In most bird species, parents raise offspring cooperatively. In some cases, this cooperation extends to helpers-at-the-nest who assist the breeders with a range of tasks. While cooperative food ...provisioning might merely arise incidentally, as a result of the efforts of carers that act independently from each other, recent studies suggest that birds may coordinate by taking turns in visiting the nest. However, evidence that such coordination emerges because individuals actively respond to each other's behaviour is controversial, and the potential benefits of carers' alternation remain unknown. We addressed this knowledge gap by analysing a multiyear dataset for cooperatively breeding carrion crows Corvus corone, comprising 8693 nest visits across 50 groups. Our results reveal that turn-taking does occur in this species and that all group members, regardless of their sex and social role (breeder/helper), tend to alternate at the nest with other carers rather than to make repeat visits. Importantly, we found that the body mass of nestlings increased significantly with the degree of carers' alternation, possibly because well-coordinated groups provided food at more regular intervals. Using earlier monitoring data, the observed increase in body mass is predicted to substantially boost postfledging survival rates. Our analyses demonstrate that alternation in nestling provisioning has measurable fitness benefits in this study system. This raises the possibility that cooperatively breeding carrion crows, as well as other bird species with similarly coordinated brood provisioning, exhibit specialized behavioural strategies that enable effective alternation.
A web-based application has been designed from a genetic epidemiology point of view to analyze association studies. Main capabilities include descriptive analysis, test for Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium ...and linkage disequilibrium. Analysis of association is based on linear or logistic regression according to the response variable (quantitative or binary disease status, respectively). Analysis of single SNPs: multiple inheritance models (co-dominant, dominant, recessive, over-dominant and log-additive), and analysis of interactions (gene–gene or gene–environment). Analysis of multiple SNPs: haplotype frequency estimation, analysis of association of haplotypes with the response, including analysis of interactions. Availability:. Source code for local installation is available under GNU license. Contact:v.moreno@iconcologia.net Supplementary Information: Figures with a sample run are available on Bioinformatics online. A detailed online tutorial is available within the application.
One of the major limitations of nanomedicine is the scarce penetration of nanoparticles in tumoral tissues. These constrains have been tried to be solved by different strategies, such as the employ ...of polyethyleneglycol (PEG) to avoid the opsonization or reducing the extracellular matrix (ECM) density. Our research group has developed some strategies to overcome these limitations such as the employ of pH-sensitive collagenase nanocapsules for the digestion of the collagen-rich extracellular matrix present in most of tumoral tissues.
However, a deeper understanding of physicochemical kinetics involved in the nanocapsules degradation process is needed to understand the nanocapsule framework degradation process produced during the penetration in the tissue. For this, in this work it has been employed a double-fluorescent labelling strategy of the polymeric enzyme nanocapsule as a crucial chemical tool which allowed the analysis of nanocapsules and free collagenase during the diffusion process throughout a tumour-like collagen matrix. This extrinsic label strategy provides far greater advantages for observing biological processes. For the detection of enzyme, collagenase has been labelled with fluorescein Isothiocyanate (FITC), whereas the nanocapsule surface was labelled with rhodamine Isothiocyanate (RITC). Thus, it has been possible to monitor the hydrolysis of nanocapsules and their diffusion throughout a thick 3D Collagen gel during the time, obtaining a detailed temporal evaluation of the pH-sensitive collagenase nanocapsule behaviour. These collagenase nanocapsules displayed a high enzymatic activity in low concentrations at acidic pH, and their efficiency to penetrate into tissue models pave the way to a wide range of possible nanomedical applications, especially in cancer therapy.
