Ecological indicators are increasingly used in marine and freshwater management but only few are developed towards full operationalization with known patterns of variability and documented responses ...to natural and anthropogenic environmental drivers. Here, we evaluate potential sources of indicator variability at two different spatial scales in three coastal fish-based indicators of environmental status in the Baltic Sea; abundance of cyprinids, abundance of perch and the proportion of larger perch. The study was performed on a data set covering 41 monitoring areas subject to different levels of anthropogenic impact, at a latitudinal range of 56–66°N and a salinity range of 2–8. Interannual variation was clearly minor relative to spatial variation. Small-scale spatial variation was related to water depth, wave exposure and water temperature. The remaining variation was assessed in relation to differences in natural and anthropogenic drivers between monitoring areas. Cyprinids showed a clear inverse relationship to water transparency, which was used as a proxy for eutrophication, indicating increased abundances in nutrient enriched areas. None of the indicators showed an expected negative relationship to the level of coastal commercial fisheries catches. Rather, a positive relationship for Perch suggested that the coastal fisheries were concentrated to areas with strong perch populations in the studied areas. The effect of salinity and climate (temperature during the growth season) among monitoring areas were small. The results emphasize the importance of assigning area-specific boundary levels to define good environmental status in the coastal fish indicators, in order to account for natural sources of variability. Further, although long-term monitoring in reference areas is crucial for obtaining a historical baseline, our results suggest that the status assessment of coastal fish would generally gain precision by increasingly including spatially based assessments. We propose that similar analytical approaches could be applied to other ecosystem components, especially in naturally heterogenic environments, in order to separate indicator variability attributed to potential anthropogenic impact.
The release of cytochrome c from mitochondria is a key signaling mechanism in apoptosis. Although extramitochondrial proteins are thought to initiate this release, the exact mechanisms remain ...unclear. Cytochrome c (cyt c) binds to and penetrates lipid structures containing the inner mitochondrial membrane lipid cardiolipin (CL), leading to protein conformational changes and increased peroxidase activity. We describe here a direct visualization of a fluorescent cyt c crossing synthetic, CL-containing membranes in the absence of other proteins. We observed strong binding of cyt c to CL in phospholipid vesicles and bursts of cyt c leakage across the membrane. Passive fluorescent markers such as carboxyfluorescein and a 10-kDa dextran polymer crossed the membrane simultaneously with cyt c , although larger dextrans did not. The data show that these bursts result from the opening of lipid pores formed by the cyt c –CL conjugate. Pore formation and cyt c leakage were significantly reduced in the presence of ATP. We suggest a model, consistent with these findings, in which the formation of toroidal lipid pores is driven by initial cyt c -induced negative spontaneous membrane curvature and subsequent protein unfolding interactions. Our results suggest that the CL–cyt c interaction may be sufficient to allow cyt c permeation of mitochondrial membranes and that cyt c may contribute to its own escape from mitochondria during apoptosis.
Intraspecific color vision variation is prevalent among nearly all diurnal monkeys in the neotropics and is seemingly a textbook case of balancing selection acting to maintain genetic polymorphism. ...Clear foraging advantages to monkeys with trichromatic vision over those with dichromatic “red-green colorblind” vision have been observed in captive studies; however, evidence of trichromatic advantage during close-range foraging has been surprisingly scarce in field studies, perhaps as a result of small sample sizes and strong impacts of environmental or individual variation on foraging performance. To robustly test the effects of color vision type on foraging efficiency in the wild, we conducted an extensive study of dichromatic and trichromatic white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus imitator), controlling for plant-level and monkey-level variables that may affect fruit intake rates. Over the course of 14 months, we collected behavioral data from 72 monkeys in Sector Santa Rosa, Costa Rica. We analyzed 19,043 fruit feeding events within 1,602 foraging bouts across 27 plant species. We find that plant species, color conspicuity category, and monkey age class significantly impact intake rates, while sex does not. When plant species and age are controlled for, we observe that trichromats have higher intake rates than dichromats for plant species with conspicuously colored fruits. This study provides clear evidence of trichromatic advantage in close-range fruit feeding in wild monkeys. Taken together with previous reports of dichromatic advantage for finding cryptic foods, our results illuminate an important aspect of balancing selection maintaining primate opsin polymorphism.
