Evolution of dispersal is affected by context-specific costs and benefits. One example is sex-biased dispersal in mammals and birds. While many such patterns have been described, the underlying ...mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we study genetic and phenotypic traits that affect butterfly flight capacity and examine how these traits are related to dispersal in male and female Glanville fritillary butterflies (Melitaea cinxia). We performed two mark-recapture experiments to examine the associations of individuals' peak flight metabolic rate (MRpeak) and Pgi genotype with their dispersal in the field. In a third experiment, we studied tethered flight in the laboratory. MRpeak was negatively correlated with dispersal distance in males but the trend was positive in females, and the interaction between MRpeak and sex was significant for long-distance dispersal. A similar but nonsignificant trend was found in relation to molecular variation at Pgi, which encodes a glycolytic enzyme: the genotype associated with high MRpeak tended to be less dispersive in males but more dispersive in females. The same pattern was repeated in the tethered flight experiment: the relationship between MRpeak and flight duration was positive in females but negative in males. These results suggest that females with high flight capacity are superior in among-population dispersal, which facilitates the spatial spreading of their reproductive effort. In contrast, males with high flight capacity may express territorial behaviour, and thereby increase the number of matings, whereas inferior males may be forced to disperse. Thus, flight capacity has opposite associations with dispersal rate in the two sexes.
The actin cytoskeleton plays a central role in many cell biological processes. The structure and dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton are regulated by numerous actin-binding proteins that usually ...contain one of the few known actin-binding motifs. WH2 domain (
W
ASP
h
omology domain-
2
) is a ∼35 residue actin monomer-binding motif, that is found in many different regulators of the actin cytoskeleton, including the β-thymosins, ciboulot, WASP (
W
iskott
A
ldrich
s
yndrome
p
rotein), verprolin/WIP (
W
ASP-
i
nteracting
p
rotein), Srv2/CAP (adenylyl
c
yclase-
a
ssociated
p
rotein) and several uncharacterized proteins. The most highly conserved residues in the WH2 domain are important in β-thymosin’s interactions with actin monomers, suggesting that all WH2 domains may interact with actin monomers through similar interfaces. Our sequence database searches did not reveal any WH2 domain-containing proteins in plants. However, we found three classes of these proteins: WASP, Srv2/CAP and verprolin/WIP in yeast and animals. This suggests that the WH2 domain is an ancient actin monomer-binding motif that existed before the divergence of fungal and animal lineages.
Cyclase-associated proteins (CAPs) are highly conserved actin monomer binding proteins present in all eukaryotes. However, the mechanism by which CAPs contribute to actin dynamics has been elusive. ...In mammals, the situation is further complicated by the presence of two CAP isoforms whose differences have not been characterized. Here, we show that CAP1 is widely expressed in mouse nonmuscle cells, whereas CAP2 is the predominant isoform in developing striated muscles. In cultured NIH3T3 and B16F1 cells, CAP1 is a highly abundant protein that colocalizes with cofilin-1 to dynamic regions of the cortical actin cytoskeleton. Analysis of CAP1 knockdown cells demonstrated that this protein promotes rapid actin filament depolymerization and is important for cell morphology, migration, and endocytosis. Interestingly, depletion of CAP1 leads to an accumulation of cofilin-1 into abnormal cytoplasmic aggregates and to similar cytoskeletal defects to those seen in cofilin-1 knockdown cells, demonstrating that CAP1 is required for proper subcellular localization and function of ADF/cofilin. Together, these data provide the first direct in vivo evidence that CAP promotes rapid actin dynamics in conjunction with ADF/cofilin and is required for several central cellular processes in mammals.
Four well-studied saprotrophic
species with different decay strategies were cultivated on solid lignocellulose substrates to compare their extracellular decomposing carbohydrate-active and ...lignin-attacking enzyme production profiles. Two
species, the white rot fungus
and brown rot fungus
, as well as one
species, the intermediate "grey" rot fungus
, were cultivated on birch wood pieces for 12 weeks, whereas the second
species, the litter-decomposing fungus
was cultivated on barley straw for 6 weeks under laboratory conditions. During 3 months of growth on birch wood, only the white rot fungus
produced high laccase and MnP activities. The brown rot fungus
demonstrated notable production of xylanase activity up to 43 nkat/mL on birch wood, together with moderate β-glucosidase and endoglucanase cellulolytic activities. The intermediate rot fungus
was the strongest producer of β-glucosidase with activities up to 54 nkat/mL, and a notable producer of xylanase activity, even up to 620 nkat/mL, on birch wood. Low lignin-attacking but moderate activities against cellulose and hemicellulose were observed with the litter-decomposer
on barley straw. Overall, our results imply that plant cell wall decomposition ability of taxonomically and ecologically divergent fungi is in line with their enzymatic decay strategy, which is fundamental in understanding their physiology and potential for biotechnological applications.