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Kennewick Man, referred to as the Ancient One by Native Americans, is a male human skeleton discovered in Washington state (USA) in 1996 and initially radiocarbon dated to 8,340-9,200 calibrated ...years before present (BP). His population affinities have been the subject of scientific debate and legal controversy. Based on an initial study of cranial morphology it was asserted that Kennewick Man was neither Native American nor closely related to the claimant Plateau tribes of the Pacific Northwest, who claimed ancestral relationship and requested repatriation under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The morphological analysis was important to judicial decisions that Kennewick Man was not Native American and that therefore NAGPRA did not apply. Instead of repatriation, additional studies of the remains were permitted. Subsequent craniometric analysis affirmed Kennewick Man to be more closely related to circumpacific groups such as the Ainu and Polynesians than he is to modern Native Americans. In order to resolve Kennewick Man's ancestry and affiliations, we have sequenced his genome to ∼1× coverage and compared it to worldwide genomic data including for the Ainu and Polynesians. We find that Kennewick Man is closer to modern Native Americans than to any other population worldwide. Among the Native American groups for whom genome-wide data are available for comparison, several seem to be descended from a population closely related to that of Kennewick Man, including the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (Colville), one of the five tribes claiming Kennewick Man. We revisit the cranial analyses and find that, as opposed to genome-wide comparisons, it is not possible on that basis to affiliate Kennewick Man to specific contemporary groups. We therefore conclude based on genetic comparisons that Kennewick Man shows continuity with Native North Americans over at least the last eight millennia.
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Dostopno za:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Identifying the causes of similarities and differences in genetic disease prevalence among humans is central to understanding disease etiology. While present-day humans are not strongly ...differentiated, vast amounts of genomic data now make it possible to study subtle patterns of genetic variation. This allows us to trace our genomic history thousands of years into the past and its implications for the distribution of disease-associated variants today. Genomic analyses have shown that demographic processes shaped the distribution and frequency of disease-associated variants over time. Furthermore, local adaptation to new environmental conditions—including pathogens—has generated strong patterns of differentiation at particular loci. Researchers are also beginning to uncover the genetic architecture of complex diseases, affected by many variants of small effect. The field of population genomics thus holds great potential for providing further insights into the evolution of human disease.
Analysis of rapidly accumulating human genetic data from across the globe informs not only our understanding of population demographics but also historical adaptation to varying environments and susceptibility to disease.
Over the past three decades, studies of ancient biomolecules-particularly ancient DNA, proteins, and lipids-have revolutionized our understanding of evolutionary history. Though initially fraught ...with many challenges, today the field stands on firm foundations. Researchers now successfully retrieve nucleotide and amino acid sequences, as well as lipid signatures, from progressively older samples, originating from geographic areas and depositional environments that, until recently, were regarded as hostile to long-term preservation of biomolecules. Sampling frequencies and the spatial and temporal scope of studies have also increased markedly, and with them the size and quality of the data sets generated. This progress has been made possible by continuous technical innovations in analytical methods, enhanced criteria for the selection of ancient samples, integrated experimental methods, and advanced computational approaches. Here, we discuss the history and current state of ancient biomolecule research, its applications to evolutionary inference, and future directions for this young and exciting field.
Treatment of hepatitis delta and HIV infection Soriano, Vicente; Mendoza, Carmen; Treviño, Ana ...
Liver international,
August 2023, 2023-08-00, 20230801, Letnik:
43, Številka:
S1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a defective agent that only infects individuals with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Around 5–10% of chronic hepatitis B patients worldwide are superinfected with HDV, which ...means 15–25 million people. Hepatitis delta is the most severe of all chronic viral hepatitis, leading to cirrhosis, liver cancer and/or transplantation in most patients. Despite it, many HDV patients remain undiagnosed. The only treatment available until recently was peginterferon alfa, with poor results and significant side effects. The recent approval of bulevirtide, a lipopeptide that blocks HBV/HDV entry, has revolutionized the field. Another drug, lonafarnib, already approved to treat progeria, is expected to be available soon as HDV therapy. Since there is no cell reservoir for the HDV RNA genome, hypothetically viral clearance could be achieved if complete blocking of viral replication occurs for a minimum time frame. This is what happens in hepatitis C using direct‐acting antivirals, with the achievement of cure in nearly all treated patients. We envision the cure of hepatitis delta using combination antiviral therapy. Given that sexual and parenteral transmission routes are the most frequent for the acquisition of HBV and HDV, shared with HIV infection and HBV/HDV and HIV coinfection. The clinical outcome of hepatitis delta is worst in the HIV setting, with more frequent liver complications. Since most persons infected with HIV are on regular health care follow‐up, we propose that HIV‐HDV patients should be prioritized for moving forward new and potentially curative treatments for hepatitis delta.
