Different ambrosia beetle species can coexist in tree trunks, where their immature stages feed upon symbiotic fungi. Although most ambrosia beetles are not primary pests and their fungal symbionts ...are not pathogenic to the host tree, exceptional situations exist. Notably, Xyleborus glabratus carries a phytopathogenic symbiont, Raffaelea lauricola, which causes laurel wilt, a lethal disease of some Lauraceae species. Both X. glabratus and R. lauricola are natives of Asia that recently invaded much of the coastal plain of the southeastern USA. This study examined ambrosia beetles that breed in susceptible trees in Florida (USA), including avocado (Persea americana), redbay (P. borbonia) and swampbay (P. palustris). Raffaelea lauricola was recovered from six of eight ambrosia beetle species that emerged from laurel wilt‐affected swampbay trees, in addition to X. glabratus. Controlled infestations with cohorts of the six species other than X. glabratus revealed that each could transmit the pathogen to healthy redbay trees and two could transmit the pathogen to healthy avocado trees; laurel wilt developed in five and one of the respective beetle × host interactions. These results indicate flexibility in the lateral transfer of a non‐native ambrosial fungus to other ambrosia beetles, and for the first time documents the transmission of a laterally transferred phytopathogenic symbiont by new ambrosia beetle species. Additional work is needed to determine whether, or to what extent, the new beetle × R. lauricola combinations play a role in spreading laurel wilt.
Neuroscience currently requires the use of antibodies to study synaptic proteins, where antibody binding is used as a correlate to define the presence, plasticity, and regulation of synapses. ...Gephyrin is an inhibitory synaptic scaffolding protein used to mark GABAergic and glycinergic postsynaptic sites. Despite the importance of gephyrin in modulating inhibitory transmission, its study is currently limited by the tractability of available reagents. Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins (DARPins) are a class of synthetic protein binder derived from diverse libraries by in vitro selection and tested by high-throughput screening to produce specific binders. In order to generate a functionally diverse toolset for studying inhibitory synapses, we screened a DARPin library against gephyrin mutants representing both phosphorylated and dephosphorylated states. We validated the robust use of anti-gephyrin DARPin clones for morphological identification of gephyrin clusters in rat neuron culture and mouse brain tissue, discovering previously overlooked clusters. This DARPin-based toolset includes clones with heterogenous gephyrin binding modes that allowed for identification of the most extensive gephyrin interactome to date and defined novel classes of putative interactors, creating a framework for understanding gephyrin’s nonsynaptic functions. This study demonstrates anti-gephyrin DARPins as a versatile platform for studying inhibitory synapses in an unprecedented manner.
RATIONALE:In cardiomyocytes, NaV1.5 and Kir2.1 channels interact dynamically as part of membrane bound macromolecular complexes.
OBJECTIVE:To test whether NaV1.5 and Kir2.1 preassemble during early ...forward trafficking and travel together to common membrane microdomains.
METHODS AND RESULTS:In patch-clamp experiments, co-expression of trafficking deficient mutants Kir2.1 or Kir2.1 with wildtype (WT) NaV1.5 in heterologous cells reduced INa, compared to NaV1.5 alone or co-expressed with Kir2.1. In cell surface biotinylation experiments, expression of Kir2.1 reduced NaV1.5 channel surface expression. Glycosylation analysis suggested that NaV1.5 and Kir2.1 channels associate early in their biosynthetic pathway, and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments demonstrated that co-expression with Kir2.1 increased cytoplasmic mobility of NaV1.5, and vice versa, whereas co-expression with Kir2.1 reduced mobility of both channels. Viral gene transfer of Kir2.1 in adult rat ventricular myocytes and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) reduced IK1 and INa, maximum diastolic potential (MDP) and action potential depolarization rate, and increased action potential duration (APD). Upon immunostaining, the adaptor protein complex 1 (AP1) colocalized with NaV1.5 and Kir2.1 within areas corresponding to t-tubules and intercalated discs. Like Kir2.1, NaV1.5 co-immunoprecipitated with AP1. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that NaV1.5 channels interact with AP1 through the NaV1.5 residue, suggesting that, like for Kir2.1, AP1 can mark NaV1.5 channels for incorporation into clathrin-coated vesicles at the trans-Golgi. Silencing the AP1 υ-adaptin subunit in hiPSC-CMs reduced IK1, INa and MPD, and impaired rate dependent APD adaptation.
