Development of the chick wing and leg neuromuscular systems and their plasticity in response to changes in digit numbers

The tetrapod limb has long served as a paradigm to study vertebrate pattern formation. During limb morphogenesis, a number of distinct tissue types are patterned and subsequently must be integrated to form coherent functional units. For example, the musculoskeletal apparatus of the limb requires the coordinated development of the skeletal elements, connective tissues, muscles and nerves. Here, using light-sheet microscopy and 3D-reconstructions, we concomitantly follow the developmental emergence of nerve and muscle patterns in chicken wings and legs, two appendages with highly specialized locomotor outputs. Despite a comparable flexor/extensor-arrangement of their embryonic muscles, wings and legs show a rotated innervation pattern for their three main motor nerve branches. To test the functional implications of these distinct neuromuscular topologies, we challenge their ability to adapt and connect to an experimentally altered skeletal pattern in the distal limb, the autopod. Our results show that, unlike autopod muscle groups, motor nerves are unable to fully adjust to a changed peripheral organisation, potentially constrained by their original projection routes. As the autopod has undergone substantial morphological diversifications over the course of tetrapod evolution, our results have implications for the coordinated modification of the distal limb musculoskeletal apparatus, as well as for our understanding of the varying degrees of motor functionality associated with human hand and foot malformations

Chewing simulation of zirconia implant supported restorations

PURPOSE To test three potential prosthetic material options for zirconia implants in regard to their mechanical properties, loading and retention capacity as well as to record abrasion after chewing simulation followed by thermocyclic aging. METHODS Molar crowns (n = 96) of three different computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) materials were produced and cemented on zirconia implants (ceramic.implant, Vita) with a diameter of 4.5 mm. Monolithic zirconia (Vita YZ [YZ] with RelyX Unicem 2 Automix [RUN], polymer-infiltrated ceramic (Vita Enamic [VE]) with Vita Adiva F-Cem [VAF] and acrylate polymer (CAD Temp [CT]) with RelyX Ultimate [RUL]. Fracture load and retentive force of the crowns were measured after 24 h water storage at 37 °C and after a chewing simulation followed by thermocyclic aging. Abrasion was recorded by matching stereolithography-data of the crowns obtained before and after chewing simulation. Additionally, the mechanical properties and bonding capabilities of the crown and cement materials were assessed. RESULTS Fracture load values were significantly highest for YZ > VE = CT. Retention force values did not differ significantly between the materials. The aging procedure did not affect the fracture load values nor the retention force significantly. Abrasion depth of the crowns was lowest for YZ followed by VE and CT. On unpolished crowns, abrasion of YZ and VE tended to be higher than on polished specimens. CONCLUSIONS Based on the obtained in-vitro results, all tested materials can be recommended for the use on zirconia implants, although CT is only approved for temporary crowns. The loading and retention capacity of the materials were not significantly affected by aging

Temperature stability of the sky quality meter

The stability of radiance measurements taken by the Sky Quality Meter (SQM)was tested under rapidly changing temperature conditions during exposure to a stable light field in the laboratory. The reported radiance was found to be negatively correlated with temperature, but remained within 7% of the initial reported radiance over a temperature range of -15 °C to 35 °C, and during temperature changes of -33 °C/h and +70 °C/h.This is smaller than the manufacturer’s quoted unit-to-unit systematic uncertainty of 10%,indicating that the temperature compensation of the SQM is adequate under expected outdoor operating conditions

Cationic microporous polymer networks by polymerisation of weakly coordinating cations with CO2-storage ability

Microporous organic polymer networks with weakly coordinating cations in their backbone have been synthesised by metal catalysed C–C bond forming reactions. A functionalised tetraphenylphosphonium ion was synthesised and successfully used as a tecton in a co-polymerisation with tetrakis(4-bromophenyl) methane using nickel catalysed Yamamoto coupling and with triethynylbenzene in a palladium catalysed Songashira–Hagihara reaction. The microporous materials showed an apparent BET surface area of 1455 m2 g−1 and 540 m2 g−1, respectively. The Yamamoto product provide a CO2 uptake of 2.49 mmol g−1 at 273 K and 1 bar. After ion exchange with chloride CO2 uptake is further increased to 2.85 mmol g−1.EC/FP7/278593/EU/Organic Zeolites/ORGZEOEC/FP7/300534/EU/Functional Microporous Organic Polymers/FunMOP

Self-organized BMP signaling dynamics underlie the development and evolution of digit segmentation patterns in birds and mammals