This study investigated the reliability and validity (sensitivity and specificity) of cervical auscultation (CA) using both swallow and pre-post swallow-respiratory sounds, as compared with Flexible ...Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES). With 103 swallow-respiratory sequences from 23 heterogenic patients, these swallows sounds were rated by eight CA-trained Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) to investigate: (1) if the swallow was safe (primary outcome); (2) patient dysphagia status; (3) the influence of liquid viscosity on CA accuracy (secondary outcomes). Primary outcome data showed high CA sensitivity (85.4%), and specificity (80.3%) with all consistencies for the
safe
measurement, with CA predictive values of
>
90% to accurately detect unsafe swallows. Intra-rater reliability was good (Kappa
=
0.65), inter rater reliability moderate (Kappa
=
0.58). Secondary outcome measures showed high sensitivity (80.1%) to identify if a patient was dysphagic, low specificity (22.9%), and moderate correlation
(r
s
=
0.62) with FEES. A difference across bolus viscosities identified that CA sensitivities (90.1%) and specificities (
>
84.7%) for thin liquids were greater than for thick liquids (71.0–77.4% sensitivities, 74.0–81.3% specificities). Results demonstrate high validity and moderate-good reliability of CA-trained SLPs to determine swallow safety when compared with FEES. Data support the use of CA as an adjunct to the clinical swallow examination. CA should include pre-post respiratory sounds and requires specific training.
Clinical implications
: The authors advocate for holistic dysphagia management including instrumental assessment and ongoing CSE/review
+
CA. Adding CA to the CSE/review does not replace instrumental assessment, nor should CA be used as a stand-alone tool.
Most mammals live in social groups in which members form differentiated social relationships. Individuals may vary in their degree of sociality, and this variation can be associated with differential ...fitness. In some species, for example, female sociality has a positive effect on infant survival. However, investigations of such cases are still rare, and no previous study has considered how male infanticide might constrain effects of female sociality on infant survival. Infanticide is part of the male reproductive strategy in many mammals, and it has the potential to override, or even reverse, effects of female reproductive strategies, including sociality. Therefore, we investigated the relationships between female sociality, offspring survival, and infanticide risk in wild white-faced capuchin monkeys using long-term data from Santa Rosa, Costa Rica. Female capuchins formed differentiated bonds, and bond strength was predicted by kin relationship, rank difference, and the presence of female infants. Most females formed stable bonds with their top social partners, although bond stability varied considerably. Offspring of highly social females, who were often high-ranking females, exhibited higher survivorship during stable periods compared with offspring of less social females. However, offspring of highly social females were more likely to die or disappear during periods of alpha male replacements, probably because new alpha males are central to the group, and therefore more likely to target the infants of highly social, central females. This study shows that female sociality in mammals can have negative fitness consequences that are imposed by male behavior.
By means of polarized small-angle neutron scattering, we have resolved the long-standing challenge of determining the magnetization distribution in magnetic nanoparticles in absolute units. The ...reduced magnetization, localized in non-interacting nanoparticles, indicates strongly particle shape- dependent surface spin canting with a 0.3(1) and 0.5(1) nm thick surface shell of reduced magnetization found for ∼9 nm nanospheres and ∼8.5 nm nanocubes, respectively. Further, the reduced macroscopic magnetization in nanoparticles results not only from surface spin canting, but also from drastically reduced magnetization inside the uniformly magnetized core as compared to the bulk material. Our microscopic results explain the low macroscopic magnetization commonly found in nanoparticles.
