Museum specimens under scrutiny – new insights into the phylogeny of continental molluscs

This dissertation shows how DNA sequence data derived from museum specimens of the family Vitrinidae were used to unravel some taxonomical conundrums in a hitherto neglected group within the malacological community (Chapters 1 and 2). In addition, phylogenetic problems in Swiss freshwater bivalves (Chapter 3) and introduces new and inexpensive laboratory protocols in conjunction with bioinformatic techniques for recent and ancient mollusc DNA investigations (Chapter 4)

A Functional Analysis of the Naval Weather Service System

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the Naval Weather Service system by defining its functions; for the available literature does not convey the concept of interacting elements contributing to the operation of the larger whole. This paper concentrates on articulating the contributions of the related actions to the Naval Weather Service system. The aim is for clarity of exposition. The purpose is to get across the big picture. Int introspective format ensues formally from the rational foundations of the conceptual mode of inquiry. This paper addresses the Naval Weather Service system and not the scientific and technological process of oceanographic environmental prediction, which is another matter

Corporate Philanthropy and CEO Outside Directorships Under Authoritarian Capitalism

Scholars have long suggested that CEOs can benefit from corporatephilanthropy. However, little is known about this relationship in contextsof authoritarian capitalism such as China, where the state not only uses itscontrol of economic entities to pursue social goals but also plays a key rolein CEOs’ careers. We theorize how corporate philanthropy among statecontrolledfirms increases the CEO’s likelihood of receiving career benefitsfrom the state in the form of outside directorships. Outside directorshipsrepresent an important form of social capital in the Chinese context, andcorporate philanthropy is an important mechanism through which socialcapital can be acquired. In addition, we theorize how two factors—thedegree of state ownership and the number of independent directors onthe CEO’s board—moderate this relationship. Analyzing a 12-year panelof state-controlled, publicly-listed firms in China comprising 6,594 firm-yearobservations, we find general support for our ideas. In so doing, wecontribute to scholarship on the business–society relationship and corporategovernance in the context of authoritarian capitalism

Isolation and characterization of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells from the gingiva and the periodontal ligament of the horse

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The equine periodontium provides tooth support and lifelong tooth eruption on a remarkable scale. These functions require continuous tissue remodeling. It is assumed that multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) reside in the periodontal ligament (PDL) and play a crucial role in regulating physiological periodontal tissue regeneration. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize equine periodontal MSC.</p> <p>Tissue samples were obtained from four healthy horses. Primary cell populations were har-vested and cultured from the gingiva, from three horizontal levels of the PDL (apical, midtooth and subgingival) and for comparison purposes from the subcutis (masseteric region). Colony-forming cells were grown on uncoated culture dishes and typical <it>in vitro </it>characteristics of non-human MSC, i.e. self-renewal capacity, population doubling time, expression of stemness markers and trilineage differentiation were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Colony-forming cell populations from all locations showed expression of the stemness markers CD90 and CD105. In vitro self-renewal capacity was demonstrated by colony-forming unit fibroblast (CFU-F) assays. CFU-efficiency was highest in cell populations from the apical and from the mid-tooth PDL. Population doubling time was highest in subcutaneous cells. All investigated cell populations possessed trilineage differentiation potential into osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic lineages.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Due to the demonstrated in vitro characteristics cells were referred to as equine subcutaneous MSC (eSc-MSC), equine gingival MSC (eG-MSC) and equine periodontal MSC (eP-MSC). According to different PDL levels, eP-MSC were further specified as eP-MSC from the apical PDL (eP-MSCap), eP-MSC from the mid-tooth PDL (eP-MSCm) and eP-MSC from the subgingival PDL (eP-MSCsg). Considering current concepts of cell-based regenerative therapies in horses, eP-MSC might be promising candidates for future clinical applications in equine orthopedic and periodontal diseases.</p

Task force veterinary anatomy: Joint efforts of the five German veterinary schools to ensure education during the COVID-19 pandemic

