The reintroduction of a species into its historic range is a critical component of conservation programmes designed to restore extirpated metapopulations. However, many reintroduction efforts fail, ...and the lack of rigorous monitoring programmes and statistical models have prevented a general understanding of the factors affecting metapopulation viability following reintroduction. Spatially explicit metapopulation theory provides the basis for understanding the dynamics of fragmented populations linked by dispersal, but the theory has rarely been used to guide reintroduction programmes because most spatial metapopulation models require presence–absence data from every site in the network, and they do not allow for observation error such as imperfect detection. We develop a spatial occupancy model that relaxes these restrictive assumptions and allows for inference about metapopulation extinction risk and connectivity. We demonstrate the utility of the model using six years of data on the Chiricahua leopard frog Lithobates chiricahuensis, a threatened desert‐breeding amphibian that was reintroduced to a network of sites in Arizona USA in 2003. Our results indicate that the model can generate precise predictions of extinction risk and produce connectivity maps that can guide conservation efforts following reintroduction. In the case of L. chiricahuensis, many sites were functionally isolated, and 82% of sites were characterized by intermittent water availability and high local extinction probabilities (0·84, 95% CI: 0·64–0·99). However, under the current hydrological conditions and spatial arrangement of sites, the risk of metapopulation extinction is estimated to be <3% over a 50‐year time horizon. Low metapopulation extinction risk appears to result from the high dispersal capability of the species, the high density of sites in the region and the existence of predator‐free permanent wetlands with low local extinction probabilities. Should management be required, extinction risk can be reduced by either increasing the hydroperiod of existing sites or by creating new sites to increase connectivity. Synthesis and applications. This work demonstrates how spatio‐temporal statistical models based on ecological theory can be applied to forecast the outcomes of conservation actions such as reintroduction. Our spatial occupancy model should be particularly useful when management agencies lack the funds to collect intensive individual‐level data.
Pathophysiology of the hepoxilins Pace-Asciak, Cecil R.
Biochimica et biophysica acta,
04/2015, Letnik:
1851, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
There is increasing evidence from various scientific groups that hepoxilins represent novel inflammatory mediators. In vitro studies have shown that the hepoxilins cause mobilization of intracellular ...calcium in human neutrophils, cause plasma leakage, and potently stimulate chemotaxis of human neutrophils. In vivo, the hepoxilin pathway is activated in conditions of inflammation, e.g. after pathogen infection, in inflamed conditions (psoriasis, arthritis), and hepoxilins promote inflammatory hyperalgesia and allodynia. Although much work has demonstrated an effect of hepoxilins on neutrophils, the hepoxilin pathway has been demonstrated in a variety of tissues, including the lung, brain, pituitary, pancreatic islets, skin, etc. A genetic defect linked to a deficiency in hepoxilin formation has been described and believed to be responsible for the scaly skin observed in ichthyosis. Despite their biological and chemical instability, the involvement of the hepoxilin pathway in pathology has been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo through either isolation of the hepoxilins themselves (or their metabolites) or implied through the use of stable hepoxilin analogs. These analogs have additionally shown efficacy in animal models of lung fibrosis, cancer, thrombosis and diabetes. Research on these compounds has merely scratched the surface, but results published to date have suggested that the hepoxilin pathway is a distinct and novel pathway leading to inflammation and hepoxilin antagonists may provide the means of controlling early aspects of the acute inflammatory phase. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “Oxygenated metabolism of PUFA: analysis and biological relevance”.
•An up-to-date review on hepoxilins and antagonists in inflammation and cancer•Discussion of hepoxilin formation/action in inflammation/cancer•Review of hepoxilin-like compounds from ω-hydroxy acyl ceramides present in skin•New concept presented of lipid stores of hepoxilins and like mediators in pathology
This editorial provides an overview of the articles published in the current special issue of Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, which focuses on contextualized evidence and empirically based ...testing and assessment . The heart and soul of the articles in this issue, that evidence should guide applications of psychological testing and assessment and that evidence-based interpretations of test scores are necessary, have never been more salient in the profession. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
Background
Early biomarkers of progression to severe dengue are urgently required to enable effective patient management and control treatment costs. Innate immune cells, which comprise the earliest ...responders to infection and along with the cytokines and chemokines they secrete, play a vital role in orchestrating the subsequent adaptive immune response and have been implicated in the enhancement of infection and “cytokine storm” associated with dengue severity. We investigated the early innate immune cytokine profile of dengue patients during acute phase of disease in a prospective blinded study that included subjects with acute dengue and febrile controls from four major hospitals in Bengaluru, India along with healthy controls. We used intracellular cytokine staining and flow cytometry to identify innate immune biomarkers that can predict progression to severe dengue.
