The flat wasp family Bethylidae Haliday lacks global scale literature on their alpha taxonomy. The only world revision for the family was by Kieffer in 1914 and is fully out of date and somewhat ...useless; the only catalog for the family was made by Gordh Móczár in 1990 and does not include hundreds of changes made since then; and the most recent world genera keys were proposed by Terayama in 2003, but do not reflect the current knowledge we have for the family. Given this scenario, we present a global guide of Bethylidae with diagnoses, taxonomic evaluation, keys, and a checklist of all their extant genera and subfamilies. We visited the main collections around the world, analyzed about 2,000 holotypes, and examined at least 400,000 specimens. To eliminate homonymies, we add the prefix "neo" to the original specific epithet when possible. The family is now composed by 2,920 species allocated in 96 genera distributed in eight subfamilies: Bethylinae, Pristocerinae, Epyrinae, Mesitiinae, Scleroderminae, Lancepyrinae, Holopsenellinae and Protopristocerinae. The latter three are extinct. One new family-group synonym is proposed: Fushunochrysidae Hong syn. nov. of Bethylidae. Two incertae sedis genera are allocated into Bethylinae: Cretobethylellus Rasnytsyn and Omaloderus Walker. One new genus-group synonym is revalidated: Pristepyris Kieffer stat. rev. from Acrepyris Kieffer. Sixteen new genus-group synonyms are proposed: Fushunochrysites Hong syn. nov. and Sinibethylus Hong syn. nov. of Eupsenella Westwood; Messoria Meunier syn. nov. of Goniozus Förster; Acrepyris Kieffer syn. nov. of Pristepyris Kieffer; Apristocera Kieffer syn. nov. and Parapristocera Brues syn. nov. of Pristocera Klug; Usakosia Kieffer syn. nov. of Prosapenesia Kieffer; Isobrachium Förster syn. nov., Leptepyris Kieffer syn. nov., Neodisepyris Kurian syn. nov., Rhabdepyris Kieffer syn. nov. of Epyris Westwood; Codorcas Nagy syn. nov., Hamusmus Argaman syn. nov. and Ukayakos Argaman syn. nov. of Heterocoelia Dahlbom; Domonkos Argaman syn. nov. of Incertosulcus Móczár; Ateleopterus Förster syn. nov. of Sclerodermus Latreille. One new genus-group synonym is revalidated: Topcobius Nagy syn. rev. of Sulcomesitius Móczár. One new genus-group revalidation is proposed: Incertosulcus Móczár stat. rev. from Anaylax Móczár. The following species-group nomenclatural acts are established: 153 new or revalidated combinations, 16 new names to avoid secondary homonyms, 11 species with revalidated status, and one synonym. Keys to the subfamilies and genera are provided. The text is supported by 599 illustrations organized onto 92 plates.
We provide a synopsis of the genus Discleroderma, which is known only from females. The genus is easily recognized by having tubercles on metasomal tergites III-V. In this synopsis we recognized D. ...gundari Terayama, D. indiensis Lanes Azevedo, D. tuberculatum Magretti, and D. yemenensis Lanes Azevedo as valid species. Additionally we discovered four more species D. concursum sp. nov., D. dolium sp. nov., D. plymouthoides sp. nov., and D. guamensis sp. nov., which are described and illustrated. We also provide an emended diagnosis and a key to the world species of this genus.
This study was aimed to characterize the spermatogenic process and its seasonal variation in Desmodus rotundus, in the Caatinga biome, a water-limited ecosystem, with marked water restriction during ...most of the year. Collections of adult animals were performed during the dry and rainy seasons, and after euthanasia, their testes were processed histologically to perform morphological, morphometric, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical analyzes. The percentage of seminiferous epithelium, number of Leydig cells per gram of testis, and population of Sertoli cells and A-type spermatogonia presented by D. rotundus were significantly higher in the rainy season, while the percentage of lumen, mitotic index, support capacity performed by Sertoli cells, and overall yield of spermatogenesis were higher in the dry season. The ultrastructure of spermatogenesis was similar to that described in other mammals, and the immunohistochemical analysis revealed activity of the aromatase enzyme in Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, spermatocytes and spermatids, as well as the presence of androgen receptors in Sertoli cells and Leydig cells. FGF2 activity was detected in primary spermatocytes in zygotene and pachytene, as well as secondary spermatocytes and rounded and elongated spermatids, while the BCL-2 protein was expressed in primary spermatocytes in zygotene and pachytene, secondary spermatocytes, and rounded spermatids. The activity of these molecules was similar in both seasons, and associated with the morphometric findings, indicates maintenance in the integrity of the seminiferous epithelium throughout the year. The seasonal study of D. rotundus spermatogenesis indicates a continuous spermatogenesis pattern and suggests a greater production of spermatozoa in the rainy season in the Caatinga biome.
