines Konzeptes zur Wildnisbildung für Vorschule, Schule und Hochschule« gewidmet, in dessen Rahmen die Publikation entstanden ist. In allen drei Teilbereichen werden die Potenziale der Wildnisbildung außerhalb der bisher stark fokussierten Großschutzgebiete aufgezeigt

Minimally Invasive Monitoring of Chronic Central Venous Catheter Patency in Mice Using Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA)

Repetitive administration of medication or contrast agents is frequently performed in mice. The introduction of vascular access mini-ports (VAMP) for mice allows long-term vascular catheterization, hereby eliminating the need for repeated vessel puncture. With catheter occlusion being the most commonly reported complication of chronic jugular vein catheterization, we tested whether digital subtraction angiography (DSA) can be utilized to evaluate VAMP patency in mice.Twenty-three mice underwent catheterization of the jugular vein and subcutaneous implantation of a VAMP. The VAMP was flushed every second day with 50 μL of heparinized saline solution (25 IU/ml). DSA was performed during injection of 100 μL of an iodine based contrast agent using an industrial X-ray inspection system intraoperatively, as well as 7±2 and 14±2 days post implantation.DSA allowed localization of catheter tip position, to rule out dislocation, kinking or occlusion of a microcatheter, and to evaluate parent vessel patency. In addition, we observed different ante- and retrograde collateral flow patterns in case of jugular vein occlusion. More exactly, 30% of animals showed parent vessel occlusion after 7±2 days in our setting. At this time point, nevertheless, all VAMPs verified intravascular contrast administration. After 14±2 days, intravascular contrast injection was verified in 70% of the implanted VAMPs, whereas at this point of time 5 animals had died or were sacrificed and in 2 mice parent vessel occlusion hampered intravascular contrast injection. Notably, no occlusion of the catheter itself was observed.From our observations we conclude DSA to be a fast and valuable minimally invasive tool for investigation of catheter and parent vessel patency and for anatomical studies of collateral blood flow in animals as small as mice

SARS-CoV-2 specific plasma cells acquire long-lived phenotypes in human bone marrowResearch in context

Summary: Background: SARS-CoV-2 specific antibody-secreting plasma cells (PC) mediating specific humoral immunity have been identified in the human bone marrow (BM) after COVID-19 or vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. However, it remained unclear whether or not they acquire phenotypes of human memory plasma cells. Methods: SARS-CoV-2-specific human bone marrow plasma cells (BMPC) were characterised by tetramer-based, antigen-specific flow cytometry and FluoroSpot assay. Findings: SARS-CoV-2 spike-S1-specific PC were detectable in all tested BM samples of previously vaccinated individuals, representing 0.22% of total BMPC. The majority of SARS-CoV-2-specific BMPC expressed IgG and their specificity for the spike S1 protein indicated emergence from a systemic vaccination response. Of note, one-fifth of SARS-CoV-2-specific BMPC showed the phenotype of memory plasma cells, i.e., downregulated CD19 and present or absent CD45 expression. Interpretation: Our data indicate the establishment of phenotypically diverse SARS-CoV-2-specific PC in the human BM after basic mRNA immunization, including the formation of memory phenotypes. These results suggest the induction of durable humoral immunity after basic mRNA vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Funding: The study was supported by funding by the DFG grants TRR130 TP24, ME 3644/8-1, and the Berlin Senate. SR received funding from DFG SFB-1444 C01 Central Service Project

Safety and immune responses after intradermal application of Porcilis PRRS in either the neck or the perianal region.

The objective of the present study was to assess safety and immune responses in gilts after intradermal application of Porcilis® PRRS in two different application sites under field conditions. Forty-four gilts were allocated to one of three groups: Gilts of group 1 (n = 10) served as non-vaccinated controls, gilts of group 2 (n = 17) were vaccinated intradermally in the neck and gilts of group 3 (n = 17) received an intradermal vaccination in the perianal region. Clinical observations, local injection site reactions and histopathologic examination of the injection site were used for safety assessments. Frequency and degree of clinical signs were not significantly different between all three groups. Minor local reactions for both vaccination groups were observed; however, at 6, 7, 8, 9 and 15 days post-vaccination (dpv), the mean injection site reaction score was significantly lower in pigs vaccinated in the perianal region. In histopathologic examination, an extended inflammatory dimension was observed more frequently in pigs vaccinated in the neck. Blood samples were analyzed to quantify the post-vaccination humoral (ELISA and virus neutralization test) and cellular (IFN-γ ELISPOT) immune responses. PRRSV-specific antibodies were present in the serum of all vaccinated animals from 14 dpv onwards, whereas all control pigs remained negative throughout the study. Neutralizing antibody titers were significantly higher in pigs vaccinated in the perianal region at 28 dpv. At 14, 21 and 28 dpv, PRRSV-specific IFN-γ secreting cells were significantly increased in both vaccination groups compared to non-vaccinated gilts. Analysis of mean numbers of PRRSV-specific IFN-γ secreting cells did not result in statistically significant differences between both vaccination groups. The results of this study indicate that the perianal region is a safe alternative application site for intradermal vaccination of gilts with Porcilis PRRS. Furthermore, the intradermal application of Porcilis PRRS induced humoral and cellular immune responses independent of the administration site

Collateral retrograde flow pattern.

<p>Regular contrast agent flow through the heart, lung and aortic arch (AA) after contrast injection into a port-catheter implanted into the superior caval vein (SCV) (A-C). One week later, the catheter tip (arrow head) was dislocated slightly backwards into the confluens of the jugular and axillary vein (AV) and the SCV was thrombosed (*) (D). The contrast agent flowed (dotted arrows) into the proximal SCV via thoracic collaterals including the lateral thoracic vein (LTV) (E and F).</p