Tissue-specific laminin expression facilitates integrin-dependent association of the embryonic wing disc with the trachea in Drosophila

AbstractThe interaction of heterologous tissues involves cell adhesion mediated by the extracellular matrix and its receptor integrins. The Drosophila wing disc is an ectodermal invagination that contacts specific tracheal branches at the basolateral cell surface. We show that an α subunit of laminin, encoded by wing blister (wb), is essential for the establishment of the interaction between the wing and trachea. During embryogenesis, wing disc cells present Wb at their basolateral surface and extend posteriorly, expanding their association to more posteriorly located tracheal branches. These migratory processes are impaired in the absence of the trachea, Wb, or integrins. Time-lapse and transmission electron microscopy analyses suggest that Wb facilitates integrin-dependent contact over a large surface and controls the cellular behavior of the wing cells, including their exploratory filopodial activity. Our data identify Wb laminin as an extracellular matrix ligand that is essential for integrin-dependent cellular migration in Drosophila

HOME CARE NURSES’ WORK AND FAMILY: IS IT EFFECTIVE FOR NURSING TO FULFILL A FAMILY ROLE?

Aim: the purpose of this study was to examine whether home care nurses consider that fulfilling a family role makes a positive difference on nursing performance, and to identify associated factors. Methods: a self-report questionnaire was used to survey 236 home care nurses working in Japan. We asked each respondent to identify his/her family-related and work-related variables. We then measured their level of work-family conflict, and the degree to which fulfilling their family role had a positive effect on nursing performance. Descriptive statistics and a hierarchical regression analysis were conducted (p < .05). Results: a total of 201 participants (85.2%) indicated that fulfilling a family role had a positive effect on nursing performance. This perception was positively associated with having a child (β = .248, p = .02) and training in a home healthcare office (β = .154, p = .018). However, age (β = -.225, p = .003), on-call duty (β = -.300, p = .006), and work-family conflict (family interference with work; β = -.206, p = .01) were negatively related to it. Conclusion: the majority of home care nurses perceived that fulfilling a family role had a positive effect on nursing performance. Home care nurses recognized that their experience in childrearing fosters their nursing ability. Future research should explore the skills home care nurses acquire by fulfilling a family role

A MULTIMEDIA MODEL FOR THE EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOR OF DIOXINS

Joint Research on Environmental Science and Technology for the Eart

Effects of Fipronil on Non-target Ants and Other Invertebrates in a Program for Eradication of the Argentine Ant, Linepithema humile

Pesticides are frequently used to eradicate invasive ant species, but pose ecological harm. Previous studies assessed non-target effects only in terms of the increase or decrease of abundance or species richness after pesticide applications. Positive effects of the release from pressure caused by invasive ant species have not been considered so far. To more accurately assess pesticide effects in the field, the non-target effects of pesticides should be considered separately from the positive effects of such releases. Here, we used monitoring data of ants and other invertebrates collected in a program for the eradication of the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr), using fipronil. First, we separately assessed the effects of L. humile abundance and fipronil exposure on non-target ants and other invertebrates using generalized linear models. The abundance of L. humile and the number of pesticide treatments were negatively associated with the total number of non-target individuals and taxonomic richness. We also noted negative relationships between the number of individuals of some ant species and other invertebrate taxonomic groups. The L. humile × pesticide interaction was significant, suggesting that the abundance of L. humile affected the level of impact of pesticide treatment on non-target fauna. Second, we evaluated the dynamics of non-target ant communities for 3 years using principal response curve analyses. Non-target ant communities treated with fipronil continuously for 3 years recovered little, whereas those treated for 1 year recovered to the level of the untreated and non-invaded environment

ESTIMATION OF CANCER RISK BY BENZENE EMITTED FROM VEHICLES

Joint Research on Environmental Science and Technology for the Eart