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Rodgers MJ, Staves MP. Mechanosensing and anesthesia of single internodal cells of Chara. PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR 2024; 19:2339574. [PMID: 38601988 PMCID: PMC11017945 DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2024.2339574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
The giant (2-3 × 10-2 m long) internodal cells of the aquatic plant, Chara, exhibit a rapid (>100 × 10-6 m s-1) cyclic cytoplasmic streaming which stops in response to mechanical stimuli. Since the streaming - and the stopping of streaming upon stimulation - is easily visible with a stereomicroscope, these single cells are ideal tools to investigate mechanosensing in plant cells, as well as the potential for these cells to be anesthetized. We found that dropping a steel ball (0.88 × 10-3 kg, 6 × 10-3 m in diameter) through a 4.6 cm long tube (delivering ca. 4 × 10-4 J) reliably induced mechanically-stimulated cessation of cytoplasmic streaming. To determine whether mechanically-induced cessation of cytoplasmic streaming in Chara was sensitive to anesthesia, we treated Chara internodal cells to volatilized chloroform in a 9.8 × 10-3 m3 chamber for 2 minutes. We found that low doses (15,000-25,000 ppm) of chloroform did not always anesthetize cells, whereas large doses (46,000 and higher) proved lethal. However, 31,000 ppm chloroform completely, and reversibly, anesthetized these cells in that they did not stop cytoplasmic streaming upon mechanostimulation, but after 24 hours the cells recovered their sensitivity to mechanostimulation. We believe this single-cell model will prove useful for elucidating the still obscure mode of action of volatile anesthetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manya J. Rodgers
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, USA
| | - Mark P. Staves
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, USA
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Böhm J, Scherzer S. Signaling and transport processes related to the carnivorous lifestyle of plants living on nutrient-poor soil. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 187:2017-2031. [PMID: 35235668 PMCID: PMC8890503 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
In Eukaryotes, long-distance and rapid signal transmission is required in order to be able to react fast and flexibly to external stimuli. This long-distance signal transmission cannot take place by diffusion of signal molecules from the site of perception to the target tissue, as their speed is insufficient. Therefore, for adequate stimulus transmission, plants as well as animals make use of electrical signal transmission, as this can quickly cover long distances. This update summarises the most important advances in plant electrical signal transduction with a focus on the carnivorous Venus flytrap. It highlights the different types of electrical signals, examines their underlying ion fluxes and summarises the carnivorous processes downstream of the electrical signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Böhm
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, 97082 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sönke Scherzer
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, 97082 Würzburg, Germany
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3
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Ludeña EV, Tapia O. On interpretations of quantum mechanics and a novel nonrepresentational framework. ADVANCES IN QUANTUM CHEMISTRY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.aiq.2021.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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4
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Toschev A, Talanov M. Artificial Cognitive Architectures Review. BIONANOSCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12668-020-00768-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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5
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Cognition in some surprising places. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 564:150-157. [PMID: 32950231 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.08.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The most widely accepted view in the biopsychological sciences is that the cognitive functions that are diagnostic of mental operations, sentience or, more commonly, consciousness emerged fairly late in evolution, most likely in the Cambrian period. Our position dovetails with James's below - subjectivity, feeling, consciousness has a much longer evolutionary history, one that goes back to the first appearance of life. The Cellular Basis of Consciousness (CBC) model is founded on the presumption that sentience and life are coterminous; that all organisms, based on inherent cellular activities via processes that take place in excitable membranes of their cells, are sentient, have subjective experiences and feelings. These, in turn, guide the context-relevant behaviors essential for their survival in often hostile environments in constant flux. The CBC framework is reductionistic, mechanistic, and calls for bottom-up research programs into the evolutionary origin of biological consciousness.
