Effect of glucosinolate profile modifications in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) on the performance of different specialist Lepidoptera

Die Glucosinolate (GS) sind charakteristische sekundäre Pflanzeninhaltsstoffe, vorkommend in der Gruppe der Brassicaceae und anderen Familien der Ordnung Brassicales (Halkier & Gershenzon 2006). Bisher sind mehr als 120 verschiedene GS beschrieben, welche eine gemeinsame Grundstruktur mit variablem Seitenkettenrest kennzeichnet (Fahey et al. 2001). Je nach chemischer Natur der Seitenkette werden die GS in aliphatische, aromatische und Indolyl-GS unterteilt. Alle GS-enthaltenden Pflanzen besitzen zusätzlich räumlich getrennt von den GS hydrolysierende Enzyme, so genannte Myrosinasen. Erst nach Zellbeschädigung kommen die beiden Komponenten in Kontakt zueinander und weitere biologisch aktive Verbindungen wie z. B. Isothiocyanate und Nitrile werden freigesetzt (Rask et al. 2000). Das GS-Myrosinase-System ist ein effektives Abwehrsystem insbesondere gegenüber generalistischen Insekten, Pathogenen und Bakterien, allerdings dienen vielen spezialisierten Insekten diese Stoffe zur Wirtspflanzenfindung und -akzeptanz (Renwick 2002, Halkier & Gershenzon 2006). Die Modellpflanze Arabidopsis thaliana L. enthält als Vertreter der Brassicaceae GS als Fraßabwehrstoffe. In A. thaliana als auch in Brassica ist das aliphatische GS-Muster sehr variabel, wohingegen die Indolyl-GS weit verbreitet sind (Kliebenstein 2001, Li & Quiros 2002). Allerdings fehlen Studien zur Funktion dieser GS-Klassen innerhalb der Pflanzenresistenz gegenüber Phytophagenfraß. Deshalb wurden zwei A. thaliana -Mutanten mit verändertem aliphatischen bzw. Indolyl-GS-Profil im Vergleich zu Columbia WT auf die Wirtspflanzeneignung für drei verschieden spezialisierte Lepidoptera-Arten getestet.Plants have developed diverse, complex defense mechanisms for dealing with their enemies. Members of the Brassicaceae family use the glucosinolate(GS)-myrosinase system to deal with their enemies. According to their precursor amino acid the GS are classified in aliphatic, aromatic, and indolyl GS. Indolyl GS are widely distributed in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) ecotypes and Brassica ssp., but the presence of aliphatic GS is highly variable. The impact of certain GS classes on plant resistance to insects is not yet discovered. Therefore, we studied the host-plant suitability of A. thaliana Columbia GS mutants to different Lepidopteran species compared to the wild-type. Two specialist species, Pieris rapae L. and Pieris brassicae L. and one generalist species Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) were selected for the feeding studies. As mutants we used mam3+ with reduced aliphatic GS levels compared to Columbia wild-type and cyp79B2-cyp79B3- which is characterized by the complete loss of indolyl GS. The weight gain of the generalist S. exigua within three days was significantly higher on mutant lines of mam3+ and cyp79B2-cyp79B3- than on Columbia wild-type. In contrast, the performance of the specialist species P. rapae and P. brassicae was not different on the genotypes. The reason for different host-plant suitability of mutants for the generalist and specialist insects is discussed

The functions of narrative passages in three written online health contexts

This paper investigates and compares the functions of narrative passages in three computer-mediated health practices centering on advice-giving: (1) email counseling at a UK university, (2) online forums providing peer support for smoking quitters, and (3) anti-smoking websites by UK governmental, commercial and charitable institutions. We found that the functions of the narrative passages are manifold and often overlapping. They range from seeking advice, giving advice, indicating/seeking agreement, supporting a claim, showing compliance with advice given to reporting on progress and success. In a second step, these insights were linked to how the narrative passages were used for identity construction and relational work. The results show that narratives are employed to create various identities, such as authentic advice-seekers, active self-helpers, successful quitters and advice-givers. Our comparison reveals that narrative functions utilized in all three practices exhibit nuanced differences due to medium factors and interactional goals of the practices. Finally, in these contexts of self-improvement, narratives document stability or transformation in the sense of clients’ improved health and smokers’ change to becoming non-smokers respectively

Utilization and costs of health care and early support services in Germany and the influence of mental health burden during the postnatal period

Limited evidence is available about health care utilization and its determinants in the vulnerable postnatal period for mothers and their children. Thus, the aim of our analyses was to assess determinants of health care and early support services utilization regarding mothers and their children and associated costs in the postnatal period in Germany. Moreover, we aimed to investigate the impact of noticeable mental health and psychosocial burdens on health care and early support services utilization and costs. Using a two-step assessment process of parents from a randomly selected sample of 30,000 recently born children in the multicenter observational population-based cohort study of the SKKIPPI project, we firstly identified mothers who were potentially at risk of mental health and psychosocial burden. These mothers were then invited to participate in an in-depth assessment, including a detailed self-developed questionnaire focusing on early support and health care services utilization. A follow-up after 6 months was conducted. Potential determinants of early support services utilization were analyzed using logistic regression. General linear models with gamma distribution and log link functions were applied to analyze potential determinants of health care costs and to estimate mean adjusted costs. Mothers with a noticeable mental health or psychosocial burden and their children caused mean early support services costs of €1073 and caused total costs of €10,849 in the postnatal period from a payer’s perspective compared to €349 (early support services) and €9136 (total costs) for mothers without a noticeable mental health or psychosocial burden and their children. The main determinants of total costs were facing a chronic disease (child), preterm delivery, bad experiences with doctors and midwives, and single parenthood. The majority of participants (69 %) utilized some kind of early support services. The most important determinants of early support service utilization in the postnatal period with respect to the children were facing a chronic disease, being the first child, and being born as a twin. Our findings highlight the importance of sufficient appreciation and treatment of mental health problems in the postnatal period from both a societal and payer’s perspective. Future research should investigate whether these and more specific interventions could be a costeffective way to support mothers with mental health or psychosocial burden and their children