Chemical defences against predators underlie the evolution of aposematic coloration and mimicry, which are classic examples of adaptive evolution. Surprisingly little is known about the roles of ...ecological and evolutionary processes maintaining defence variation, and how they may feedback to shape the evolutionary dynamics of species. Cyanogenic Heliconius butterflies exhibit diverse warning color patterns and mimicry, thus providing a useful framework for investigating these questions. We studied intraspecific variation in de novo biosynthesized cyanogenic toxicity and its potential ecological and evolutionary sources in wild populations of Heliconius erato along environmental gradients, in common-garden broods and with feeding treatments. Our results demonstrate substantial intraspecific variation, including detectable variation among broods reared in a common garden. The latter estimate suggests considerable evolutionary potential in this trait, although predicting the response to selection is likely complicated due to the observed skewed distribution of toxicity values and the signatures of maternal contributions to the inheritance of toxicity. Larval diet contributed little to toxicity variation. Furthermore, toxicity profiles were similar along steep rainfall and altitudinal gradients, providing little evidence for these factors explaining variation in biosynthesized toxicity in natural populations. In contrast, there were striking differences in the chemical profiles of H. erato from geographically distant populations, implying potential local adaptation in the acquisition mechanisms and levels of defensive compounds. The results highlight the extensive variation and potential for adaptive evolution in defense traits for aposematic and mimetic species, which may contribute to the high diversity often found in these systems.
Incisional hernia is a frequent complication after loop-ileostomy closure, rationalizing hernia prevention. Biological meshes have been widely used in contaminated surgical sites instead of synthetic ...meshes in fear of mesh related complications. However, previous studies on meshes does not support this practice. The aim of Preloop trial was to study the safety and efficacy of synthetic mesh compared to a biological mesh in incisional hernia prevention after loop-ileostomy closure.
The Preloop randomized, feasibility trial was conducted from April 2018 until November 2021 in four hospitals in Finland. The trial enrolled 102 patients with temporary loop-ileostomy after anterior resection for rectal cancer. The study patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either a light-weight synthetic polypropylene mesh (Parietene Macro™, Medtronic) (SM) or a biological mesh (Permacol™, Medtronic) (BM) to the retrorectus space at ileostomy closure. The primary end points were rate of surgical site infections (SSI) at 30-day follow-up and incisional hernia rate during 10 months' follow-up period.
Of 102 patients randomized, 97 received the intended allocation. At 30-day follow-up, 94 (97%) patients were evaluated. In the SM group, 1/46 (2%) had SSI. Uneventful recovery was reported in 38/46 (86%) in SM group. In the BM group, 2/48 (4%) had SSI (p > 0.90) and in 43/48 (90%) uneventful recovery was reported. The mesh was removed from one patient in both groups (p > 0.90).
Both a synthetic mesh and biological mesh were safe in terms of SSI after loop-ileostomy closure. Hernia prevention efficacy will be published after the study patients have completed the 10 months' follow-up.
Background: Day surgery is an established practice for elective operative care, and is considered safe and cost‐effective in several procedures and for several patients. At present, day‐surgery ...accounts for approximately 50% of elective surgery in Finland. The aim of this study was to prospectively describe the present situation at Finnish day‐surgery units, focusing on the quality of care.
Methods: Fourteen large‐ to medium‐sized day surgery and short‐stay units were recruited, and all patient cases performed during a 2‐month study period were registered and analyzed. Quality of care was assessed by analyzing the rates and reasons for overnight admission, readmission, reoperation, and cancellations. Satisfaction of care was inquired from day‐ surgery patients during a 2‐week period. Head anesthesiologists were interviewed about functional policies.
Results: Of 7915 reported cases, 84% were day surgery. Typically, several specialties were represented at the units, with orthopedics accounting for nearly 30% of all day‐surgery procedures. Patient selection criteria were in line with the present‐day recommendations, although the proportion of older patients and the ASA physical status 3 patients were still relatively low. The rate of unplanned overnight admissions was 5.9%. Return hospital visits were reported in 3.7% and readmissions in 0.7% of patients 1–28 days post‐operatively. Patient satisfaction was high.
Conclusion: Along with the growing demand for day surgery, Finnish public hospitals have succeeded in providing good‐quality care, and there still seems to be potential to increase the share of day surgery. Easily accessible benchmarking tools are needed for quality control and learning from peers.
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