Despite the critical role of seed dispersal for tree colonization during forest succession in wet tropical forests, successional trajectories of seed dispersal modes are poorly documented at the ...community level. Overall successional trends in wet tropical forests indicate that, over time, animal-dispersed and large-seeded species increase in relative abundance in woody vegetation, whereas wind-dispersed and small-seeded species decline. Increased abundance of animal-dispersed trees during succession may be attributed to higher rates of seed deposition by animals and higher survival rates of animal-dispersed species with larger seeds (diaspores) compared to wind-dispersed species. We compiled categorical information on seed size (maximum seed length) and dispersal mode (anemochory, autochory, or zoochory) for 240 canopy tree species in six naturally regenerating forests (11–45 years since the abandonment of pasture) and two old-growth forests in lowland wet forests in northeastern Costa Rica. We evaluated dispersal mode and seed size among tree species classified as second growth and old growth specialists, and generalists based on relative abundance data in these plots. Further, we compared long-term trajectories in the dispersal and seed-size profile for 240 species of canopy tree species for seedlings, saplings, and trees ≥5 cm dbh using annual vegetation survey data from 1997 to 2013. Seed size was significantly associated with dispersal mode, which was driven by anemochorous species with intermediate seeds 6 mm to 15 mm and autochorous seeds with large seeds >15 mm. Dispersal modes of canopy tree species exhibited clear directional trajectories, with decreasing relative abundance of anemochory and increasing relative abundance of zoochory. Zoochorous seedlings showed higher survival rates than anemochorous seedlings. Species with seeds ≤ 6 mm decreased in relative abundance through succession, while species with seeds >15 mm increased within seedling and sapling communities. Seedlings with seeds >15 mm showed higher survival rates than smaller seeds in second-growth forests. The study further demonstrates the importance of seed traits, such as dispersal mode and seed size, for community assembly during forest regrowth, and the importance of frugivorous animals in this process. The abundance of animal-dispersed tree species in different size classes can be a useful indicator of the recovery of biodiversity and species interactions during forest succession in wet tropical regions.
1. Successional gradients are ubiquitous in nature, yet few studies have systematically examined the evolutionary origins of taxa that specialize at different successional stages. Here we quantify ...successional habitat specialization in Neotropical forest trees and evaluate its evolutionary lability along a precipitation gradient. Theoretically, successional habitat specialization should be more evolutionarily conserved in wet forests than in dry forests due to more extreme microenvironmental differentiation between early and late-successional stages in wet forest. 2. We applied a robust multinomial classification model to samples of primary and secondary forest trees from 14 Neotropical lowland forest sites spanning a precipitation gradient from 788 to 4000 mm annual rainfall, identifying species that are old-growth specialists and secondary forest specialists in each site. We constructed phylogenies for the classified taxa at each site and for the entire set of classified taxa and tested whether successional habitat specialization is phylogenetically conserved. We further investigated differences in the functional traits of species specializing in secondary vs. old-growth forest along the precipitation gradient, expecting different trait associations with secondary forest specialists in wet vs. dry forests since water availability is more limiting in dry forests and light availability more limiting in wet forests. 3. Successional habitat specialization is non-randomly distributed in the angiosperm phylogeny, with a tendency towards phylogenetic conservatism overall and a trend towards stronger conservatism in wet forests than in dry forests. However, the specialists come from all the major branches of the angiosperm phylogeny, and very few functional traits showed any consistent relationships with successional habitat specialization in either wet or dry forests. 4. Synthesis. The niche conservatism evident in the habitat specialization of Neotropical trees suggests a role for radiation into different successional habitats in the evolution of species-rich genera, though the diversity of functional traits that lead to success in different successional habitats complicates analyses at the community scale. Examining the distribution of particular lineages with respect to successional gradients may provide more insight into the role of successional habitat specialization in the evolution of species-rich taxa.
Liposuction is one of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures in the United States. Tumescent liposuction, in which crystalloid fluids, lidocaine, and epinephrine are infused subcutaneously ...before cannula-assisted aspiration of fat, can be performed without intravenous or general anesthesia, often at outpatient facilities. However, some of these facilities are not subject to state or federal regulation and may not adhere to appropriate infection control practices.
To describe an outbreak of severe group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections among persons undergoing tumescent liposuction at 2 outpatient cosmetic surgery facilities not subject to state or federal regulation.
Outbreak investigation (including cohort analysis of at-risk patients), interviews using a standardized questionnaire, medical record review, facility assessment, and laboratory analysis of GAS isolates.
Patients undergoing liposuction at 2 outpatient facilities, one in Maryland and the other in Pennsylvania, between July 1 and September 14, 2012.