The 10‐item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT‐10) and its shorter form, AUDIT‐Consumption (AUDIT‐C), are questionnaires used to characterize severity of drinking. We hypothesized that ...liver injury and short‐term outcomes of alcohol‐associated hepatitis (AH) would correlate with a patient’s recent alcohol consumption as determined by AUDIT‐10 and AUDIT‐C. We analyzed a prospective international database of patients with AH diagnosed based on the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) standard definitions. All patients were interviewed using AUDIT‐10. Primary outcomes included the discriminatory ability of the AUDIT‐10 and AUDIT‐C scores for predicting survival status at 28 and 90 days and severity of liver injury, as measured by Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease–sodium (MELD‐Na). The relationship between AUDIT scores and survival status was quantified by calculating the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic analysis. The relationship between AUDIT scores and MELD‐Na was examined using correlation coefficients. In 245 patients (age range 25‐75 years; 35% female), we found no correlation between AUDIT‐10 or AUDIT‐C scores and either 28‐ or 90‐day mortality. Similarly, there was no correlation between AUDIT‐10 and AUDIT‐C and MELD‐Na scores. There was a strong positive correlation between MELD‐Na and 28‐ and 90‐day mortality. Additional measures of severity of alcohol use (average grams of alcohol consumed per day, years of drinking, convictions for driving under the influence, and rehabilitation attempts) and psychosocial factors (marriage, paid employment, and level of social support) had no influence on MELD‐Na. In patients presenting with AH, AUDIT‐10 and AUDIT‐C were predictors of neither clinical severity of liver disease nor short‐term mortality, suggesting that level of alcohol consumption in the prior year is not key to the presenting features or outcome of AH.
Syndemics are a framework that documents health inequities and vulnerabilities in populations with rheumatic diseases. Compared with other approaches, syndemics are able to conjunctly consider ...epidemiological, biological, sociodemographic and economic factors, and their interactions.ObjectiveTo estimate health inequity and vulnerability among Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) in Latin America using the syndemic approach.DesignThis is a secondary analysis of a previously published large-scale study on the prevalence of RMD.SettingStudies carried out in five Latin American countries (Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Venezuela). Health inequity and vulnerability in RMD were identified through a syndemic approach using network and cluster analysis.ParticipantsA total of 44 560 individuals were studied: 29.78% self-identified as Indigenous, 60.92% were female, the mean age was 43.25 years. Twenty clusters were identified in the Indigenous population and 17 in the non-Indigenous population.ResultsThe variables associated with RMD among Indigenous populations were rurality, public health system, high joint biomechanical stress, greater pain, disability and alcoholism; and among non-Indigenous people they were being a woman, urban origin, older age, private health system, joint biomechanical stress, greater pain and disability. We identified different health inequities among patients with RMD (ie, lower educational attainment, more comorbidities), associated with factors such as Indigenous self-identification and rural residence.ConclusionsA syndemic approach enables us to identify health inequities in RMD, as shown by higher prevalence of comorbidities, disability and socioeconomic factors like lower educational attainment. These inequities exist for the overall population of patients with RMD, although it is more evident in Indigenous groups with added layers of vulnerability.
Dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) has caused 2 epizootics with high mortality rates on the Spanish Mediterranean coast, in 1990 and 2006-07, mainly affecting striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba. ...Following the first epizootic unusual DMV infections affecting only the central nervous system of striped dolphins were found, with histological features similar to subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and old dog encephalitis, the chronic latent localised infections caused by defective forms of measles virus and canine distemper virus, respectively. Between 2008 and 2010, monitoring by microscopic and immunohistochemical (IHC) studies of 118 striped dolphins stranded along Catalonia, the Valencia Region and Andalusia showed similar localised DMV nervous system infections in 25.0, 28.6 and 27.4% of cases, respectively, with no significant differences among regions or sex. The body length of DMV-infected dolphins was statistically greater than that of non-infected dolphins (196.5 vs. 160.5 cm; p < 0.001). Molecular detection of DMV was performed by 2 different RT-PCR techniques amplifying a 429 bp fragment and a 78 bp fragment both within the phosphoprotein (P) gene. The 429 bp RT-PCR results contradicted the IHC-DMV results as only 3 of 6 dolphins with positive IHC-DMV had positive PCR results. All 6 cases were positive with the 78 bp RT-PCR. These findings contraindicate the use of the 429 bp RT-PCR protocol based on the P gene to detect this specific form of DMV. DMV localised nervous infection constitutes the most relevant single cause of stranding and death in Mediterranean striped dolphins in the years following a DMV epizootic, and it might even overwhelm the effects of the epizootic itself, at least in 2007.