This work reports the occurrence and distribution of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in soil, sediment, suspended ...particle matter (SPM), streamwater and macrophytes, along the Río Negro basin, Argentinean Patagonia. The clear predominance of OCPs among all matrices indicates the impact of agriculture on the watershed. The highest levels were found for pp′-DDE which represented up to 95% in agricultural soils (42.0–1.27x103ng/g d.w) from the Upper Valley (upstream), where long and historical intensive fruit cultures have been settled and represent a hot spot of legacy pesticides for the environment. The insecticide endosulfan, currently in use, was also found in all matrices. Levels ranged between 0.3 and 708.0ng/g d.w, being the highest concentrations those of SPM from the Middle Valley, just before the delta area, where pesticides would be retained leading to lower concentrations as was observed downstream. PCB (#153, 138, 110, 101) and PBDE (BDE-47) levels were directly related with the presence of hydroelectric power plants, dams and dumping sites, mainly settled in the Upper Valley (0.8ng/g and 15.1ng/g d.w for PBDEs and PCBs, respectively). Although there was a decreasing gradient of these pollutant concentrations through the river flow, downstream urban areas enhanced PCB concentrations in the aquatic environment. More efforts and monitoring programs are highly required to control and reduce soil erosion in order to prevent the availability of forbidden pollutants in the environment.
► OCPs, PCBs and PBDEs were found in soils, sediments, SPM, streamwater and macrophytes. ► Pesticides represented 70% of the total pollutants and pp′-DDE was the main pesticide found in all matrixes. ► The relation PCBs/PBDEs>1 agrees with worldwide tendency. ► Macrophytes played a key role in reducing pollutant levels in the river. ► Monitoring critical points of legacy contamination is crucial for watershed management.
Present-day and ancient population genomic studies from different study organisms have rapidly become accessible to diverse research groups worldwide. Unfortunately, as datasets and analyses become ...more complex, researchers with less computational experience often miss their chance to analyze their own data. We introduce FrAnTK, a user-friendly toolkit for computation and visualization of allele frequency-based statistics in ancient and present-day genome variation datasets. We provide fast, memory-efficient tools that allow the user to go from sequencing data to complex exploratory analyses and visual representations with minimal data manipulation. Its simple usage and low computational requirements make FrAnTK ideal for users that are less familiar with computer programming carrying out large-scale population studies.
Summary
Whole chickpea flours were subjected to a pilot plant process aimed to understand the effects of jet‐cooking followed by α‐amylase or isoamylase hydrolyses in terms of physicochemical and the ...in vitro digestion performance of starch and proteins. Jet‐cooked flours generated lower viscosities and had lower gelatinisation temperatures when compared with their raw counterparts; furthermore, the amylolytic enzymes improved both starch and protein in vitro digestion rates (HI of 85.33 and relative digestion of 88.92%, respectively) that were strongly correlated with the amylose content (P < 0.05). By means of principal component analyses (PCA) is concluded that the changes in granular architecture, reflected by lower ΔH values and new linear structures after isoamylase hydrolysis (treated = 44.36% vs. raw = 26.43%) as well as protein denaturation promoted similar glycemic responses in raw flours compared with jet‐cooked counterparts (83.12 and 84.77, respectively). The combination of a thermal‐enzymatic method could be a useful alternative to produce novel pulse flours.
Effect of the processing of chickpea flours through jet‐cooking followed by amylolytic enzymes over the molecular and starch and protein in vitro digestion.
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