Modern integrative taxonomy-based annelid species descriptions are detailed combining morphological data and, since the last decades, also molecular information. Historic species descriptions are ...often comparatively brief lacking such detail. Adoptions of species names from western literature in the past led to the assumption of cosmopolitan ranges for many species, which, in many cases, were later found to include cryptic or pseudocryptic lineages with subtle morphological differences. Natural history collections and databases can aid in assessing the geographic ranges of species but depend on correct species identification. Obtaining DNA sequence information from wet-collection museum specimens of marine annelids is often impeded by the use of formaldehyde and/or long-term storage in ethanol resulting in DNA degradation and cross-linking.
The application of ancient DNA extraction methodology in combination with single-stranded DNA library preparation and target gene capture resulted in successful sequencing of a 110-year-old collection specimen of quill worms. Furthermore, a 40-year-old specimen of quill worms was successfully sequenced using a standard extraction protocol for modern samples, PCR and Sanger sequencing. Our study presents the first molecular analysis of Hyalinoecia species including the previously known species Hyalinoecia robusta, H. tubicloa, H. artifex, and H. longibranchiata, and a potentially undescribed species from equatorial western Africa morphologically indistinguishable from H. tubicola. The study also investigates the distribution of these five Hyalinoecia species. Reassessing the distribution of H. robusta reveals a geographical range covering both the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans as indicated by molecular data obtained from recent and historical specimens.
Our results represent an example of a very wide geographical distribution of a brooding deep-sea annelid with a complex reproduction strategy and seemingly very limited dispersal capacity of its offspring, and highlights the importance of molecular information from museum specimens for integrative annelid taxonomy and biogeography.
Arguably, the deficit narrative of oral health inequities, perpetuated by colonial re-search agendas, media and sociopolitical discourse, contributes to oral disease burden and fatalism among ...Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. There remains a need to evolve the way oral health is understood, in a manner that reflects the lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
This paper proposes decolonising methodologies as a strategy to ensure oral health re-search creates more equitable oral health outcomes and realities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. Anchored by a critical reflection of the failure of dominant oral health inequity re-search practices to address Indigenous oral health, both in Australia and internationally, we propose five explicit pathways for decolonising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander oral health re-search.
We argue the need for (1) positionality statements in all re-search endeavours, (2) studies that honour reciprocal relationships through the development of proposals that ask questions and follow models based on Traditional Knowledges, (3) the development of culturally secure and strengths-based data capturing tools, (4) frameworks that address the intersection of multiple axes of oppression in creating inequitable conditions and (5) decolonising knowledge translation techniques.
Importantly, we recognize that re-search will never be entirely 'decolonised' due to the colonial foundations upheld by academic institutions and society more broadly; however, as oral health re-searchers, we ascertain that there is an ethical compulsion to drive decolonising re-search pursuits that produce equitable oral health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.
•FA models allow G × E studies even for highly unbalanced historical datasets.•G × E studies are valuable tools to optimize resources in sorghum breeding programs.•FA loadings can be successfully ...used to investigate the main factors affecting G × E.
Biomass sorghum has emerged as an alternative crop for biofuel and bioelectricity production. Fresh biomass yield (FBY) is a quantitative trait highly correlated with the calorific power of energy sorghum cultivars, but also highly affected by the environment. The main goal of this study was to investigate the genotype-by-environment interaction (G × E) and the stability of sorghum hybrids evaluated for FBY across different locations and years, using factor analytic (FA) mixed models and environmental covariates. Pairwise genetic correlations between environments ranged from -0.21 to 0.99, indicating the existence of null to high G × E. The FA analysis unveiled that solely three factors explained more than 79% of the genetic variance, and that more than 60% of the environments were clustered in the first factor. Moderate correlations were found between some environmental covariates and the loadings of FA models for environments, suggesting the possible factors to explain the high G × E between environments clustered in a given factor. For example: precipitation, minimum temperature and speed wind were correlated to the environmental loadings of factor 1; minimum temperature, solar radiation and altitude to factor 2; and crop growth cycle to factor 3. The latent regression analysis was used to identify hybrids more responsive to a set of environments, as well as hybrids specifically adapted to a given environment. Finally, FA models can be successfully used to identify the main environmental factors affecting G × E, such as minimum temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, crop growth cycle and altitude.
Abstract
Water quality degradation from human related activities has become a pressing global issue, putting water security at risk around the world. Land use decisions can severely degrade stream ...water quality, compromising water supply and increasing water treatment costs. Here we examine changes in water quality over 20 years and their association with land use, urbanization, and sewage treatment in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. We also consider how a severe drought in 2014–2015 affected water quality, uncovering the potential impacts of a changing climate on water treatment costs. We analyzed water quality data between 2000 and 2019 from 230 monitoring stations focusing on seven metrics: dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, turbidity, total dissolved solids, and fecal coliforms. We first calculated the number of times that metrics exceeded the legal thresholds and then assessed if metrics were improving or deteriorating over time. Across all stations, a large proportion of stream water samples failed to comply to the legal standards for human consumption for at least one water quality metric. This proportion was highest for total dissolved solids (30.7%) and total phosphorus (42.8%), with fewer samples exceeding the threshold for turbidity and dissolved oxygen. Deteriorating water quality trends over time were prevalent for dissolved solids (33.33%) and total nitrogen (52.45%), while dissolved oxygen exhibited the highest percentage of improving trends across watersheds (43.63%). Moreover, we observed that four of the seven metrics analyzed deteriorated during the 2014–2015 drought. Urbanization and agricultural activity led to deterioration of water quality, while improvement in sewage treatment infrastructure improved water quality across watersheds. The decline in water quality observed in the region, especially during the recent drought, highlights the need to develop land use management strategies to protect water quality and reduce growing costs of water treatment in the state.