Goldfish (
Carassius auratus) received escape–avoidance training in a shuttle-response situation at a rate of a single trial per day. Widely spaced training evaluates the ability of a discriminative ...stimulus to control an avoidance response in the absence of stimulus carry-over effects from prior recent trials. In Experiment 1, master goldfish exhibited significantly faster avoidance learning than yoked controls. The results suggest that the shuttle response was instrumentally acquired. Experiment 2 demonstrated a significant deficit in the acquisition of avoidance behavior following ablation of the telencephalon. The implications of spaced-trial, telencephalon-dependent avoidance learning, as demonstrated in these experiments for the first time, are discussed in the context of comparative research on instrumental learning in goldfish. These results provide further support for the hypothesis that the fish telencephalon contains an emotional system that is critical for fear conditioning.
Large clinical trials established the benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in patients with diabetes and with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The early and ...significant improvement in clinical outcomes is likely explained by effects beyond a reduction in hyperglycemia.
The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of empagliflozin on left ventricular (LV) function and volumes, functional capacity, and quality of life (QoL) in nondiabetic HFrEF patients.
In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, nondiabetic HFrEF patients (n = 84) were randomized to empagliflozin 10 mg daily or placebo for 6 months. The primary endpoint was change in LV end-diastolic and -systolic volume assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance. Secondary endpoints included changes in LV mass, LV ejection fraction, peak oxygen consumption in the cardiopulmonary exercise test, 6-min walk test, and quality of life.
Empagliflozin was associated with a significant reduction of LV end-diastolic volume (−25.1 ± 26.0 ml vs. −1.5 ± 25.4 ml for empagliflozin vs. placebo, respectively; p < 0.001) and LV end-systolic volume (−26.6 ± 20.5 ml vs. −0.5 ± 21.9 ml for empagliflozin vs. placebo; p < 0.001). Empagliflozin was associated with reductions in LV mass (−17.8 ± 31.9 g vs. 4.1 ± 13.4 g, for empagliflozin vs. placebo, respectively; p < 0.001) and LV sphericity, and improvements in LV ejection fraction (6.0 ± 4.2 vs. −0.1 ± 3.9; p < 0.001). Patients who received empagliflozin had significant improvements in peak O2 consumption (1.1 ± 2.6 ml/min/kg vs. −0.5 ± 1.9 ml/min/kg for empagliflozin vs. placebo, respectively; p = 0.017), oxygen uptake efficiency slope (111 ± 267 vs. −145 ± 318; p < 0.001), as well as in 6-min walk test (81 ± 64 m vs. −35 ± 68 m; p < 0.001) and quality of life (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-12: 21 ± 18 vs. 2 ± 15; p < 0.001).
Empagliflozin administration to nondiabetic HFrEF patients significantly improves LV volumes, LV mass, LV systolic function, functional capacity, and quality of life when compared with placebo. Our observations strongly support a role for sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in the treatment of HFrEF patients independently of their glycemic status. (Are the “Cardiac Benefits” of Empagliflozin Independent of Its Hypoglycemic Activity? ATRU-4 EMPA-TROPISM; NCT03485222)
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Abstract
Eighty-four Angus crossbred heifers (13 ± 1 mo of age, 329.5 ± 61.92 kg of body weight BW) were used in a generalized randomized block design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of ...treatments. The factors evaluated were: 1) diet type (whole plant sorghum silage SS vs. byproducts-based BP), and 2) feed additive: Aspergillus oryzae prebiotic (AOP; 2 g/d) vs. Negative control (CTL; 0 g/d), resulting in four treatments: sorghum silage-control (SC), sorghum silage-AOP (SA), byproducts-control (BC), and byproducts-AOP (BA). Heifers were stratified by body weight (BW), randomly assigned to treatments (21 heifers per treatment) and housed in 12 pens equipped with two GrowSafe feed bunks each to measure individual dry matter intake (DMI). After a 14-d adaptation, BW was measured every 14 d for 56 d. Chewing activity was monitored through collar-mounted HR-Tags (heat-related tags). Following the performance period, apparent total tract digestibility was measured in 40 heifers, using indigestible neutral detergent fiber as a marker. Heifers fed with the BP diets had greater DMI (2.92% vs. 2.59% of BW, P < 0.01) and average daily gain (ADG; 1.16 vs. 0.68 kg, P ≤ 0.01) than heifers fed with SS diets. Compared with BP-fed animals, heifers consuming the SS diets had 23 more visits/d to the feed bunks (P ≤ 0.01), consumed 53% less dry matter on each visit (P ≤ 0.01), and spent 39% more min chewing/d and 63% more min chewing/kg of DMI (P ≤ 0.01). However, chewing measured in min/kg of neutral detergent fiber intake was not affected by treatment (average 111.3 min/kg of NDF intake). Feeding AOP improved gain:feed (GF) by 15% in BP-fed heifers (0.120 vs. 0.104 kg/kg; P < 0.05). Inclusion of AOP increased organic matter digestibility (OMD) in SS diets (55.88% vs. 49.83%; P < 0.01), whereas it decreased OMD in BP diets (61.67% vs. 65.77%; P < 0.05). In conclusion, ADG and GF of BP-fed heifers was greater than SS-fed heifers, and GF was greater with AOP supplementation in BP-fed heifers. Improvement in GF in BP-fed heifers was likely not related to differences in nutrient digestibility as AOP inclusion did not enhance digestibility in the BP diet. Additionally, the effects of the AOP inclusion appear to be diet-dependent, where the 15% improvement in GF by AOP occurred in heifers fed with the more fermentable diet. Therefore, further research should explore the mechanisms responsible for the observed improvements in growth performance when feeding AOP to BP-fed heifers.
Dietary inclusion of an Aspergillus oryzae prebiotic affects animal responses of growing heifers differently depending on the basal diet.
Lay Summary
This experiment evaluated the effects of the dietary inclusion or not of Aspergillus oryzae prebiotic (AOP; 2 g/d) in two contrasting diets: sorghum silage-based (SS) vs. byproducts-based (BP), on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and feeding behavior of growing heifers. A total of 84 Angus crossbred heifers were used in the study. Heifers fed with the BP diets had greater feed intake, average daily gain, and final body weight. In addition, heifers fed with the BP diets had reduced number of visits to the feed bunk but consumed more in each visit than heifers fed with the SS diets. Additionally, heifers fed with the BP diets had lesser chewing activity measured in total min/d and in min/kg of dry matter intake; however, chewing activity measured in min/kg of neutral detergent fiber was not influenced by treatments. The inclusion of AOP increased the gain:feed ratio by 15% in heifers fed with the BP diet but did not influence this variable in the SS diet. The inclusion of AOP increased nutrient digestibility in heifers fed with the SS diet and decreased nutrient digestibility in heifers fed with the BP diet. These results show that feeding AOP can enhance growth performance in beef heifers in a diet-dependent manner.
Need Satisfaction and Well-Being Church, A. Timothy; Katigbak, Marcia S.; Locke, Kenneth D. ...
Journal of cross-cultural psychology,
05/2013, Volume:
44, Issue:
4
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
According to Self-Determination Theory (SDT), satisfaction of needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness is a universal requirement for psychological well-being. We tested this hypothesis with ...college students in the United States, Australia, Mexico, Venezuela, the Philippines, Malaysia, China, and Japan. Participants rated the extent to which these needs, plus needs for self-actualization and pleasure-stimulation, were satisfied in various roles and reported their general hedonic (i.e., positive and negative affect) and eudaimonic (e.g., meaning in life, personal growth) well-being. Asian participants averaged lower than non-Asian participants in perceived satisfaction of autonomy, competence, and self-actualization needs and in most aspects of eudaimonic well-being, and these differences were partially accounted for by differences in dialecticism and independent self-construals. Nonetheless, perceived need satisfaction predicted overall well-being to a similar degree in all cultures and in most cultures provided incremental prediction beyond the Big Five traits. Perceived imbalance in the satisfaction of different needs also modestly predicted well-being, particularly negative affect. The study extended support for the universal importance of SDT need satisfaction to several new cultures.
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