Confirmed invasive GAS infections (isolation of GAS from a normally sterile site or wound of a patient with necrotizing fasciitis or streptococcal toxic shock syndrome), suspected GAS infections (inflamed surgical site and either purulent discharge or fever and chills in a patient with no alternative diagnosis), postsurgical symptoms and patient-reported experiences related to his or her procedure, and emm types, T-antigen types, and antimicrobial susceptibility of GAS isolates.
We identified 4 confirmed cases and 9 suspected cases, including 1 death (overall attack rate, 20% 13 of 66). One instance of likely secondary GAS transmission to a household member occurred. All confirmed case patients had necrotizing fasciitis and had undergone surgical debridement. Procedures linked to illness were performed by a single surgical team that traveled between the 2 locations; 2 team members (1 of whom reported recent cellulitis) were colonized with a GAS strain that was indistinguishable by laboratory analysis of the isolates from the case patients. Facility assessments and patient reports indicated substandard infection control, including errors in equipment sterilization and infection prevention training.
This outbreak of severe GAS infections was likely caused by transmission from colonized health care workers to patients during liposuction procedures. Additional oversight of outpatient cosmetic surgery facilities is needed to assure that they maintain appropriate infection control practices and other patient protections.
A novel class of human β₃-adrenergic receptor agonists was designed in effort to improve selectivity and metabolic stability versus previous disclosed β₃-AR agonists. As observed, many of the β₃-AR ...agonists seem to need the acyclic ethanolamine core for agonist activity. We have synthesized derivatives that constrained this moiety by introduction of a pyrrolidine. This unique modification maintains human β₃ functional potency with improved selectivity versus ancillary targets and also eliminates the possibility of the same oxidative metabolites formed from cleavage of the N–C bond of the ethanolamine. Compound 39 exhibited excellent functional β₃ agonist potency across species with good pharmacokinetic properties in rat, dog, and rhesus monkeys. Early de-risking of this novel pyrrolidine core (44) via full AMES study supports further research into various new β₃-AR agonists containing the pyrrolidine moiety.
A novel class of human beta sub(3-adrenergic receptor agonists was designed in effort to improve selectivity and metabolic stability versus previous disclosed beta ) sub(3)-AR agonists. As observed, ...many of the beta sub(3-AR agonists seem to need the acyclic ethanolamine core for agonist activity. We have synthesized derivatives that constrained this moiety by introduction of a pyrrolidine. This unique modification maintains human beta ) sub(3) functional potency with improved selectivity versus ancillary targets and also eliminates the possibility of the same oxidative metabolites formed from cleavage of the N-C bond of the ethanolamine. Compound 39 exhibited excellent functional beta sub(3 agonist potency across species with good pharmacokinetic properties in rat, dog, and rhesus monkeys. Early de-risking of this novel pyrrolidine core ( 44) via full AMES study supports further research into various new beta ) sub(3)-AR agonists containing the pyrrolidine moiety.
A novel class of human β
3-adrenergic receptor agonists was designed in effort to improve selectivity and metabolic stability versus previous disclosed β
3-AR agonists. As observed, many of the β
...3-AR agonists seem to need the acyclic ethanolamine core for agonist activity. We have synthesized derivatives that constrained this moiety by introduction of a pyrrolidine. This unique modification maintains human β
3 functional potency with improved selectivity versus ancillary targets and also eliminates the possibility of the same oxidative metabolites formed from cleavage of the N–C bond of the ethanolamine. Compound
39 exhibited excellent functional β
3 agonist potency across species with good pharmacokinetic properties in rat, dog, and rhesus monkeys. Early de-risking of this novel pyrrolidine core (
44) via full AMES study supports further research into various new β
3-AR agonists containing the pyrrolidine moiety.
A novel class of human β
3-adrenergic receptor agonists was designed in effort to improve selectivity and metabolic stability versus previous disclosed β
3-AR agonists. As observed, many of the β
3-AR agonists seem to need the acyclic ethanolamine core for agonist activity. We have synthesized derivatives that constrained this moiety by introduction of a pyrrolidine. This unique modification maintains human β
3 functional potency with improved selectivity versus ancillary targets and also eliminates the possibility of the same oxidative metabolites formed from cleavage of the N–C bond of the ethanolamine. Compound
39 exhibited excellent functional β
3 agonist potency across species with good pharmacokinetic properties in rat, dog, and rhesus monkeys. Early de-risking of this novel pyrrolidine core (
44) via full AMES study supports further research into various new β
3-AR agonists containing the pyrrolidine moiety.
A polygenic risk score (PRS) derived from genome-wide association studies of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may inform risk for this disorder. To date, however, no known study has examined ...whether social environmental factors such as attachment style may moderate the relation between PRS and PTSD.
We evaluated main and interactive effects of PRS and attachment style on PTSD symptoms in a nationally representative sample of trauma-exposed European-American U.S. military veterans (N = 2030). PRS was derived from a genome-wide association study of PTSD re-experiencing symptoms (N = 146,660) in the Million Veteran Program cohort. Using one-sample Mendelian randomization with data from the UK Biobank (N = 115,099), we evaluated the effects of re-experiencing PRS and attachment style on PTSD symptoms.
Higher re-experiencing PRS and secure attachment style were independently associated with PTSD symptoms. A significant PRS-by-attachment style interaction was also observed (β = −.11, p = .006), with a positive association between re-experiencing PRS and PTSD symptoms observed only among veterans with an insecure attachment style. One-sample Mendelian randomization analyses suggested that the association between PTSD symptoms and attachment style is bidirectional. PRS enrichment analyses revealed a significant interaction between attachment style and a variant mapping to the IGSF11 gene (rs151177743, p = 2.1 × 10−7), which is implicated in regulating excitatory synaptic transmission and plasticity.
Attachment style may moderate polygenic risk for PTSD symptoms, and a novel locus implicated in synaptic transmission and plasticity may serve as a possible biological mediator of this association. These findings may help inform interpersonally oriented treatments for PTSD for individuals with high polygenic risk for this disorder.
Inherited blood disorders affect 7% of the population worldwide, with higher prevalences in countries in the "thalassemia belt," which includes Bangladesh. Clinical management options for severely ...affected individuals are expensive; thus, targeted government policies are needed to support prevention and treatment programs. In Bangladesh, there is a lack of data, in particular community-based estimates, to determine population prevalence. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of a wide range of hemoglobinopathies and their associations with anemia in a community-based sample of women and young children in rural Sylhet, Bangladesh.
Capillary blood samples from 900 reproductive-aged women and 395 children (aged 6-37 months) participating in the Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition (FAARM) trial in two sub-districts of Habiganj, Sylhet Division, Bangladesh were analyzed for alpha thalassemia, beta thalassemia, and other hemoglobinopathies. We examined the association of each inherited blood disorder with hemoglobin concentration and anemia using linear and logistic regression.
We identified at least one inherited blood disorder in 11% of women and 10% of children. Alpha thalassemia was most prevalent, identified in 7% of women and 5% of children, followed by beta thalassemia and hemoglobin E in 2-3%. We also identified cases of hemoglobin S and hemoglobin D in this population. Having any of the identified inherited blood disorders was associated with lower hemoglobin values among non-pregnant women, largely driven by alpha and beta thalassemia. Pregnant women with beta thalassemia were also more likely to have lower hemoglobin concentrations. Among children, we found weak evidence for a relationship between hemoglobinopathy and lower hemoglobin concentrations.
We found a high prevalence of alpha thalassemia among both women and children in rural Sylhet, Bangladesh-higher than all other identified hemoglobinopathies combined. Community-based estimates of alpha thalassemia prevalence in Bangladesh are scarce, yet our findings suggest that alpha thalassemia may comprise the majority of inherited blood disorders in some regions of the country. We recommend that future research on inherited blood disorders in Bangladesh include estimates of alpha thalassemia in their reporting for public health awareness and to facilitate couples counseling.
Rice-predominant diets are common in Bangladesh, leading to widespread nutritional deficiencies. The Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition (FAARM) cluster-randomized controlled ...trial in rural Sylhet, Bangladesh evaluated a homestead food production intervention implemented 2015-2018 through Helen Keller International, aiming to improve child growth.
We estimated the intervention's impact on women's and children's dietary diversity, a secondary trial objective.
We collected dietary diversity throughout the trial (March 2015 to June 2020) at multiple times each year using standard, United Nations-endorsed, self-reported measures for women (10-food group scale) and children (7-food group scale). We included 28,282 observations of 2701 women (out of 2705 enrolled) and 17,445 observations of their 3257 children (aged 6-37 mo) in 96 settlements, 48 of which received the intervention. We estimated the intervention's impact on dietary diversity by year of intervention, overall periods following the start of the intervention, and seasonally, using multilevel regression with the control group as the counterfactual, controlling for seasonality, baseline dietary diversity, and clustering by settlement and repeated measures.
At baseline, approximately one-third of women and children consumed a minimally diverse diet. Over the entire intervention and postintervention period, women's and children's odds of consuming a minimally diverse diet nearly doubled (odds ratio OR 1.8, P < 0.001, for both). This benefit was barely present in the first year, increased in the second, and peaked in the last intervention year (OR 2.4 for women, OR 2.5 for children, both P < 0.001) before settling at around double the odds in postintervention years (P < 0.001). Dietary improvement was observed throughout the year for both women and children with incremental increases in nearly all food groups.
The nutrition-sensitive agriculture intervention successfully increased dietary diversity in women and children, and these impacts persisted after the project closed, including during the early COVID 19 lockdown period. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02505711.
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