The Real Relationship is a relational construct that has influenced other constructs, like the working alliance, although empirically neglected. The development of the Real Relationship Inventory ...provides a reliable and valid way of measuring the Real Relationship in research and clinical applications. This study aimed to validate and explore the psychometric properties of the Real Relationship Inventory Client Form with a Portuguese adult sample in the context of psychotherapy. The sample includes 373 clients currently in psychotherapy or concluded recently. All clients completed the Real Relationship Inventory (RRI-C) and the Working Alliance Inventory. The confirmatory analysis revealed the same two factors in the RRI-C for the Portuguese adult population, Genuineness and Realism. The observation of the same factor structure suggests the cross-cultural value of the Real Relationship. The measure demonstrated good internal consistency and acceptable adjustment. A significant correlation was found between the RRI-C and the Working Alliance Inventory and significant correlations between the Bond and Genuineness and Realism subscales. The present study reflects on the RRI-C while also contributing to the importance of the Real Relationship in different cultures and clinical contexts.
Duets in breeding pairs may reflect a situation of conflict, whereby an individual answers its partner's song as a form of unilateral acoustic mate guarding or, alternatively, it may reflect ...cooperation, when individuals share in territory defense or safeguard the partnership. The degree of coordination between the sexes when responding to solo versus paired intruders may elucidate the function of songs in duets. We examined this issue in a study with rufous horneros (Furnarius rufus), a duetting, socially monogamous Neotropical species with low levels of extrapair paternity. We exposed social pairs during the nonbreeding season to playbacks of duets, male solos, female solos, and control heterospecific songs. Partners approached all conspecific stimuli together and responded by singing quickly, at higher rates and by coordinating ~80% of their songs into duets. For both sexes, most response variables (seven of nine) did not vary across conspecific treatments. These results suggest that partners duet and coordinate behaviors to cooperatively defend common territories. However, females spent more time in territorial vigilance, and partners were highly coordinated (correlated responses) in response to duets and female solos in comparison with male solos. This indicates that female intrusions (paired or solo) might be more threatening than male intrusions in the nonbreeding season, especially for territorial females, and that females are less cooperative with their partners in territory defense against male intruders.
We simulated solo and paired territorial intrusions to rufous hornero partners. Partners coordinate songs and behaviors to cooperatively defend their territories. However, partners were highly coordinated against female (solo or paired) than male intrusions derived from a weaker female response to male intrusions. We suggest that females are least cooperative with their partners when defending territories against other males.
In this article, quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) methods were used to study the full catalytic mechanism of xanthine oxidase (XO). XO catalyzes the conversion of xanthine (XAN) to ...uric acid (URC), in the presence of a molybdenum cofactor (Moco). The mechanism occurs through four reaction steps. Initially, the proton from the hydroxyl group of Moco passes to Glu1261 and the activated hydroxyl group makes a nucleophilic attack on XAN. Then, a hydride is transferred from the tetrahedral intermediate to the sulfur atom of the Moco, reducing Mo(
vi
) to Mo(
iv
). In the third step, one molecule of URC is formed through its protonation by Arg880. Once this reaction is complete, FAD is reduced to FADH
2
, oxidizing Mo(
iv
) to its initial oxidation state of Mo(
vi
). The enzymatic turnover is achieved with the reaction of one water molecule with the Moco. The rate-limiting step of the full catalytic mechanism is the hydride transfer that requires a free activation barrier of 16.9 kcal mol
−1
, which closely agrees with the experimental
k
cat
value (18.3 s
−1
), which corresponds to approximately 15.7 kcal mol
−1
. This work also elucidates the key role played by Arg880 in the catalytic mechanism and the importance of Glu802 in the binding of the substrate. Both residues were previously shown to be important by mutagenesis studies, but their role was still not clearly understood. Additionally, it was observed that the presence of a tunnel of water molecules located close to Moco and Glu1261 is important for the enzymatic turnover. The determined transition state structures can now be used to help the development of transition-state analog inhibitors targeting XO.
In this article, quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) methods were used to study the full catalytic mechanism of xanthine oxidase (XO).
