Don't Get Mad, Get Even!

Predicted effects of anthropogenic climate change on estuarine and coastal organisms are complex, and early life history stages of calcified ectotherms are amongst the most sensitive groups. Despite the importance of understanding their vulnerability, we lack information on the effects of multiple stressors on the embryonic development of estuarine and burrowing organisms, mainly mangrove-associated species. Here, we determined the combined effects of elevated temperature and decreased pH on the embryonic development of the estuarine fiddler crab Leptuca thayeri. Initially, the microhabitat (burrow) of ovigerous (egg-bearing) females was measured for temperature, pH, and salinity, which provided control values in our laboratory experiment. Embryos at the early stage of development were subjected to cross-factored treatments of predicted temperature and pH and evaluated for development rate, survivorship, and volume until their later embryonic stage. Embryo development was faster at early and later stages of development, and survivorship was lower under elevated temperature. Embryos under reduced pH showed advanced embryonic stages at their late development stage. Higher egg volume was observed in a warmer and acidified environment, and lower volume in warmer and non-acidified conditions, indicating that embryo development is synergistically affected by warming and acidification. More than 70% of embryos developed until late stages under the multiple-stressors treatment, giving insights on the effects of a warm and acidified environment on burrowing estuarine organisms and their early stages of development.

Changes in nucleolar size and nucleolar vacuolation at early stages of fiber development and final fiber dimensions were determined for cotton of different species: Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. B49, Gossypium barbadense L. cv. Menoufi and Gossypium arboreum L. cv. Virnar. Size of the nucleolus in combination with its vacuolation at an early stage of development was found to be clearly associated with the final result of fiber development.

Expression of lipoxygenase isoenzymes in developing barley grains

Purpose– The purpose of this study is to explore the early stage of development of a cluster. The literature on early stage of cluster development shows that there are often random effects such as an entrepreneur and spin-off companies, and in this study, a coordinated approach for cluster development is described.Design/methodology/approach– A single exploratory case study approach is followed. The aerospace cluster in the Spokane region, State of Washington, is described. Data from a variety of sources are triangulated to enhance the credibility of the case study findings.Findings– It was found that although there are many types of collaborations occurring in the region, which involve policy and government organizations, the main driver of the early-stage cluster development is manufacturers-led coordinating mechanism. Individual manufacturers are too small to be successful in the aerospace industry, and they are collaborating to present a united “front” to out-of-the-region customers. Once customers place an order, then within this coordinating mechanism, the work is divided among different manufacturers.Research limitations/implications– The research has two main limitations. First, it is a single case study, and therefore, the results may not be generalizable. Second, the cluster is in an early stage of development, so it is not (yet) clear whether this manufacturers-led coordinated approach will have long-term success.Practical implications– The studies offer potential for cluster development that go beyond relying on a single entrepreneur or on mostly government- or policy-driven initiatives. Instead, this is an approach that can be used by industry to lift the overall competitiveness of their region.Social implications– This cluster development approach offers potential for economic development of smaller regions which mainly consist of small- and medium-sized companies without endowment benefits or a large local customer base.Originality/value– This study adds to the existing knowledge on clusters and cluster types. The identified cluster approach does not fit with the main types of clusters that have been identified in the literature. The companies involved are mainly small- to medium-sized companies, but by coordinating their capabilities, they are able to present core capabilities in a much more attractive manner to customers. This cluster development approach is not driven by or achieved through advantages in innovation, vertical or horizontal supply chain competition and advantages, creation of spin-off firms, or a regional demand base as customers are located outside the region. It deviates in terms of the types of companies involved and, mostly, in a sense that it acts as one unit to customers who are located outside the region.

Macroscopic Spectral Imaging and Gene Expression Analysis of the Early Stages of Melanoma

This paper presents a review of approaches that may be useful for the selection of solvents in the early stages of process development for the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Characteristics of the methodologies and their applicability in early stages are explored. Early stages of development are recognised as ideal for detecting benefits and issues regarding the use of solvents. The “system” concept is introduced for the evaluation and selection of solvents in pharmaceutical processes; this concept does not yet seem to be widely utilised within the fine chemicals and pharmaceutical industries. System analysis is considered an important tool for viewing solvent selection from a holistic perspective. Hence, approaches suitable for the early stages of development and considering a holistic perspective might deliver more sustainable processes. The evolution of the synthesis of Ibuprofen API is used to illustrate this concept.