CONCLUSIONS:The NaV1.5-Kir2.1 macromolecular complex preassembles early in the forward trafficking pathway. Therefore, disruption of Kir2.1 trafficking in cardiomyocytes affects trafficking of NaV1.5, which may have important implications in the mechanisms of arrhythmias in inheritable cardiac diseases.
Oceans in the Asia-Pacific region are being impacted by increasing levels of marine debris, with many governments unaware of the extent that marine debris damages marine industries, the economy and ...the marine environment. We examine the economic costs associated with marine debris and present a simple marine debris cycle model to discuss the costs and benefits of prevention, clean-up and the benefits of using biodegradable materials. For the 21 economies of the Asia- Pacific rim we estimate that marine debris-related damage to marine industries costs US$1.26bn per annum in 2008 terms. Marine debris imposes an avoidable cost that can be reduced through policy implementation to economically optimal levels. Options to control debris, using regulations, technical intervention and market based instruments, may have a role. In this pollution policy area, additional economic cost data are required to inform governments on the most economical ways to control levels of marine debris.
► Marine debris damages marine shipping, fishing and tourism industries and the environment. ► Marine debris damage to Asia-Pacific Rim marine industries was US$1.26bn p.a. (2008). ► Marine debris is an avoidable cost. ► How do we achieve the optimum level of marine debris? ► Which regulations and market based instruments are suitable?
Appropriate specification of the error statistics for both observational data and short-term forecasts is necessary to produce an optimal analysis. Observation error stems from instrument error, ...forward model error, and error of representation. All sources of observation error, particularly error of representation, can lead to nonzero correlations. While correlated forecast error has been accounted for since the early days of atmospheric data assimilation, observation error has typically been treated as uncorrelated until relatively recently. Thinning, averaging, and/or inflation of the assigned observation error variance have been employed to compensate for unaccounted error correlations, especially for high-resolution satellite data.
In this study, the benefits of accounting for nonzero vertical (interchannel) correlation for both the Advanced Technology Microwave Satellite (ATMS) and Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) in the NRL Atmospheric Variational Data Assimilation System-Accelerated Representer (NAVDAS-AR) are assessed. The vertical observation error covariance matrix for the ATMS and IASI instruments was estimated using the Desroziers method. The results suggest lowering the assigned error variance and introducing strong correlations, especially in the moisture-sensitive channels. Strong positive impact on forecast skill (verified against both the ECMWF analyses and high-quality radiosonde data) is shown in both the ATMS and IASI instruments. Additionally, the convergence of the iterative solver in NAVDAS-AR can be improved by small modifications to the observation error covariance matrices, resulting in further reduction in RMS error.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) enables users to view real-time interstitial glucose readings and provides information on the direction and rate of change of blood glucose levels. Users can also ...access historical data to inform treatment decisions. While the clinical and psychological benefits of CGM are well established, little is known about how individuals use CGM to inform diabetes self-management. We explored participants' experiences of using CGM in order to provide recommendations for supporting individuals to make optimal use of this technology.
In-depth interviews (n = 24) with adults, adolescents and parents who had used CGM for ≥4 weeks; data were analysed thematically.