At the start of the COVID-pandemic in March 2020, the Institutes of Veterinary Anatomy of the five German educational institutions were confronted with the challenge of digitalising all lectures for the second and fourth semesters of veterinary students. After an online kick-off event and a preliminary status quo meeting, all available digital teaching material was exchanged for students to stream from learning platforms. Lectures were either synchronized or made available as audio recordings and connotated slides on the learning platforms. Fortunately, digital microscopic slides had already been in use, which made it easy for students to access them. Dissection exercises mostly consisted of self- study, using instructive videos and interactive exercises. In the second half of the semester, four of the educational institutions were able offer a restricted number of in-person gross anatomy classes under reinforced conditions. Success monitoring took place online through different formats, and partially on a voluntary basis, via the learning platforms. Although the past two semesters had to almost exclusively take place online due to the unprecedented circumstances, and joint efforts of the five veterinary institutions, there is a general consensus that the practical education in anatomy, histology and embryology is essential to veterinary students. In fact, it is the only way they can obtain the necessary skills to successfully complete the rest of their degree.Die Veterinäranatomischen Institute der fünf deutschen Bildungsstätten standen zu Beginn der Coronapandemie im März 2020 vor der Herausforderung, die gesamte Lehre für die Studierenden des zweiten und vierten Fachsemesters in digitaler Form durchzuführen. Nach einem Kickoff-Onlinemeeting und einer ersten Bestandsaufnahme wurden vorhandene digitale Lehrmedien zum Streamen auf den Lernplattformen ausgetauscht. Vorlesungen wurden synchron gehalten oder asynchron als vertonte bzw. annotierte Dateien auf den Lernplattformen hochgeladen. Die mikroskopischen Präparate konnten den Studierenden dank schon bestehender Anwendungen zur virtuellen Mikroskopie komplikationslos zur Verfügung gestellt werden. Die Präparierübungen wurden überwiegend zum Selbststudium anhand von Lehrvideos und interaktiven Übungsaufgaben angeboten. In der zweiten Semesterhälfte wurden in der makroskopischen Anatomie an vier Standorten einige wenige Präsenztermine für die Studierenden unter verschärften Hygienebedingungen angeboten. Erfolgskontrollen wurden ausschließlich online über die Lernplattformen in verschiedenen Formaten und zum Teil fakultativ durchgeführt. Auch wenn die vergangenen beiden Semester in Zusammenarbeit aller Standorte den Umständen geschuldet fast ausschließlich digital stattfinden musste, besteht der allgemeine Konsens, dass die praktische Ausbildung in den Fächern Anatomie, Histologie und Embryologie essentiell für die Studierenden der Veterinärmedizin ist. Nur so können sie die notwendigen Kenntnisse und Fertigkeiten für ihr weiteres erfolgreiches Studium erlangen

Bone marrow-derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells from horses after euthanasia

Abstract Allogeneic equine multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (eMSCs) have been proposed for use in regenerative therapies in veterinary medicine. A source of allogeneic eMSCs might be the bone marrow from euthanized horses. The purpose of this study was to compare in vitro characteristics of equine bone marrow derived eMSC (eBM-MSCs) from euthanized horses (eut-MSCs) and from narcotized horses (nar-MSCs). Eut-MSCs and nar-MSCs showed typical eMSC marker profiles (positive: CD44, CD90; negative: CD11a/CD18 and MHCII) and possessed tri-lineage differentiation characteristics. Although CD105 and MHCI expression varied, no differences were detected between eut-MSCs and nar-MSCs. Proliferation characteristics did not differ between eut-MSCs and nar-MSCs, but age dependent decrease in proliferation and increase in MHCI expression was detected. These results suggest the possible use of eut-MSCs for therapeutic applications and production of commercial available eBM-MSC products

Anatomical and phylogenetic investigation of the genera Alabastrina Kobelt, 1904, Siretia Pallary, 1926, and Otala Schumacher, 1817 (Stylommatophora, Helicidae)

This study presents new insights in the anatomy of genital organs of some large helicid gastropods from northern Africa. The genetic analysis with the markers COI, 16S, H3, and 5.8 S rRNA+ITS2 reveales a high support for Alabastrina and Otala as separate evolutionary lineages within the Otalini. The position of Siretia as another separate lineage within the Otalini is discussed. “Tingitana minettei decussata” clusters within the O. xanthodon clade and confirms that the genus Tingitana can be synonymised with Otala. The genus Alabastrina differs from all other known genera by possession of a penial appendix. This character state is also found in topotypic A. tistutensis. Examination of the twin penial papilla system in Otala recovers a reduction of the proximal penial papilla in O. punctata. The position of Helix murcica as a separate subspecies of O. lactea is not supported, and it is here considered to be a synonym of the latter species