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Guevara R, Mateos DM, Pérez Velázquez JL. Consciousness as an Emergent Phenomenon: A Tale of Different Levels of Description. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 22:E921. [PMID: 33286690 PMCID: PMC7597170 DOI: 10.3390/e22090921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
One of the biggest queries in cognitive sciences is the emergence of consciousness from matter. Modern neurobiological theories of consciousness propose that conscious experience is the result of interactions between large-scale neuronal networks in the brain, traditionally described within the realm of classical physics. Here, we propose a generalized connectionist framework in which the emergence of "conscious networks" is not exclusive of large brain areas, but can be identified in subcellular networks exhibiting nontrivial quantum phenomena. The essential feature of such networks is the existence of strong correlations in the system (classical or quantum coherence) and the presence of an optimal point at which the system's complexity and energy dissipation are maximized, whereas free-energy is minimized. This is expressed either by maximization of the information content in large scale functional networks or by achieving optimal efficiency through the quantum Goldilock effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramón Guevara
- Integrative Neuroscience and Cognition Centre (INCC UMR8002), University of Paris and CNRS, 75270 Paris, France
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Diego M. Mateos
- Department of Science and Technology, Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos, Paraná 3100, Argentina;
- Instituto de Matemática Aplicada del Litoral (IMAL-CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe 3000, Argentina
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Upton DH, Popovic K, Fulton R, Kassiou M. Anaesthetic-dependent changes in gene expression following acute and chronic exposure in the rodent brain. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9366. [PMID: 32518252 PMCID: PMC7283325 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66122-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaesthesia has been predicted to affect gene expression of the memory-related regions of the brain including the primary visual cortex. It is also believed that anaesthesia causes inflammation of neural tissues, increasing elderly patients' chances of developing precursor lesions that lead to Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegeneration related diseases. We have analyzed the expression of over 22,000 genes and 129,800 transcripts using oligonucleotide microarrays to examine the brain expression profiles in Sprague Dawley rats following exposure to acute or chronic doses of the anaesthetics isoflurane, ketamine and propofol. Here we report for the first time molecular and genomic data on the effect on the rodent brain of chronic and acute exposure to isoflurane, ketamine and propofol. Our screen identified multiple genes that responded to all three anaesthetics. Although some of the genes were previously known to be anaesthesia responsive, we have for the most part identified novel genes involved in the acute and chronic rodent brain response to different anaesthesia treatments. The latter may be useful candidate genes in the search to elucidate the molecular pathways mediating anaesthetic effects in the brain and may allow us to identify mechanisms by which anaesthetics could impact on neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dannielle H Upton
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kata Popovic
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Roger Fulton
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Medical Physics, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Michael Kassiou
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Pavlovič A, Libiaková M, Bokor B, Jakšová J, Petřík I, Novák O, Baluška F. Anaesthesia with diethyl ether impairs jasmonate signalling in the carnivorous plant Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula). ANNALS OF BOTANY 2020; 125:173-183. [PMID: 31677265 PMCID: PMC6948209 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcz177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS General anaesthetics are compounds that induce loss of responsiveness to environmental stimuli in animals and humans. The primary site of action of general anaesthetics is the nervous system, where anaesthetics inhibit neuronal transmission. Although plants do not have neurons, they generate electrical signals in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Here, we investigated the effect of the general volatile anaesthetic diethyl ether on the ability to sense potential prey or herbivore attacks in the carnivorous plant Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula). METHODS We monitored trap movement, electrical signalling, phytohormone accumulation and gene expression in response to the mechanical stimulation of trigger hairs and wounding under diethyl ether treatment. KEY RESULTS Diethyl ether completely inhibited the generation of action potentials and trap closing reactions, which were easily and rapidly restored when the anaesthetic was removed. Diethyl ether also inhibited the later response: jasmonic acid (JA) accumulation and expression of JA-responsive genes (cysteine protease dionain and type I chitinase). However, external application of JA bypassed the inhibited action potentials and restored gene expression under diethyl ether anaesthesia, indicating that downstream reactions from JA are not inhibited. CONCLUSIONS The Venus flytrap cannot sense prey or a herbivore attack under diethyl ether treatment caused by inhibited action potentials, and the JA signalling pathway as a consequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrej Pavlovič
- Department of Biophysics, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Šlechtitelů, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Libiaková
- Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, Mlynská dolina, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Boris Bokor
- Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, Mlynská dolina, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Comenius University Science Park, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jana Jakšová
- Department of Biophysics, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Šlechtitelů, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Ivan Petřík
- Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Faculty of Science, Palacký University and Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Šlechtitelů, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Novák
- Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Faculty of Science, Palacký University and Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Šlechtitelů, Olomouc, Czech Republic
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Effects of gabergic phenols on the dynamic and structure of lipid bilayers: A molecular dynamic simulation approach. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0218042. [PMID: 31237897 PMCID: PMC6592534 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate and invertebrate nervous system. GABAA receptors are activated by GABA and their agonists, and modulated by a wide variety of recognized drugs, including barbiturates, anesthetics, and benzodiazepines. The phenols propofol, thymol, chlorothymol, carvacrol and eugenol act as positive allosteric modulators on GABAA-R receptor. These GABAergic phenols interact with the lipid membrane, therefore, their anesthetic activity could be the combined result of their specific activity (with receptor proteins) as well as nonspecific interactions (with surrounding lipid molecules) modulating the supramolecular organization of the receptor environment. Therefore, we aimed to contribute to a description of the molecular events that occur at the membrane level as part of the mechanism of general anesthesia, using a molecular dynamic simulation approach. Equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the presence of GABAergic phenols in a DPPC bilayer orders lipid acyl chains for carbons near the interface and their effect is not significant at the bilayer center. Phenols interacts with the polar interface of phospholipid bilayer, particularly forming hydrogen bonds with the glycerol and phosphate group. Also, potential of mean force calculations using umbrella sampling show that propofol partition is mainly enthalpic driven at the polar region and entropic driven at the hydrocarbon chains. Finally, potential of mean force indicates that propofol partition into a gel DPPC phase is not favorable. Our in silico results were positively contrasted with previous experimental data.