Participants found CGM an empowering tool because they could access blood glucose data effortlessly, and trend arrows enabled them to see whether blood glucose was rising or dropping and at what speed. This predicative information aided short-term lifestyle planning and enabled individuals to take action to prevent hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia. Having easy access to blood glucose data on a continuous basis also allowed participants to develop a better understanding of how insulin, activity and food impacted on blood glucose. This understanding was described as motivating individuals to make dietary changes and break cycles of over-treating hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia. Participants also described how historical CGM data provided a more nuanced picture of blood glucose control than was possible with blood glucose self-monitoring and, hence, better information to inform changes to background insulin doses and mealtime ratios. However, while participants expressed confidence making immediate adjustments to insulin and lifestyle to address impending hypoglycaemia and hypoglycaemia, most described needing and expecting health professionals to interpret historical CGM data and determine changes to background insulin doses and mealtime ratios. While alarms could reinforce a sense of hypoglycaemic safety, some individuals expressed ambivalent views, especially those who perceived alarms as signalling personal failure to achieve optimal glycaemic control.
CGM can be an empowering and motivational tool which enables participants to fine-tune and optimize their blood glucose control. However, individuals may benefit from psycho-social education, training and/or technological support to make optimal use of CGM data and use alarms appropriately.
The traditional Triple Helix innovation model focuses on university–industry–government relations. The Quadruple Helix innovation systems bring in the perspectives of the media-based and ...culture-based public as well as that of civil society. The Quintuple Helix emphasizes the natural environments of society, also for the knowledge production and innovation. Therefore, the quadruple helix contextualizes the triple helix, and the quintuple helix the quadruple helix. Features of the quadruple helix are: culture (cultures) and innovation culture (innovation cultures); the knowledge of culture and the culture of knowledge; values and lifestyles; multiculturalism, multiculture, and creativity; media; arts and arts universities; and multi-level innovation systems (local, national, global), with universities of the sciences, but also universities of the arts. The
democracy of knowledge
, as a concept and metaphor, highlights and underscores parallel processes between political pluralism in advanced democracy, and knowledge and innovation heterogeneity and diversity in advanced economy and society. The “mode 3” knowledge production system (MODE3KPS; expanding and extending the “mode 1” and “mode 2” knowledge production systems) is at the heart of the fractal research, education and innovation ecosystem. MODE3KPS universities or higher education systems are interested in integrating and combining mode 1 and mode 2. The concept of open innovation diplomacy (OID) encompasses the concept and practice of bridging distance and other divides (cultural, socioeconomic, technological, etc.) with focused and properly targeted initiatives to connect ideas and solutions with markets and investors ready to appreciate them and nurture them to their full potential. In this sense, OID qualifies as a new and novel strategy, policy-making, and governance approach in the context of the quadruple and quintuple innovation helices.
Many trials reported that brief interventions are effective in reducing excessive drinking. However, some trials have been criticised for being clinically unrepresentative and unable to inform ...clinical practice.
To assess the effectiveness of brief intervention, delivered in general practice or based primary care, to reduce alcohol consumption
We searched the Cochrane Drug and Alcohol Group specialised register (February 2006), MEDLINE (1966 to February 2006), EMBASE (1980 to February 2006), CINAHL (1982 to February 2006), PsycINFO (1840 to February 2006), Science Citation Index (1970 to February 2006), Social Science Citation Index (1970 to February 2006), Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Science Database (1972 to 2003), reference lists of articles.
Randomised controlled trials, patients presenting to primary care not specifically for alcohol treatment; brief intervention of up to four sessions.
Two authors independently abstracted data and assessed trial quality. Random effects meta-analyses, sub-group, sensitivity analyses, and meta-regression were conducted.
The meta-analysis included 21 RCTs (7,286 participants), showing that participants receiving brief intervention reduced their alcohol consumption compared to the control group (mean difference: -41 grams/week, 95% CI: -57 to -25), although there was substantial heterogeneity between trials (I2 = 52%). Sub-group analysis (8 studies, 2307 participants) confirmed the benefit of brief intervention in men (mean difference: -57 grams/week, 95% CI: -89 to -25, I2 = 56%), but not in women (mean difference: -10 grams/week, 95% CI: -48 to 29, I2 = 45%). Meta-regression showed a non-significant trend of an increased reduction in alcohol consumption of 1.1, 95%CI: -0.05 to 2.2 grams/week, p=0.06, for each extra minute of treatment exposure, but no relationship between the reduction in alcohol consumption and the efficacy score of the trial. Extended intervention when compared with brief intervention was associated with a non-significantly greater reduction in alcohol consumption (mean difference = -28, 95%CI: -62 to 6 grams/week, I2 = 0%)
Brief interventions consistently produced reductions in alcohol consumption. When data were available by gender, the effect was clear in men at one year of follow up, but unproven in women. Longer duration of counselling probably has little additional effect. The lack of differences in outcomes between efficacy and effectiveness trials suggests that the current literature had clear relevance to routine primary care. Future trials should focus on women and on delineating the most effective components of interventions.