This study investigated the effects of historical long‐term and recent single applications of pig slurry on phosphorus (P) leaching from intact columns of two sandy topsoils (Mellby and Böslid). The ...soils had similar physical properties, but different soil P status (ammonium lactate‐extractable P; P‐AL) and degree of P saturation (DPS‐AL). Mellby had P‐AL of 220–280 mg/kg and DPS‐AL of 32–42%, which was higher than for Böslid (P‐AL 140 mg/kg and DPS 21%). The study investigated the effects since 1983 of four treatments with different fertilizer histories, in summary high (HighSlurryMellby) and low (LowSlurryMellby) rates of pig slurry and mineral P (MinMellby) applications at Mellby and mineral P application at Böslid (MinBöslid). The columns were irrigated in the laboratory five times before and five times after a single application of pig slurry (22 kg P/ha). Concentrations of dissolved reactive P (DRP), dissolved organic P and total‐P (TP) in leachate and loads were significantly higher (P < 0.005) from the treatments at Mellby than those at Böslid. TP concentrations followed the trend: HighSlurryMellby (0.57–0.59 mg/L) > MinMellby (0.41–0.49 mg/L) > LowSlurryMellby (0.31–0.36 mg/L) > MinBöslid (0.14–0.15 mg/L), both before and after the single slurry application. DRP concentrations in leachate were positively correlated with DPS‐AL values in the topsoil (R2 = 0.95, P < 0.0001) and increased with greater DPS‐AL values after the single slurry application (R2 = 0.79, P < 0.0001). Thus, DPS‐AL can be an appropriate indicator of P leaching risk from sandy soils. Moreover, the build‐up of soil P because of long‐term repeated manure applications seems to be more important for potential P losses than a single manure application.
Bleeding remains a severe complication in cardiac surgery. Several studies have found an association between the preoperative plasma concentration of fibrinogen and postoperative bleeding in cardiac ...surgery patients. This raises the question of whether preoperative supplementation with fibrinogen concentrate can reduce postoperative blood loss.
An investigator-initiated, prospective, randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study, was performed in 48 low-risk, coronary artery bypass grafting patients. Subjects were randomized to infusion of 2 g fibrinogen or placebo immediately before surgery, after induction of anaesthesia. The primary endpoint was blood loss during the first 12 h postoperatively. Secondary endpoints included the proportion of transfused subjects, the number of transfused allogeneic blood products (red blood cells, plasma and platelets), and haemoglobin concentration after surgery. Student’s t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare continuous data and χ2-test to compare categorical data between groups.
Median postoperative bleeding was not significantly different between the fibrinogen and placebo groups 650 (25/75th percentile 500—835) ml compared with 730 (543—980) ml, P+0.29. The proportion of transfused subjects (33 vs 29%, P+0.76), number of perioperative transfusions of allogeneic blood products (0 (0–2 vs 0 (0–3), P+0.76) and haemoglobin concentration 24 h after surgery (107 (sd 11) vs 100 (12) g L−1, P+0.07) were not significantly different between the fibrinogen and placebo group, respectively.
Preoperative supplementation with 2 g fibrinogen concentrate did not significantly influence postoperative bleeding, in coronary artery bypass grafting patients without documented hypofibrinogenaemia.
NCT 00968045.
To explore and describe persons with stroke and their caregivers' restrictions in participation in everyday occupations, i.e. occupational gaps, 3-6 months post-stroke, in relation to life ...satisfaction, combined life satisfaction, care-giver burden, perceived impact of stroke, and activities of daily living.
Cross-sectional study.
Persons with stroke and their caregivers (105 dyads).
The Occupational Gaps Questionnaire, Life Satisfaction Checklist, Caregiver Burden Scale, Stroke Impact Scale and Barthel Index were used. Correlations were analysed with Spearman's rank, and regression analyses used life satisfaction as the dependent variable.
At least one person in 86% of the dyads perceived restrictions in participation, with the most common gap in travelling for pleasure. Correlations were low between the numbers of occupational gaps and life satisfaction (R = -0.33, R = -0.31); however, life satisfaction accounted for occupational gaps both for persons with stroke and for caregivers. A greater number of occupational gaps were perceived in the dyads with combined low levels of life satisfaction compared with those with combined high levels of life satisfaction.
Participation in everyday occupations is related to life satisfaction even for caregivers of persons with stroke. The results of this study add to our knowledge about the stroke-caregiver dyad and will help to inform family-centred approaches within stroke rehabilitation.
We investigate the effect of shear flow applied during the drying of aqueous suspension of cellulose nanocrystals on optical reflective properties and structural characteristics of the resulting ...solidified films. Shear flow can significantly improve internal structural homogeneity of the films, while its effect on optical reflective properties is relatively minor. The measured width of the selective reflection peak is an order of magnitude larger than expected for an ideal helically modulated structure, which reflects a distribution of pitch values and possibly also of regimes of distorted helical modulation. We attribute these imperfections to the broad size distribution of the cellulose nanocrystals.
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