Results
Dengue infection resulted in enhanced secretion of multiple cytokines by all queried innate immune cell subsets, dominated by TNF-α from CD56
+
CD3
+
NKT cells, monocyte subsets, and granulocytes along with IFN-
γ
from CD56
+
CD3
+
NKT cells. Of note, significantly higher proportions of TNF-α secreting granulocytes and monocyte subsets at admission were associated with mild dengue and minimal symptoms. Dengue NS1 antigenemia used as a surrogate of viral load directly correlated with proportion of cytokine-secreting innate immune cells and was significantly higher in those who went on to recover with minimal symptoms. In patients with secondary dengue or those with bleeding or elevated liver enzymes who revealed predisposition to severe outcomes, early activation as well as efficient downregulation of innate responses were compromised.
Conclusion
Our findings suggested that faulty/delayed kinetics of innate immune activation and downregulation was a driver of disease severity. We identified IFN-
γ
+
CD56
+
CD3
+
NKT cells and IL-6
+
granulocytes at admission as novel early biomarkers that can predict the risk of progression to severity (composite AUC = 0.85–0.9). Strong correlations among multiple cytokine-secreting innate cell subsets revealed that coordinated early activation of the entire innate immune system in response to dengue virus infection contributed to resolution of infection and speedy recovery.
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An open-source potentiostat/galvanostat instrument design is introduced that provides the ability to take accurate measurements over a current range of ±200 mA and a potential range ...of ±12 V. The improved capability of the instrument compared to the previously published design upon which it is based makes it suitable for performing a wider range of electrochemical measurements including the ability to use larger working electrodes, study of high current density processes, study of electrochemistry in nonaqueous solutions and use in high voltage processes such as electrophoretic deposition. The instrument can be controlled from any computer capable of running the Python programming language, including a low-cost Raspberry Pi. Unlike many commercial potentiostat designs, the instrument is completely open-source, giving researchers the ability to modify the hardware and software as needed for custom measurement techniques. The low cost makes the instrument attractive for research and teaching laboratories in which multiple electrochemical measurements need to be carried out in parallel.
Radioresistance remains a challenge to the successful treatment of various tumors. Intrinsic factors like alterations in signaling pathways regulate response to radiation. RhoC, which has been shown ...to modulate several tumor phenotypes has been investigated in this report for its role in radioresistance. In vitro and clinical sample-based studies have been performed to understand its contribution to radiation response in cervical cancer and this is the first report to establish the role of RhoC and its effector ROCK2 in cervical cancer radiation response.
Biochemical, transcriptomic and immunological approaches including flow cytometry and immunofluorescence were used to understand the role of RhoC and ROCK2. RhoC variants, siRNA and chemical inhibitors were used to alter the function of RhoC and ROCK2. Transcriptomic profiling was performed to understand the gene expression pattern of the cells. Live sorting using an intracellular antigen has been developed to isolate the cells for transcriptomic studies.
Enhanced expression of RhoC conferred radioprotection on the tumor cells while inhibition of RhoC resulted in sensitization of cells to radiation. The RhoC overexpressing cells had a better DNA repair machinery as observed using transcriptomic analysis. Similarly, overexpression of ROCK2, protected tumor cells against radiation while its inhibition increased radiosensitivity in vitro. Further investigations revealed that ROCK2 inhibition abolished the radioresistance phenotype, conferred by RhoC on SiHa cells, confirming that it is a downstream effector of RhoC in this context. Additionally, transcriptional analysis of the live sorted ROCK2 high and ROCK2 low expressing SiHa cells revealed an upregulation of the DNA repair pathway proteins. Consequently, inhibition of ROCK2 resulted in reduced expression of pH2Ax and MRN complex proteins, critical to repair of double strand breaks. Clinical sample-based studies also demonstrated that ROCK2 inhibition sensitizes tumor cells to irradiation.