This paper explores the funding issues at the early stages of development of small biotechnology and software firms in the UK. The paper reviews theory and evidence on firms in these two sectors and presents empirical evidence for the UK derived from an extensive on-line questionnaire survey. The sample consists of 41 small biotechnology firms and 42 software firms representing a sub-sample of a larger sample of 133 high technology small firms (HTSFs) or technology-based small firms (TBSFs). As a subgroup of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), HTSFs face a number of obstacles to their business development. Finance is believed to be one of the main problems particularly at the early stages of their development. HTSFs encounter financing problems mainly because of their embryonic nature, young age, lack of collateral, lack of business skills, lack of market presence, high technical area and other factors. The main findings from this study suggest that entrepreneurs in the biotechnology sector reported higher academic qualifications than the other group. The founders of software firms are younger than the biotechnology firms. Firms in both groups have grown in terms of full-time employees. In terms of funding problems, software firms reports more funding problems than the biotechnology firms. Software firms are fastest growing firms and goes through the early stages of development quickly than the biotechnology group. With regards to the sources of funding the evidence shows that biotechnology small firms mainly use venture capital finance whilst the main source of funding for the software firms is personal savings and bank finance. However, biotechnology small firms report difficulties in securing equity finance. Software firms seem to be constraining their growth by the demand side financial constraints. The two groups of HTSFs in this study suggest that high technology small firms may have particular needs for finance and that these may change as they develop through early stages of business development. The paper present evidence on these issues and suggest differences in the experience of biotechnology and software firms in terms of financing.

Herbaspirillum seropedicae is a plant growth-promoting bacteria isolated from diverse plant species. In this work, the main objective was to investigate the efficiency of H. seropedicae strain SmR1 in colonizing and increasing maize growth (DKB 390 variety) in the early stages of development under greenhouse conditions. Inoculation with H. seropedicae resulted in 19.43 % (regarding High and Low N controls) and 10.51% (regarding Low N control) in mean of increase of root biomass, for 1st and 2nd greenhouse experiments, respectively, mainly in the initial stages of plant development, at 21 days after emergence (DAE). Quantification of H. seropedicae in roots and leaves was performed by quantitative PCR. H. seropedicae was detected only in maize inoculated roots by qPCR, and a slight decrease in DNA copy number g-1 of fresh root weight was observed from 7 to 21 DAE, suggesting that there was initial effective colonization on maize plants. H. seropedicae strain SmR1 efficiently increased maize root biomass exhibiting its potential to be used as inoculant in agricultures systems.

Gametogenesis and embryogenesis are dynamic developmental stages marked by extensive modifications in the organization of the genome and nuclear architecture. In the literature it is conveyed that only B-type lamins are required in these early stages of development and that A-type lamins are not present or required until differentiation of specific cell types associated with specialized tissue is initiated. To assess the presence of nuclear structures that are putatively involved in genome regulation, we investigated the distribution of lamin proteins throughout the early stages of porcine embryonic development, using testes tissue sections, oocytes and in-vitro fertilized (IVF) porcine embryos and employing anti-lamin antibodies. We have shown that anti-lamin A staining is present at the one-cell, two-cell, four-cell, and six- to eight-cell stages of early porcine embryo development, but diminishes at the morulae and blastocyst stages. Large intranuclear anti-lamin A foci are prominent in the early preimplantation stages. Both anti-lamin A/C and anti-lamin B staining were clearly present in all embryonic stages. Immature porcine oocytes revealed lamin rings using the monoclonal anti-lamin A/C antibody and many immature oocytes exhibited a pale rim staining pattern with anti-lamin A antibody. A-type lamins were not observed in sperm precursor cells. Thus, we have shown that A-type lamins and B-type lamins are present at the nuclear envelope in very early porcine embryos and that lamin A is also found in large intranuclear aggregates in two-cell to eight-cell embryos but is lacking from later embryonic stages.

In the early stages of plant development, a sharp chilling can pose a significant threat to cold-resistant crops, such as winter cereals, in particular, rye. Phytohormones from the cytokinin family play a crucial role in regulating plant response to low-temperature stress. Pre-sowing seed priming with cytokinin solutions is a promising approach to improving the stress tolerance of cereals. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of chilling on the dynamics and localization of cytokinins in plants of rye cv. Boguslavka in the early stages of development, to determine the possibility of mitigating the adverse effects of cold stress through kernel priming with a zeatin solution, and to assess the effect of this substance on the balance of endogenous cytokinins. Kernels were soaked in either water or a zeatin solution (10—6 М), and plants were grown under controlled conditions of the vegetation chamber. Chilling was induced by exposing 7-day-old plants to the refrigerator for 2 h or twice for 6 h over two days. Endogenous cytokinins were analyzed using the HPLC-MS method. We found significant changes in the cytokinin pool in plants exposed to 2 °C for 2 h while no morphological alterations were observed. The content of trans-zeatin and trans-zeatin riboside increased considerable in the shoots of the plants grown from the kernels soaked in water, whereas in the roots, the level of these cytokinins dropped sharply. Prolonged chilling led to retarded shoot growth and elongated roots. Simultaneously, the level of trans-zeatin, isopentenyladenosine and isopentenyladenine in the shoots decreased to minimum values, while the amount of trans-zeatin riboside increased almost twofold. Transformations of the cytokinin pool in the roots followed a similar pattern. Overall, under the cold stress at the alarm stage, cytokinin balance changes were aimed at maintaining growth processes, while during the acclimation stage, they contributed to growth inhibition. Pre-sowing priming of rye kernels with a zeatin solution allowed plants to maintain normal growth and morphology under of prolonged chilling. This treatment significantly affected the homeostasis of endogenous cytokinins, resulting in a more moderate rearrangement of the cytokinin pool in stressed plants than in the control. We assume that changes in the balance of cytokinins due to seed priming allow plants to improve cold tolerance. Seed treatment with cytokinins could be a promising approach to increasing the adaptive properties of plants.

Intrahepatic biliary cell differentiation takes place in periportal hepatoblasts under the influence of the subjacent connective tissue, the mechanism of which is still unclear. This study was undertaken to analyze the immunolocalization of extracellular matrix components and their cellular receptors during mouse liver development, with special attention given to biliary differentiation and vascular development. In young fetal mouse liver, primitive structures of sinusoids were developed between hepatic cords associated with hematopoietic cells demonstrated by immunohistochemistry of basal laminar components, the alpha6 integrin subunit, and PECAM-1. Portal veins and hepatic veins showed different staining intensities of alpha2, alpha3, and alpha6 integrin subunits from early stages of development. Anti-beta4 integrin subunit antibodies reacted with portal veins, but not with hepatic veins after perinatal stages. Their different phenotypes may be related to the preferential differentiation of periportal bile ducts. In intrahepatic bile duct development, periportal hepatoblasts adjacent to the connective tissue were immunostained for each basal laminar component on the basal side at almost the same time; alpha3, alpha5, alpha6, and beta4 integrin subunits were immunohistochemically detectable later than the basal laminar components. These staining patterns of intrahepatic bile duct cells clearly differed from those of extrahepatic bile duct cells from the beginning of their development, suggesting that these ducts are of different origins. In conclusion, the vascular structures, including sinusoids, portal veins, and hepatic veins, develop from early stages of liver development, and the extracellular matrix components may play important roles in biliary differentiation and vascular development. Supplementary material for this article can be found on the HEPATOLOGY website (http://interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0270-9139/suppmat/index.html).

Filamentous actinobacteria from the genus Frankia grow by hyphal tip extension and branching. The growth kinetics and branching pattern of Frankia are not well studied, especially at the early stages of mycelial development. Here, we compare the growth of Frankia sp. strain CcI3 in liquid cultures with and without proteose peptone #3 (PP3) using time-lapse photomicrography and image analysis. Individual hyphae showed a pseudolinear increase in length at early stages of development, whereas at the mycelial level, the aggregate length of hyphae described an exponential rate before slowing. Growth based on optical density or microscopic observations was similar in medium with or without PP3. However, PP3 altered the pattern of mycelial development by increasing branching. Distances between the hyphal apex and first branches were on average shorter in PP3-containing media. The final interbranch distances were also shorter in PP3 medium indicating that hyphae tended to branch earlier and more often when supplemented with PP3 to give a more compact mycelium. Vesicle development in nitrogen-fixing cultures limited cell expansion as a result of vesicles truncating growth on new branches. The results provide some explanation for the growth kinetics of Frankia and some indication of how growth rates may be improved.

The virescent character is a genetic variant in pigmentation characterized by a delay in greening. Seedlings of thevirescentmutantsv1,v2,v3,v4,v13,v16,v18,v19 andv26 of maize exhibit chlorosis when grown at low temperature. Chlorotic leaves contain plastids that appear to have been arrested at an early stage of development. The results indicated thatV16,V2,V3 andV4 loci control early stages of chloroplast development whileV1,V13 andV19 may play a role at the end of development. The mutations in theV18 andV26 loci may control an intermediate step. At the pigment level, thevirescentmutants of maize differ widely from analogous mutations existing in other plants. The mutations were characterized by a reduced amount of chlorophyll a and b (up to 100 times inv16) and chlorophyll a/b ratio above normal (up to 13.7 inv16). Lutein content was reduced in all mutants (less than 3% inv16 compared to wild type) butv13, while pigments of the xanthophyll cycle were found at higher levels inv1 andv13 (more than 10 and 90%, respectively). Thev2,v3,v4,v16 andv18 mutants that are most depleted in β‐carotene (36 times less in average than wild type) are also deprived in D1 and D2 polypeptides. Moreover, thev2,v3,v4,v16 andv18 mutants characterized by a lower accumulation in lutein are most depleted of light‐harvesting complex II. All mutants possess a functioning, fully reversible, non‐photochemical quenching mechanism. This is most developed in thev13 andv19 mutants (φn = 0.48 and 0.44, respectively). These two mutants also have a relatively high primary photochemical yield for photosystem II and a functioning photosystem I (φp = 0.23 and 0.39, respectively). The most interesting mutant isv13 that shows severe chlorosis and possesses the most effective non‐photochemical quenching mechanism(s), which is thought to provide protection against excess photon absorption by photosystem II.

Gammarus oceanicus Segerstrale, 1947 and Echinogammarus marinus (Leach, 1815) were sampled during the breeding season from Oslofjord in 1984, and their lipid composition examined in relation to reproductive condition. In G. oceanicus, female lipid content increased as the ovary matured. Both the amount of lipid stored and the rate of accumulation were greater in spring than in winter. Spring eggs contained 12.4 μg lipid, of which 63% was triacylglycerol and 27% phospholipid. Both fractions decreased steadily during embryonic development. Winter eggs contained 19.2μg lipid, of which 52% was triacylglycerol and 43% phospholipid. During the early stages of embryonic development the amount of phospholipid decreased sharply, whereas that of triacylglycerol increased, suggesting that some of the fatty acid released from phospholipid was sequestered temporarily as triacylglycerol. When newly spawned, both winter and spring eggs were richer in monoenoic fatty acids than adult amphipods and these acids were the major fuel consumed during development. ω6 fatty acids were utilised more slowly than ω3 acids, and egg carotenoid pigment content remained constant. Female E. marinus increased in lipid content as the ovary matured. Spring eggs contained 14.7 μg lipid when newly spawned and this increased to 16.6 μg during the early stages of development. This increase was entirely triacylglycerol, which declined in later stages; the source of the extra lipid was unclear. Eggs contained very little phospholipid or sterol, and both of these components remained at a steady low level during development. E. marinus eggs were not significantly rich in thonoenoic acids compared with adults, and saturated, monoenoic and polyenoic acids were utilised about equally during development. Both adults and eggs were rich in 20.4ω6, which was utilised at a slower rate than the ω3 polyunsaturated acids during embryonic development; again, egg carotenoid pigment content remained constant. In both species there was a decrease in the size of the egg (and as a result, of the newly hatched juvenile), but an increase in total reproductive output (i.e., the total weight of the egg clutch) per female as the breeding season proceeded. The reproductive output of an individual female is probably related to food availability during the period of ovarian maturation, whereas the size of an individual egg is dictated largely by feeding conditions for the juveniles once they are independent of the female. The different patterns of lipid utilisation during development found in this study emphasize the flexibility of response in the reproductive biology of gammarid amphipods. It is not yet possible, however, to relate the differing patterns in a simple way either to egg size or total female reproductive output. Two outstanding problems are the source of extra triacylglycerol during the early stages of development of E. marinus and the metabolic cost of brooding eggs.

Both heat shock proteins (HSPs), which have key roles in vital cell functions, as well as members of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), which adjust gene expression by transducing cellular signals to the nucleus, are necessary for normal embryonic development in vertebrates. Therefore, protein expression levels of HSP70 and HSP90 and the activation of members of the MAPK protein family, such as p38 MAPK, ERKs, and JNKs were studied in the early developmental stages of the Gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758. The protein expression of HSP70 and the phosphorylation ratio of JNKs remained at equal levels at all examined developmental stages, while the other examined proteins exhibited a differential profile. HSP90 levels were mostly increased at the 16-cell stage and towards the morula stages, and the lowest values were observed at the two- to four-cell and one-half epiboly stages. While p38 MAPK phosphorylation ratio exhibited increased values mostly in the early developmental stages, the opposite was observed concerning ERK phosphorylation ratio, where increased values were observed in the later embryonic stages (high blastula to one-half epiboly stages). These differential profiles of the examined protein expression levels highlight the importance of these proteins during embryogenesis and pave the way for further research to unveil their distinct role in early development.