The Functions of Narrative Passages in Three Written Online Health Contexts

This paper investigates and compares the functions of narrative passages in three computermediated health practices centering on advice-giving: (1) email counseling at a UK university, (2) online forums providing peer support for quitters of smoking, and (3) anti-smoking websites by UK governmental, commercial and charitable institutions. We found that the functions of the narrative passages are manifold and often overlapping. They range from seeking advice, giving advice, indicating/seeking agreement, supporting a claim, showing compliance with advice given to reporting on progress and success. In a second step, these insights were linked to how the narrative passages were used for identity construction and relational work. The results show that narratives are employed to create various identities, such as authentic advice-seekers, active self-helpers, successful quitters and advice-givers. Our comparison reveals that narrative functions utilized in all three practices exhibit nuanced differences due to medium factors and interactional goals of the practices. Finally, in these contexts of self-improvement, narratives document stability or transformation in the sense of clients’ improved health and smokers’ change to becoming non-smokers respectively

Ziehung, Zusammensetzung und Pflege der Stichprobe

Holtsch, D., & Eberle, F. (Hrsg.). (2018). Untersuchungen zu Lehr-Lernprozessen im kaufmännischen Bereich: Ergebnisse aus dem Leading House LINCA und Schlussfolgerungen für die Praxis, S. 33-4

<i>In</i><i>vitro</i> characterization of SGSCs.

<p>A) Gene expression profile analysis via qPCR from sweat glands directly after isolation compared to outgrowing cells. Distinct changes in gene expression could be detected (n=3, mean±SEM). Whereas Nestin was constantly expressed, expression of sweat gland related genes (K14, K19, Mucin, CEA) decreased during <i>in </i><i>vitro</i> cell propagation. In contrast transcripts indicating proliferation (Ki67) increased. **** p<0,0001 B) qPCR was performed to determine the expression of transcripts corroborating a multipotent differentiation capability and to evaluate expression variations between passages (P8, P14, P21) and donors (n=3, mean±SEM). There were no significant variations in gene expression levels. C) Expression of stem cell-related proteins Oct4, SOX2 and Nestin in SGSCs. D) IF analysis of proteins specific for cells of ectodermal (NF), mesodermal (AP) and endodermal (Amylase) origin. Nuclei were stained with DAPI. Scale bars 100 μm. E) Analysis of cytokine secretion via membrane-based array system of SGSCs grown on cell culture plastic. Via cytokine array (first panel) and angiogenesis array (second panel), factors involved in vascularization, immune regulation and tissue remodeling could be detected.</p

Induced differentiation of SGSCs via soluble factors in comparison to BMSCs over 21 days.

<p>For confirmation of adipogenic differentiation fat droplets were documented with Oil Red O staining. Proper differentiation was shown for BMSCs by the existence of several cells containing red stained lipid droplets. In stimulated SGSCs there were only single cells with small lipid droplets. Nuclei were stained with haematoxilin. Scale bars 100 μm Alcian blue staining was used to detect chondrogenic differentiation of micromass bodies. SGSCs and BMSCs showed a distinct staining. Scale bars 200 μm Staining for Collagen type II was positive in both, but stronger expressed by SGSCs in comparison to BMSCs. Nuclei were stained with haematoxylin. Scale bars 100 μm Proper differentiation into the osteogenic lineage could be proven for BMSCs by the existence of several cells expressing alkaline phosphatase (AP). For SGSCs only few cells were stained. Nuclei were stained with haematoxylin. Scale bars 100 μm.</p

Localization of Nestin-positive cells in human sweat glands of axillary skin.

<p>A) Schema of the human skin appendages, with special focus on localization and structure of eccrine (e) and apocrine (a) sweat glands. B) K19 (red) IF staining of apocrine (a, dashed line) and eccrine (e, full line) sweat glands in human axillary skin. Eccrine and apocrine glands are in immediate vicinity, sometimes they were entwined around each other (halted line). Nuclei were stained with DAPI. Scale bar 1000 μm C) IF staining of Mucin. Secretory cells in apocrine (a) sweat glands are positive for Mucin (red), whereas eccrine (e) sweat glands are negative (halted line). D) IF staining of carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA). CEA (green) was expressed in ducts (d) and the secretory part of eccrine (e) sweat glands (halted line). Nestin (C green, D red) positive cells could be found in the stroma of apocrine and eccrine sweat glands. Scale bars 100 μm. </p