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Yokawa K, Kagenishi T, Baluška F. Anesthetics, Anesthesia, and Plants. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 24:12-14. [PMID: 30446303 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2018.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
General anesthesia, its nature, and how exactly it works are still poorly understood. Plants can also be anesthetized and lose their responses to external stimuli. Interestingly, plants are known to produce endogenous anesthetic compounds to deal with stress. Plants offer an excellent model object for studies on anesthetics and anesthesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Yokawa
- School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kitami Institute of Technology, Hokkaido 090-8507, Japan; Research Center for Okhotsk Agriculture-, Forestry- and Fisheries-Engineering Collaboration, Kitami Institute of Technology, Hokkaido 090-8507, Japan.
| | - Tomoko Kagenishi
- School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kitami Institute of Technology, Hokkaido 090-8507, Japan; Research Center for Okhotsk Agriculture-, Forestry- and Fisheries-Engineering Collaboration, Kitami Institute of Technology, Hokkaido 090-8507, Japan
| | - František Baluška
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Botany IZMB, University of Bonn, Bonn 53115, Germany.
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Yokawa K, Kagenishi T, Pavlovič A, Gall S, Weiland M, Mancuso S, Baluška F. Anaesthetics stop diverse plant organ movements, affect endocytic vesicle recycling and ROS homeostasis, and block action potentials in Venus flytraps. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2018; 122:747-756. [PMID: 29236942 PMCID: PMC6215046 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcx155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Background and Aims Anaesthesia for medical purposes was introduced in the 19th century. However, the physiological mode of anaesthetic drug actions on the nervous system remains unclear. One of the remaining questions is how these different compounds, with no structural similarities and even chemically inert elements such as the noble gas xenon, act as anaesthetic agents inducing loss of consciousness. The main goal here was to determine if anaesthetics affect the same or similar processes in plants as in animals and humans. Methods A single-lens reflex camera was used to follow organ movements in plants before, during and after recovery from exposure to diverse anaesthetics. Confocal microscopy was used to analyse endocytic vesicle trafficking. Electrical signals were recorded using a surface AgCl electrode. Key Results Mimosa leaves, pea tendrils, Venus flytraps and sundew traps all lost both their autonomous and touch-induced movements after exposure to anaesthetics. In Venus flytrap, this was shown to be due to the loss of action potentials under diethyl ether anaesthesia. The same concentration of diethyl ether immobilized pea tendrils. Anaesthetics also impeded seed germination and chlorophyll accumulation in cress seedlings. Endocytic vesicle recycling and reactive oxygen species (ROS) balance, as observed in intact Arabidopsis root apex cells, were also affected by all anaesthetics tested. Conclusions Plants are sensitive to several anaesthetics that have no structural similarities. As in animals and humans, anaesthetics used at appropriate concentrations block action potentials and immobilize organs via effects on action potentials, endocytic vesicle recycling and ROS homeostasis. Plants emerge as ideal model objects to study general questions related to anaesthesia, as well as to serve as a suitable test system for human anaesthesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Yokawa
- IZMB, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - T Kagenishi
- IZMB, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - A Pavlovič
- Department of Biophysics, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - S Gall
- IZMB, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - M Weiland
- IZMB, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Plant, Soil and Environmental Science & LINV, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - S Mancuso
- Department of Plant, Soil and Environmental Science & LINV, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - F Baluška
- IZMB, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Baluška F, Miller, Jr WB. Senomic view of the cell: Senome versus Genome. Commun Integr Biol 2018; 11:1-9. [PMID: 30214674 PMCID: PMC6132427 DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2018.1489184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In the legacy of Thomas Henry Huxley, and his 'epigenetic' philosophy of biology, cells are proposed to represent a trinity of three memory-storing media: Senome, Epigenome, and Genome that together comprise a cell-wide informational architecture. Our current preferential focus on the Genome needs to be complemented by a similar focus on the Epigenome and a here proposed Senome, representing the sum of all the sensory experiences of the cognitive cell and its sensing apparatus. Only then will biology be in a position to embrace the whole complexity of the eukaryotic cell, understanding its true nature which allows the communicative assembly of cells in the form of sentient multicellular organisms.
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Baluška F, Yokawa K, Mancuso S, Baverstock K. Understanding of anesthesia - Why consciousness is essential for life and not based on genes. Commun Integr Biol 2016; 9:e1238118. [PMID: 28042377 PMCID: PMC5193047 DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2016.1238118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Revised: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Anesthesia and consciousness represent 2 mysteries not only for biology but also for physics and philosophy. Although anesthesia was introduced to medicine more than 160 y ago, our understanding of how it works still remains a mystery. The most prevalent view is that the human brain and its neurons are necessary to impose the effects of anesthetics. However, the fact is that all life can be anesthesized. Numerous theories have been generated trying to explain the major impact of anesthetics on our human-specific consciousness; switching it off so rapidly, but no single theory resolves this enduring mystery. The speed of anesthetic actions precludes any direct involvement of genes. Lipid bilayers, cellular membranes, and critical proteins emerge as the most probable primary targets of anesthetics. Recent findings suggest, rather surprisingly, that physical forces underlie both the anesthetic actions on living organisms as well as on consciousness in general.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ken Yokawa
- IZMB, University of Bonn, Kirschalle, Bonn, Germany
| | - Stefano Mancuso
- Department of Plant, Soil and Environmental Science & LINV, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Keith Baverstock
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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