Comparison of the craniometric parameters of wild and farm American mink (Mustela vison)

Skulls of 65 American minks from the West Pomeranian Province were examined (farm: n = 33, male: n = 16, female: n = 17; wild: n = 32, male: n = 20, female: n = 12). Craniometric parameters in the number of 24 were determined and measured on each skull. Results were averaged and compared, maintaining the division into sex groups. Males were found to have statistically significant differences between wild and farm animals in 20 parameters; measurements showing no statistically significant differences were: nasal length, postorbital constriction, brain case height and greatest height of the mandibular body. Females were found to have statistically significant differences between wild and farm animals in 6 parameters: condylobasal length, tooth row length, greatest length of the mandible, brain case basis length, postorbital length and palatal length. The percentage conversion of measurements into the greatest length of the skull showed differences in its proportions. Among male skulls, the parameters for which the ratio of differences was more than 2% were palatal length, zygomatic breadth and brain case height. For female skulls, no craniometric parameters showed differences in the skull proportions being greater than 2%. The occurrence of measurable changes in the craniometric parameters between domestic and farm mink populations may indicate that the domestication process is still ongoing and allows distinguishing the population affiliation of an individual specimen.

Anion emission from water molecules colliding with positive ions: Identification of binary and many-body processes

It is shown that negative ions are ejected from gas-phase water molecules when bombarded with positive ions at keV energies typical of solar-wind velocities. This finding is relevant for studies of planetary and cometary atmospheres, as well as for radiolysis and radiobiology. Emission of both H- and heavier (O- and OH-) anions, with a larger yield for H-, was observed in 6.6-keV 16O+ + H2O collisions. The ex-perimental setup allowed separate identification of anions formed in collisions with many-body dynamics from those created in hard, binary collisions. Most of the ani-ons are emitted with low kinetic energy due to many-body processes. Model calcu-lations show that both nucleus-nucleus interactions and electronic excitations con-tribute to the observed large anion emission yield.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Social influence matters: We follow pandemic guidelines most when our close circle does

Why do we adopt new rules, such as social distancing? Although human sciences research stresses the key role of social influence in behaviour change, most COVID-19 campaigns emphasize the disease’s medical threat. In a global data set (n = 6,674), we investigated how social influences predict people’s adherence to distancing rules during the pandemic. Bayesian regression analyses controlling for stringency of local measures showed that people distanced most when they thought their close social circle did. Such social influence mattered more than people thinking distancing was the right thing to do. People’s adherence also aligned with their fellow citizens, but only if they felt deeply bonded with their country. Self-vulnerability to the disease predicted distancing more for people with larger social circles. Collective efficacy and collectivism also significantly predicted distancing. To achieve behavioural change during crises, policymakers must emphasize shared values and harness the social influence of close friends and family

Dose-dependent teratogenicity of the synthetic cannabinoid CP-55,940 in mice

Potent synthetic cannabinoids (SCBs) are illegally distributed drugs of abuse that are frequently consumed in spite of their adverse consequences. This study was designed to determine if the toxicity observed in adults also extends to the prenatal period by examining the developmental toxicity/teratogenicity of one of these SCBs, CP-55,940, in a mammalian model. First, immunohistochemistry was employed for cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) localization within gestational day (GD) 8 mouse embryos; this receptor was identified in the cranial neural plate, suggesting that the endogenous cannabinoid system may be involved in normal development. Based on this information and on previous avian teratogenicity studies, the current investigation focused on cannabinoid exposure during neurulation. The treatment paradigm involved acute i.p. administration of vehicle, 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 mg/kg CP-55,940 to time-mated C57Bl/6J mice on their 8th day of pregnancy (n > 10 litters per treatment group). On GD 17, litters were harvested and examined for numbers of live, dead, or resorbed fetuses, as well as for fetal weight, length, and gross morphological abnormalities. No effect on litter size, fetal weight, or crown rump length was seen at any of the CP-55,940 dosages tested. Major malformations involving the craniofacies and/or eyes were noted in all drug-treated groups. Selected fetuses with craniofacial malformations were histologically sectioned and stained, allowing investigation of brain anomalies. Observed craniofacial, ocular, and brain abnormalities in drug-treated fetuses included lateral and median facial clefts, cleft palate, microphthalmia, iridial coloboma, anophthalmia, exencephaly, holoprosencephaly, and cortical dysplasia. With the most commonly observed defects involving the eyes, the incidence and severity of readily identifiable ocular malformations were utilized as a basis for dose–response analyses. Ocular malformation ratings revealed dose-dependent CP-55,940 teratogenicity within the full range of dosages tested. While examination of additional critical periods and in depth mechanistic studies is warranted, the results of this investigation clearly show the dose-dependent teratogenicity of this SCB

Essential role of beta-adrenergic receptor kinase 1 in cardiac development and function.