Laboratory tests were carried out in order to examine competition among three congeneric species on rice and maize: the granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius, the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae and ...the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais. For this purpose, a total of 30 adults were placed in vials that contained 50 g or either rice or maize: 30 adults of S. granarius, 30 adults of S. oryzae, 30 adults of S. zeamais, 15 adults of S. granarius+15 adults of S. oryzae, 15 adults of S. granarius+15 adults of S. zeamais, 15 adults of S. oryzae +15 adults of S. zeamais, and 10 adults of S. granarius+10 adults of S. oryzae+10 adults of S. zeamais. After 62 days at 30°C and 65% relative humidity the number of individuals of each species were counted. Insect damaged kernels (IDK), weight of frass and grain weight were measured. When each species was alone, S. granarius had the lowest numbers of adults in both grains, which did not exceed 34 adults/vial, and S. oryzae numbers were always higher than other species. For S. oryzae and S. zeamais, the numbers of adults were considerably higher on rice than on maize. On rice, S. oryzae numbers ranged between 281 and 563 adults per vial, while for S. zeamais between 137 and 372 adults per vial. At the same time, for both species on maize, adult numbers did not exceed 54 adults per vial. The number of S. oryzae adults were constantly higher than the other species in all combinations tested. Moreover, for rice, IDK in the vials that contained S. oryzae, either alone or in combination with other species, was higher than all the other combinations. Similarly, grain weight was lower in the vials that contained S. oryzae compared to the other species combinations. In general, for S. oryzae and S. zeamais progeny production was increased with the increase of the number of the initial adults that had been placed inside the vials. At the same time, progeny production of all three species was not affected by the presence of another species inside the vial. Given that the coexistence of congeneric species in the same stored product ecosystem is often reported, our results highlight some of the inferences that are necessary in order to predict the potential outcome of competition patterns. Apart from its ecological significance, the prediction of the superior species in mixed species communities, can guide and time any control measures, on a more species-targeted basis.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are typically dispersed throughout their circumtropical range, but the species is also known to aggregate in specific coastal areas. Accurate site descriptions ...associated with these aggregations are essential for the conservation of R. typus, an Endangered species. Although aggregations have become valuable hubs for research, most site descriptions rely heavily on sightings data. In the present study, visual census, passive acoustic monitoring, and long range satellite telemetry were combined to track the movements of R. typus from Shib Habil, a reef-associated aggregation site in the Red Sea. An array of 63 receiver stations was used to record the presence of 84 acoustically tagged sharks (35 females, 37 males, 12 undetermined) from April 2010 to May 2016. Over the same period, identification photos were taken for 76 of these tagged individuals and 38 were fitted with satellite transmitters. In total of 37,461 acoustic detections, 210 visual encounters, and 33 satellite tracks were analyzed to describe the sharks' movement ecology. The results demonstrate that the aggregation is seasonal, mostly concentrated on the exposed side of Shib Habil, and seems to attract sharks of both sexes in roughly equal numbers. The combined methodologies also tracked 15 interannual homing-migrations, demonstrating that many sharks leave the area before returning in later years. When compared to acoustic studies from other aggregations, these results demonstrate that R. typus exhibits diverse, site-specific ecologies across its range. Sightings-independent data from acoustic telemetry and other sources are an effective means of validating more common visual surveys.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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