Determining cryptic species and diversity in at-risk species is necessary for the understanding and conservation of biodiversity. The endangered Banff Springs Snail,
Physella johnsoni
, inhabits ...seven highly specialized thermal springs in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. However, it has been difficult to reconcile its species status to the much more common
Physella gyrina
using ecology, morphology and genetics. Here we used pooled whole-genome sequencing to characterize genomic variation and structure among five populations of
P. johnsoni
and three geographical proximate
P. gyrina
populations. By comparing over two million single nucleotide polymorphisms, we detected substantial genetic distance (pairwise
F
ST
of 0.27 to 0.44) between
P. johnsoni
and
P. gyrina
, indicative of unique gene pools. Genetic clusters among populations were found for both species, with up to 10% for
P. johnsoni
and 30% for
P. gyrina
of genetic variation being explained by population structure.
P. johnsoni
was found to have lower genetic diversity compared to
P. gyrina
, however, no patterns of were observed between genetic diversity and population minimums. Our results confirm that designation of
P. johnsoni
as an endangered species is warranted and that both
P. johnsoni
and
P. gyrina
exhibit microgeographic population genomic structure suggestive of rapid local adaptation and/or genetic drift within environments. This study showcases the utility of genomics to resolve patterns of cryptic species and diversity for effective conservation management. Future studies on the functional genomic diversity of
P. johnsoni
populations are needed to test for the possible role of selection within this thermal spring environment.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to compare rates of clinically significant complications between 23- and 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in vitreoretinal surgery.
Methods:
Demographics, ...PPV indication, and surgical complications were reviewed. Patients with prior PPV or other retina surgery; cases requiring silicone oil removal, keratoplasty, or glaucoma valve implant; patients <18 years old; or patients with <4 months of follow-up were excluded. Comparative and descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the data.
Results:
A total of 579 eyes met inclusion criteria, and their charts were reviewed. Demographics, PPV indication, follow-up time, and lens status were similar (P > .05). A 23-gauge PPV was performed more frequently than a 25-gauge PPV (328 vs 251 eyes, respectively). Although rates of eyes with a clinically significant postoperative complication requiring surgical intervention were higher in 23-gauge PPV (112/325, 34.4%) than in 25-gauge PPV (54/250, 21.6%), PPVs indicated by rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were more common with 23-gauge PPVs (155/325, 47.7%) than with 25-gauge PPVs (37/250, 14.8%; P <.001) and were more likely to have postoperative complications; however, rates of recurrent retinal detachments were not different in the 2 cohorts (P = .862). When controlling for differences in indication, there was a moderately higher rate of postoperative complications following 23-gauge PPV (P = .063).
Conclusions:
This retrospective review suggests that clinically significant complications are moderately more likely following 23-gauge PPV compared with 25-gauge PPV, even when the differences in surgical indication are considered.
Factors associated with weight concerns in adolescent girls Taylor, C.B. (Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA.); Sharpe, T; Shisslak, C ...
The International journal of eating disorders,
July 1998, Volume:
24, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Objective: This study examined the association of weight concerns with potential risk factors for the development of eating disorders. Method: A self-report survey was given to 103 elementary (Grades ...4 and 5) and 420 middle (Grades 6-8) school students in Arizona and California. of these, 78 elementary and 333 middle school students provided complete data and were used in the analyses. Results: In a multivariate stepwise regression analysis, the importance that peers put on weight and eating was most strongly related to weight concerns in the elementary school girls, accounting for 34% of the variance after adjusting for site differences. Trying to look like girls/women on TV and in magazines as well as body mass index (BMI) entered the final model that accounted for 57% of the variance in weight concerns. In middle school, the importance that peers place on weight and eating was also the strongest predictor accounting for 33% of the variance followed by confidence, BMI, trying to look like girls/women on TV and in magazines, and being teased about weight. Together these variables accounted for 55% of the variance. Discussion: Prevention programs aimed at reducing weight concerns need to address these factors
Ecosystem services reinforce Sumatran tiger conservation in land use plans Bhagabati, Nirmal K; Taylor RickettsauthorGund Institute for Ecological Economics, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, 617 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05405, USA; Thomas Barano Siswa SulistyawanauthorWWF Indonesia, Gedung Graha Simatupang, Tower 2 Unit C lt. 7 11, Jl. Letjen. TB. Simatupang, Jakarta Selatan 12540, Indonesia ...
2015
Journal Article
Skin-test studies with a series of tuberculins have been carried out in close contacts of multibacillary (MB) leprosy patients around three leprosy centers in India, and casual contacts of the ...disease around two centers. The results show that the rate of acquisition of leprosin A positivity is associated with age and the closeness of contact with MB leprosy. At the age of 15 years, the differences between the two types of contact were highly significant (p less than 0.00001). Many responses to leprosin A are directed toward the group iv species-specific, antigens of the leprosy bacillus, and the significance of positivity is discussed in relation to protective immunity from leprosy. The differences from Iran show that positivity to leprosin A is not solely the effect of the degree of contact with the disease, but must also have a genetic or environmental element, the latter being favored. The results from Miraj show that the high levels of tuberculin, scrofulin, and vaccin positivity seen in Fathimanagar, and to a lesser extent in Karigiri, are not a consequence of contact with leprosy. BCG vaccination made little difference to the leprosin A positivity of close contacts of leprosy patients, although it significantly enhanced positivity among casual contacts around Miraj (p less than 0.002). BCG vaccination significantly increased tuberculin positivity in Miraj and Karigri, and in those under 11 years of age in Fathimanagar. It made no difference to the already high level of positivity found in older persons around Fathimanagar.
There is evidence that central monoamines are involved in the actions of benzodiazepines. We have investigated the effects of a single dose of the benzodiazepine partial inverse agonist, FG 7142, on ...radioligand binding to alpha 2- and beta-adrenoceptors in mouse cerebral cortex. We found that seven days after a single injection of FG 7142 there was a large increase in the density of beta-adrenoceptors. This rise was not detectable either 15-30 min, or 24 h after the injection and no statistically significant changes in alpha 2-adrenoceptor binding were found at any of these times. Administration of the benzodiazepine antagonist Ro 15-1788 at the same time as FG 7142 prevented the rise in beta-adrenoceptor density. We discuss the possibility that the beta-adrenoceptor upregulation is related to the behavioural effects of FG 7142.
We report the effects of kindling with the benzodiazepine partial inverse agonist, FG 7142 on adrenoceptor binding in mouse cerebral cortex. Twelve once-daily injections of FG 7142 caused a ...statistically significant increase in the density of both alpha 2- and beta-adrenoceptor binding sites, seven days after the last injection. Despite the marked effects of FG 7142 on adrenoceptors, there were no changes in either alpha 2- or beta-adrenoceptor binding after prolonged treatment with the benzodiazepine, flurazepam.
PURPOSETo report the case of an adolescent male with a history of Best macular dystrophy and retinal astrocytic hamartoma. OBSERVATIONSA 15 year old male with a history of Best macular dystrophy who ...had been followed by ophthalmology for 9 years was noted to have progressive enlargement of a superonasal peripapillary retinal lesion. Imaging and exam are consistent with a diagnosis of retinal astrocytic hamartoma. There were no extraocular signs or symptoms that were diagnostic of a phakamatosis. Genetic testing was positive for a mutation in BEST1, but not TSC1 or TSC2. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCERetinal astrocytic hamartoma is an unusual association with Best macular dystrophy, and this case highlights the balanced approach needed to navigate a potentially complex work-up.
Our understanding of protective versus pathological immune responses to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is limited by inadequate profiling of patients at the ...extremes of the disease severity spectrum. Here, we performed multi-omic single-cell immune profiling of 64 COVID-19 patients across the full range of disease severity, from outpatients with mild disease to fatal cases. Our transcriptomic, epigenomic, and proteomic analyses revealed widespread dysfunction of peripheral innate immunity in severe and fatal COVID-19, including prominent hyperactivation signatures in neutrophils and NK cells. We also identified chromatin accessibility changes at NF-κB binding sites within cytokine gene loci as a potential mechanism for the striking lack of pro-inflammatory cytokine production observed in monocytes in severe and fatal COVID-19. We further demonstrated that emergency myelopoiesis is a prominent feature of fatal COVID-19. Collectively, our results reveal disease severity-associated immune phenotypes in COVID-19 and identify pathogenesis-associated pathways that are potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
Using a large set of plant gene sequences we compared individual introns to their flanking exons. Both Zea mays and Arabidopsis thaliana introns are U-rich but display no apparent bias for A. We ...identified fifteen 11-mer U-rich motifs as frequent elements of maize introns, and these are virtually absent from exons. By mutagenesis, we show that the single U-rich motif in the Bronze2 intron of maize plays a key role in intron processing in vivo.
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