The beta-adrenergic receptor kinase 1 (beta ARK1) is a member of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK) family that mediates the agonist-dependent phosphorylation and desensitization of G protein-coupled receptors. We have cloned and disrupted the beta ARK1 gene in mice by homologous recombination. No homozygote beta ARK1-/- embryos survive beyond gestational day 15.5. Prior to gestational day 15.5, beta ARK1-/- embryos display pronounced hypoplasia of the ventricular myocardium essentially identical to the "thin myocardium syndrome" observed upon gene inactivation of several transcription factors (RXR alpha, N-myc, TEF-1, WT-1). Lethality in beta ARK1-/- embryos is likely due to heart failure as they exhibit a > 70% decrease in cardiac ejection fraction determined by direct in utero intravital microscopy. These results along with the virtual absence of endogenous GRK activity in beta ARK1-/- embryos demonstrate that beta ARK1 appears to be the predominant GRK in early embryogenesis and that it plays a fundamental role in cardiac development

Role of charge patches in ion guiding through nanocapillaries in a PET polymer

We studied the dynamic properties of ion guiding through nanocapillaries in insulating polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The angular distribution of the transmitted ions was measured as a function of time. The temporal evolution of the angular transmission profiles was acquired for the capillary diameters of 200 and 400 nm. The tilt angle was varied from 0° to 6.5°. The transmission profiles exhibit significant changes in position as time varies. This observation is explained by the formation of temporary charge patches produced in the interior of the capillary besides the primary charge patch created in the entrance region.</p

Distinct requirements for extra-embryonic and embryonic bone morphogenetic protein 4 in the formation of the node and primitive streak and coordination of left-right asymmetry in the mouse

In the mouse and chick embryo, the node plays a central role in generating left-right (LR) positional information. Using several different strategies, we provide evidence in the mouse that bone morphogenetic protein 4 (Bmp4) is required independently in two different sites for node morphogenesis and for LR patterning. Bmp4 expression in the trophoblast-derived extra-embryonic ectoderm is essential for the normal formation of the node and primitive streak. However, tetraploid chimera analysis demonstrates that Bmp4 made in epiblast-derived tissues is required for robust LR patterning, even when normal node morphology is restored. In the absence of embryonic Bmp4, the expression of left-side determinants such as Nodal and Lefty2 is absent in the left lateral plate mesoderm (LPM). Noggin-mediated inhibition of Bmp activity in cultured wild-type embryos results in suppression of Nodal expression in the LPM. Thus, unlike previous models proposed in the chick embryo in which Bmp4 suppresses left-sided gene expression, our results suggest that Bmp acts as a positive facilitator of the left-sided molecular cascade and is required for Nodal induction and maintenance in the left LPM

Reduction of ethanol-induced ocular abnormalities in mice through dietary administration of N-acetylcysteine

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a derivative of the amino acid L-cysteine that previously has been shown to protect against ethanol (EtOH)-induced apoptosis during early development. Ongoing research is demonstrating that NAC is also proving clinically beneficial in reducing oxidative stress-mediated lung, liver and kidney damage, with protection likely resulting from a NAC-mediated increase in glutathione levels. In the present study, the hypothesis that co-administration of NAC and EtOH via liquid diet on days 7 and 8 of pregnancy in mice would reduce EtOH's teratogenicity was tested. For this work, adult non-pregnant female mice were acclimated to a liquid diet containing EtOH for 16 days, withdrawn from the EtOH, bred and then returned to the liquid diet containing 4.8% EtOH and/or either 0.5 or 1 mg NAC/ml diet on their 7th and 8th days of pregnancy. At the concentrations employed, the mice received NAC dosages of approximately 300 or 600 mg/kg/day and achieved peak blood EtOH levels (BEC) that averaged approximately 200 mg/dl. There was no difference in BEC between the EtOH alone and EtOH plus 600 mg/kg NAC group. Following maternal euthanasia, gestational day (GD) 14 fetuses were removed, fixed, weighed and examined for the presence and severity of ocular abnormalities, a readily assessed endpoint that results from GD 7 and 8 EtOH exposures. While the lower dosage of NAC (300 mg/kg) resulted in a decrease in the incidence of ocular defects in both the left and right eyes, this reduction was not statistically significant. However, doubling the NAC concentration did yield a significant change; as compared to the group treated with EtOH alone, the incidence of ocular abnormalities was diminished by 22%. These results show the potential of an orally administered compound with proven clinical efficacy to reduce EtOH's teratogenic effects and support the premise that oxidative damage plays an important mechanistic role in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders