Polyp bail-out is a stress response exhibited by some pocilloporid corals, with mechanisms and consequences distinct from those of bleaching. Although induction of polyp bail-out has been demonstrated in the laboratory, molecular mechanisms underlying this response have rarely been discussed. We conducted genetic analyses of Pocillopora acuta during initiation of hyperosmosisinduced polyp bail-out, using both transcriptomic and qPCR techniques. Beyond upregulation of apoptosis and proteolysis, corals showed significant activation of tumor necrosis factor and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling pathways during induction of polyp bail-out. In our qPCR analysis, a common upregulation profile, peaking at 43.0% salinity, was found in the FAS and CASP8 genes, whereas a different profile, showing significant upregulation up to 45.0%, was displayed by matrix metalloproteinases and genes in the FGF signaling pathway. These results suggest parallel involvement of an extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway and FGF-mediated extracellular matrix degradation in polyp bail-out. Furthermore, in the XIAP, JNK, and NFKB1 genes, we detected a third expression profile showing linear upregulation that becomes maximal at the endpoint salinity level of the experiment (46.0%), indicating activation of anti-apoptotic and cell survival signals during polyp bail-out. Our results provide new insights into signaling pathways responsible for polyp bail-out and suggest the feasibility of inducing bail-out by specifically triggering these pathways without exerting lethal stresses on the corals, which in turn will facilitate acquisition of viable polyps for possible use in coral reef restoration.

Atherosclerotic lesions are characterized by llpid Infiltration in regions wtth high rates of endothellal cell turnover. The present investigation was designed to elucidate the route of macromolecular transport across vascular endothelium. The aorta and vena cava of male Sprague-Dawley rats were perfusion-flxed after the intravenous in|ection of Evans-blue albumin (EBA) or horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Fluorescence microscopic examination of en face preparation of the aorta stained with hematoxylln allowed the Identification of endothellal cells that underwent mitosis, together with the localization and quantification of fluorescent spots for EBA leakage. The HRP specimens were subjected to histochemicai treatment, and HRP leakage was seen as brown spots under the light microscope. Sliver nitrate stain was added In both EBA and HRP studies to outline cell boundaries and to visualize stigmata, stomata, and dead cells. In the aorta, almost every dividing cell showed Junctional leakage to albumin and HRP, with clustering of leaky spots around the branch orifices. Time-dependent studies showed gradual increases In the diameter and number of these heterogeneously sized leaky spots, which finally fused to sizes corresponding to the "blue areas" for EBA or "brown areas" for HRP. Compared wtth arteries, veins had fewer mltotlc cells, but more dead cells and diffuse dye-staining areas, Indicating a more rapid transport of macromolecules. The leaky spots In the artery were associated mainly with mltotic cells, dead cells, and stigmata, whereas those In the vein occurred primarily at regions with dead cells. These results suggest that the preferential association of the enhanced transport of macromolecules with mttosls In the arterial as compared to venous endothelium and the differential behavior In transmural transport between arteries and veins may form the basis for the predilection of atherosclerosis in arteries.

The increasing consumption of shark products, along with the shark’s fishing vulnerabilities, has led to the decrease in certain shark populations. In this study we used a DNA barcoding method to identify the species of shark landings at fishing ports, shark fin products in retail stores, and shark fins detained by Taiwan customs. In total we identified 23, 24, and 14 species from 231 fishing landings, 316 fin products, and 113 detained shark fins, respectively. All the three sample sources were dominated by Prionace glauca, which accounted for more than 30% of the collected samples. Over 60% of the species identified in the fin products also appeared in the port landings, suggesting the domestic-dominance of shark fin products in Taiwan. However, international trade also contributes a certain proportion of the fin product markets, as four species identified from the shark fin products are not found in Taiwan’s waters, and some domestic-available species were also found in the customs-detained sample. In addition to the species identification, we also found geographical differentiation in the cox1 gene of the common thresher sharks (Alopias vulpinus), the pelagic thresher shark (A. pelagicus), the smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena), and the scalloped hammerhead shark (S. lewini). This result might allow fishing authorities to more effectively trace the origins as well as enforce the management and conservation of these sharks.

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