Our data primarily indicates that RhoC and ROCK2 signaling is important for the radioresistance phenotype in cervical cancer tumor cells and is regulated via association of ROCK2 with the proteins of DNA repair pathway involving pH2Ax, MRE11 and RAD50 proteins, partly offering insights into the mechanism of radioresistance in tumor cells. These findings highlight RhoC-ROCK2 signaling involvement in DNA repair and urge the need for development of these molecules as targets to alleviate the non-responsiveness of cervical cancer tumor cells to irradiation treatment.
Violence directed against K-12 teachers is a serious problem that demands the immediate attention of researchers, providers of teacher pre-service and in-service training, school administrators, ...community leaders, and policymakers. Surprisingly, little research has been conducted on this growing problem despite the broad impact teacher victimization can have on schooling, recruitment, and retention of highly effective teachers and on student academic and behavioral outcomes. Psychologists should play a leadership role in mitigating school violence, including violence directed toward teachers. There is a need for psychologists to conduct research accurately assessing the types and scope of violence that teachers experience; to comprehensively evaluate the individual, classroom, school, community, institutional, and cultural contextual factors that might predict and/or explain types of teacher violence; and to examine the effectiveness and sustainability of classroom, school, and district-wide prevention and intervention strategies that target teacher violence in school systems. Collectively, the work of psychologists in this area could have a substantial impact on schooling, teacher experience and retention, and overall student performance.
Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) has consistently emphasized the importance of utilizing language to co-construct with clients. This microanalysis study looks specifically at presuppositions, ...one linguistic tool, and investigates how SFBT therapists use presuppositions in their co-constructive work. This study compares three 1.0 SFBT therapists and three 2.0 SFBT therapists regarding their use of presuppositions. Results from this study support McKergow’s (J Solut Focus Brief Ther 2:1–17, 2016) claims that an evolutionary change has already taken place within the practice of SFBT. 2.0 SFBT therapists are more likely to use presuppositions in general, and are more likely to use conditional presupposition specifically to build descriptions rather than focusing on action toward goals. Also, 2.0 therapists are also more likely to dedicate time to asking relationship-oriented presuppositional questions than 1.0 therapists.
Conoley, Powers, and Gutkin (2020) have provided an assessment of the progress and lack thereof of school psychology as a profession toward school reformation, especially as related to their various ...earlier calls for changes in training and practice. Conoley and Gutkin especially (and I have been colleagues of both) have called for decades for an emphasis on working with teachers, other adults in the school system, and the school system itself to alter the delivery of education. In some earlier work, they have characterized this as adult school psychology. In many ways this is a reconceptualization of earlier mental health consultation models of school psychology practice that were not widely adopted for reasons Conoley et al. (2020) explain. School psychology has a long history of wanting to be seen and to practice differently from in a primary role of test and place, and indeed I would characterize the primary organizations that represent the profession (the National Association of Psychologists and the American Psychological Association's Division of School Psychology) as being in many ways antagonistic toward psychological testing. Yet, it is what most school psychologists are in fact hired to do as their primary role, and training in psychological testing and assessment is one of the key skills that sets us apart and distinguishes us from others in the schools.
Impact and Implications
Specialization is argued to be necessary to meet the needs of consumers of school psychological services as well as meet the needs of children in the schools. Examples are given of areas of possible specialization that can happen now.
A commonly stated critique of Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a lack of attention to the client's emotional experience and the use of emotion as a mechanism for producing meaningful change. ...We review and define the current research regarding emotion, feeling, and affect and its value and relevance to the clinical application of SFBT. We also provide a brief history of the SFBT model and its documented emphasis on cognitive and behavioral change versus emotional change. In embodying the spirit of this approach for examining what works and doing more of it, we propose a next step of SFBT to more overtly attend to the emotional language of clients and to purposefully create emotional experiences with our clients. We demonstrate this by providing clinical examples for how SFBT practitioners can incorporate and build upon clients' emotional language to create emotionally‐changing experiences to more broadly and effectively co‐create long‐lasting change.
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