We wish to thank C. J. Tabin, E. Clark, and J. C. Scoones for a critical reading of the manuscript, M. Luxey, A. Zuniga, and R. Zeller for providing wild-type mouse embryos, M. Wang for help with R, D. Barac for conceptual input on the developmental digit growth series, and D. Ebert, D. Berner, and all members of our groups for useful discussions. Calculations for scRNA-seq analyses were performed at sciCORE (http://scicore.unibas.ch/), scientific computing center at the University of Basel. This work was supported by research funds from UK Research and Innovation [Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, grant numbers BB/W003619/1 and BB/X511973/1] to T.W.H. and from the Swiss National Science Foundation [SNSF project grant number 310030_189242] and the University of Basel to P.T.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Human endogenous retrovirus: their relationship with hematological diseases

Human endogenous retrovirus (HERVs) integrated in the human genome millions of years ago and became astable part of the inherited genetic material. Most of these HERVs are dysfunctional due to numerous mutations andthus making it impossible to generate a full, infectious retrovirus particle from a single genetic locus. However, manyHERVs are still exceptionally well preserved and maintain Open Reading Frames encoding functional viral proteins.The permanence of HERV ́s genes along evolution suggests that these elements have proven beneficial to humansurvival. In this regard, the expression of certain HERV proteins is implicated in important physiological functions,such as placental development. Nevertheless, reactivation of HERVs has frequently been observed in a variety ofhuman tumors suggesting their potential to contribute to malignant progression. Considering the role of HERVs inthe carcinogenesis process, the purpose of this mini review is to deepen into HERVs expression and its possibleimplication in hemato-oncologic disease development

Detection of porcine cytomegalovirus, a roseolovirus, in pig ovaries and follicular fluid: implications for somatic cells nuclear transfer, cloning and xenotransplantation

Background Porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) is a porcine roseolovirus (PCMV/PRV) which is widely distributed in pigs. Transmission of PCMV/PRV in preclinical xenotransplantations was shown to significantly reduce the survival time of the pig transplants in non-human primates. PCMV/PRV was also transmitted in the first transplantation of a pig heart into a human patient. To analyze how PCMV/PRV could be introduced into pig breeds, especially considering cloned transgenic pigs, and subsequently spread in breeding facilities, we screened ovaries and derived materials which are used to perform somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Methods DNA was isolated from ovarian tissues, follicular fluids, oocytes with cumulus cells, denuded oocytes and parthenotes. A real-time PCR with PCMV/PRV-specific primers and a probe was performed to detect PCMV/PRV. Furthermore, a Western blot assay using a recombinant fragment of the gB protein of PCMV/PRV was performed to screen for virus-specific antibodies in the follicular fluids. Results PCMV/PRV was found by real-time PCR in ovarian tissues, in the follicular fluid and in oocytes. In parthenotes the virus could not be detected, most-likely due to the low amount of DNA used. By Western blot assay specific antibodies against PCMV/PRV were found in 19 of 20 analyzed follicular fluids. Conclusion PCMV/PRV was found in ovarian tissues, in the follicular fluids and also in denuded oocytes, indicating that the virus is present in the animals of which the oocytes were taken from. Despite several washing steps of the denuded oocytes, which are subsequently used for microinjection or SCNT, the virus could still be detected. Therefore, the virus could infect oocytes during genetic modifications or stay attached to the surface of the oocytes, potentially infecting SCNT recipient animals

Real-Time Capable Sensor Data Analysis-Framework for Intelligent Assistance Systems

In the industrialized countries, the very old part of the population has been growing rapidly for many years. In the next few years in particular, the age cohort over 65 will increase significantly. This goes hand in hand with illnesses and other physical and cognitive limitations. In order to enable these people to remain in their own homes for as long as possible despite physical and cognitive restrictions, technologies are being used to create ambient assisted living applications. However, most of these systems are neither medically verified nor are latencies short enough, for example, to avoid falls. In order to overcome these problems, a promising approach is to use the new 5G network technology. Combined with a suitable sensor data analysis frame work, the fast care project showed that a real-time situation picture of the patient in the form of an Avatar could be generated. The sensor structure records the heart rate, the breathing rate, analyzes the gait and measures the temperature, the VOC content of the room air, and its humidity. An emergency button has also been integrated. In a laboratory demonstrator, it was shown that the infrastructure realizes a real-time visualization of the sensor data over a heterogeneous network