Sea Surface Temperature (SST) is an essential variable for understanding key physical and biological processes. Blended and interpolated L4 SST products offer major advantages over alternative SST ...data sources due to their spatial and temporal completeness, yet their ability to discriminate upwelling-induced steep temperature transitions in coastal waters remains largely unassessed. Here we analysed the performance of eleven L4 GHRSST-compliant products in estimating in situ water temperatures recorded by a large network of shallow subtidal and intertidal temperature loggers deployed in shores covering regimes with a wide range of upwelling intensities. Results indicate that while most products perform satisfactorily for most of the year, performance is severely affected during the upwelling season in locations with strong upwelling. We show that upwelling negatively impacts all four metrics used to assess dataset performance (average bias, correlation, centred root-mean-square error and normalized standard deviation), leading to a considerable overestimation of coastal water temperatures (with average bias exceeding 2 °C in some cases). We also show that while the use of L3 data (i. e., prior to blending and interpolation) leads to an increase in performance compared to L4 GHRSST-compliant products, the gain is probably not substantial enough to offset issues related with their spatial and temporal inconsistency along coastlines. Our results suggest that the use of L4 GHRSST-compliant products can lead to a misrepresentation of the thermal fingerprint of upwelling, and thus should be limited (or even avoided) in locations dominated by its effects. Conversely, the use of L4 GHRSST-compliant products on locations with little to no upwelling appears to be warranted. The mismatch between in situ and remotely-sensed sea water temperatures here reported also highlights the need for implementation of long-term monitoring networks of in situ temperature loggers.
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•L4 GHRSST products give good estimates of coastal SSTs in areas without upwelling.•At the coast, the best performing L4 GHRSST products are G1SST and OSTIA.•All L4 GHRSST products overestimate coastal temperatures during upwelling.•With strong upwelling, average bias may exceed 2 °C.•L3 data perform well near the coast but have temporal and spatial gaps.
Genomic data are not yet widely used in insect conservation practice. Here, with a focus on butterflies, we aim to identify the strengths, limitations and remaining gaps between the fields of ...population genomics and insect conservation management. Based on a literature search complemented with expert opinion, we discuss avenues for translating research into practice.
We found that current genomic methodologies available for insect management enhance the assessment of cryptic diversity and facilitate the inference of historical population trends (temporal monitoring) by using even degraded material from historical collections.
Discovering and tracking adaptive genetic variation linked to increased survival and fitness is a relatively young research field, but we highlight it as a promising tool in future insect management actions.
We highlight recent case studies where population genomics have guided butterfly conservation. One conclusion from our advice from our non‐exhaustive survey of expert opinion is to establish meaningful partnerships between researchers and practitioners, starting at the stage of project planning. Genomics is an informative tool for securing legal protection of unique populations and may offer guidance in future conservation translocations and captive breeding programmes.
Although insect conservation usually targets habitats, genomic guidance focusing on populations of flagship and umbrella taxa is a straightforward path to connect species‐specific and habitat conservation initiatives. We conclude that there is urgency in reporting insect conservation actions guided by genomic data, both successful and unsuccessful. This will lead to constructive feedback between fields and the establishment of standardised methodologies.
Genomics brings important innovations to insect conservation. We highlight these novelties by reviewing the current butterfly population genomics literature addressing anthropogenic impact, cryptic diversity and local adaptation.
To successfully incorporate genomics into insect conservation, a meaningful partnership between researchers and conservation practitioners, as well as standardised methodologies need to be established.
Genomics is a promising tool for setting temporal baselines, securing the legal protection of unique populations and guiding translocations. Future genomic studies can focus on habitat flagship species.
The present study aims to develop the Race-related Attitudes and Multiculturalism Scale (RRAMS), as well as to perform an initial psychometric assessment of this instrument in a national sample of ...Australian adults.
The sample comprised 2,714 Australian adults who took part in the 2013 National Dental Telephone Interview Survey (NDTIS), which includes a telephone-based interview and a follow-up postal questionnaire. We used Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to evaluate the RRAMS' factorial structure (n = 271) and then proceeded with Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to confirm the proposed structure in an independent sample (n = 2,443). Measurement invariance was evaluated according to sex, age and educational attainment. Construct validity was assessed through known-groups comparisons. Internal consistency was assessed with McDonald's ΩH and ordinal α. Multiple imputation by chained equations was adopted to handle missing data.
EFA indicated that, after excluding 4 out of the 12 items, a two-factor structure provided a good fit to the data. This configural structure was then confirmed in an independent sample by means of CFA (χ2(19) = 341.070, p<0.001, CFI = 0.974, RMSEA = 0.083; 90% CI 0.076, 0.091). Measurement invariance analyses suggested that the RRAMS items can be used to compare men/women, respondents with/without tertiary education and young/older participants. The "Anglo-centric/Assimilationist attitudes" (ΩH = 0.83, αORDINAL = 0.85) and "Inclusive/Pluralistic attitudes" subscales (ΩH = 0.77, αORDINAL = 0.79) showed adequate reliability. Men and participants with low education had higher Anglo-centric/assimilationist attitudes and lower inclusive/pluralistic attitudes, suggesting construct validity.
The RRAMS appears to be a valid and reliable measure to evaluate multiculturalist attitudes in the Australian context. The instrument may be useful in the assessment and monitoring of interventions aiming to promote multiculturalist inclusive attitudes and to increase social cohesion in Australia.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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