Chromosome-level genome assembly of the shuttles hoppfish, Periophthalmus modestus.

BACKGROUND: The shuttles hoppfish (mudskipper), Periophthalmus modestus, is one of the mudskippers, which are the largest group of amphibious teleost fishes, which are uniquely adapted to live on mudflats. Because mudskippers can survive on land for extended periods by breathing through their skin and through the lining of the mouth and throat, they were evaluated as a model for the evolutionary sea-land transition of Devonian protoamphibians, ancestors of all present tetrapods. RESULTS: A total of 39.6, 80.2, 52.9, and 33.3 Gb of Illumina, Pacific Biosciences, 10X linked, and Hi-C data, respectively, was assembled into 1,419 scaffolds with an N50 length of 33 Mb and BUSCO score of 96.6%. The assembly covered 117% of the estimated genome size (729 Mb) and included 23 pseudo-chromosomes anchored by a Hi-C contact map, which corresponded to the top 23 longest scaffolds above 20 Mb and close to the estimated one. Of the genome, 43.8% were various repetitive elements such as DNAs, tandem repeats, long interspersed nuclear elements, and simple repeats. Ab initio and homology-based gene prediction identified 30,505 genes, of which 94% had homology to the 14 Actinopterygii transcriptomes and 89% and 85% to Pfam familes and InterPro domains, respectively. Comparative genomics with 15 Actinopterygii species identified 59,448 gene families of which 12% were only in P. modestus. CONCLUSIONS: We present the high quality of the first genome assembly and gene annotation of the shuttles hoppfish. It will provide a valuable resource for further studies on sea-land transition, bimodal respiration, nitrogen excretion, osmoregulation, thermoregulation, vision, and mechanoreception.

Effects of alveolar bone displacement with segmental osteotomy: micro-CT and histomorphometric analysis in rats.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of segmental osteotomy on the blood vessels and osteoclasts in rats using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histomorphometric analysis. After segmental osteotomy was performed around the maxillary first molars of 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 72), the samples were divided into a control group (no displacement), 0.5 D group (0.5 mm buccal displacement) and 1.0 D group (1.0 mm buccal displacement) (n = 24/group). At 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after surgery, changes in the blood vessel volume were investigated using micro-CT with perfusion of radiopaque silicone rubber. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was used for histomorphometric analysis. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (rmANOVA) was performed to compare the volume of blood vessels and number of TRAP-positive osteoclasts among the groups. Regarding blood vessel volume, the displacement groups had no significant effects, while the time points had significant effects (p = 0.014). The blood vessel volume at 1 week was significantly smaller than that at 2, 4, and 8 weeks (p = 0.004, p = 0.026, and p = 0.005, respectively). Regarding TRAP cell count, the displacement groups had no significant effects, while the time points had significant effects (p < 0.001). The number of TRAP-positive osteoclasts at 8 weeks was significantly smaller than that at 1, 2, and 4 weeks (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.002, respectively), and the count at 4 weeks was smaller than that at 1 week (p = 0.011). Therefore, a regional osteoclast-related acceleratory phenomenon was maintained until 4 weeks after surgery.

Effects of alveolar bone displacement with segmental osteotomy: micro-CT and histomorphometric analysis in rats

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of segmental osteotomy on the blood vessels and osteoclasts in rats using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histomorphometric analysis. After segmental osteotomy was performed around the maxillary first molars of 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 72), the samples were divided into a control group (no displacement), 0.5 D group (0.5 mm buccal displacement) and 1.0 D group (1.0 mm buccal displacement) (n = 24/group). At 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after surgery, changes in the blood vessel volume were investigated using micro-CT with perfusion of radiopaque silicone rubber. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was used for histomorphometric analysis. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (rmANOVA) was performed to compare the volume of blood vessels and number of TRAP-positive osteoclasts among the groups. Regarding blood vessel volume, the displacement groups had no significant effects, while the time points had significant effects (p = 0.014). The blood vessel volume at 1 week was significantly smaller than that at 2, 4, and 8 weeks (p = 0.004, p = 0.026, and p = 0.005, respectively). Regarding TRAP cell count, the displacement groups had no significant effects, while the time points had significant effects (p < 0.001). The number of TRAP-positive osteoclasts at 8 weeks was significantly smaller than that at 1, 2, and 4 weeks (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.002, respectively), and the count at 4 weeks was smaller than that at 1 week (p = 0.011). Therefore, a regional osteoclast-related acceleratory phenomenon was maintained until 4 weeks after surgery.

Effects of wobbling angle on the stability measures of orthodontic mini-implants during insertion and removal procedures.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of wobbling angle on the stability measures of orthodontic mini-implants (OMIs) during insertion and removal procedures in artificial bone blocks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 36 OMIs (self-drilling type, cylindrical shape, 7 mm in length, 1.45 mm in diameter) were allocated into three groups according to the amount of wobbling angle (W-0°, W-2°, and W-4° groups; N = 12 per group). The OMIs were installed and subsequently removed from artificial bone blocks (Sawbone) using a driving torque tester with a uniform speed of 28 rpm. Insertion peak time (IPT), maximum insertion torque (MIT), total insertion energy (TIE), near-peak insertion energy (NPIE), maximum removal torque (MRT), and near-peak removal energy (NPRE) were measured. RESULTS: The W-4° group showed the longest IPT and highest TIE and NPIE, followed by the W-2° and W-0° groups (W-0° < W-2° < W-4°, all P < .001). The W-2° and W-4° groups showed significant increase in MIT compared with the W-0° group (W-0° < [W-4°,W-2°]; P < .001). Although there was no significant difference in NPRE among the three groups, the W-4° group showed a decrease in MRT compared with the W-0° and W-2° groups (W-4° < {W-2°,W-0°]; P < .05). Although the W-4° group showed a 14.5% (2.9 Ncm) increase in MIT compared with the W-0° group, there was only a 6% (1.3 Ncm) decrease in MRT from the W-0° group to the W-4° group. CONCLUSION: Slight wobbling during the OMI insertion procedure may be acceptable in terms of the stability measures of OMIs during insertion and removal procedures.