Seabirds are distributed widely over the world’s oceans and have adopted a range of foraging tactics to secure food resources necessary for survival and reproduction. To better understand the ...foraging tactics and at-sea distribution of tropical seabirds, 38 Wedge-Tailed Shearwaters,
Ardenna pacifica
(WTS) from Réunion Island (21.375° S; 55.569° E) were tracked during 81 foraging trips using GPS loggers deployed over three breeding seasons (2016–2019). Clustering algorithms, kernel density estimation and habitat models were applied to this tracking dataset. During incubation, WTS foraged in the open ocean towards the southeast of Madagascar. During chick rearing, however, WTS restricted their distribution and implemented a dual foraging tactic, where they executed several short trips near the colony before performing a single long trip (> 200 km) in a similar south-westerly direction observed for incubating birds. Birds did not seem to show a strong preference for specific environmental conditions or habitat features and arguably cue on marine predators, conspecifics, or fish-aggregating devices to find productive foraging grounds. This study confirmed that WTS foraged in areas that have previously been identified as ‘hotspots’ for other marine species which are threatened by anthropogenic pressures; further highlighting that these areas are important from a conservation perspective.
This article examines associations between observed quality in preschool center classrooms for approximately 6,250 three- to five-year-olds and their school readiness skills at kindergarten entry. ...Secondary analyses were conducted using data from four large-scale studies to estimate the effects of preschool center quality and interactions between quality and demographic characteristics and child entry skills and behaviors. Findings were summarized across studies using meta-analytic methods. Results indicate small, but statistically significant associations for preschool center quality main effects on language and mathematics outcomes with little evidence of moderation by demographic characteristics or child entry skills and behaviors. Preschool center quality was not reliably related to socioemotional outcomes. The authors discuss possible explanations for the small effect sizes and lack of differential effects.
•A simplified AAV purification procedure for novice user.•Less labor-intensive, saves resources, eliminates waste.•Eliminates multiple steps used in conventional AAV purification such as fraction ...collection.•Protocol produces a commercially comparable quality of rAAV for use in vivo.
Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) are robust and versatile tools for in vivo gene delivery. Natural and designer capsid variations in rAAVs allow for targeted gene delivery to specific cell types. Low immunogenicity and lack of pathogenesis also add to the popularity of this virus as an innocuous gene delivery vector for gene therapy. rAAVs are routinely used to express recombinases, sensors, detectors, CRISPR-Cas9 components, or to simply overexpress a gene of interest for functional studies. High production demand has given rise to multiple platforms for the production and purification of rAAVs. However, most platforms rely heavily on large amounts of starting material and multiple purification steps to produce highly purified viral particles. Often, researchers require several small-scale purified rAAVs. Here, we describe a simple and efficient technique for purification of recombinant rAAVs from small amounts of starting material in a two-step purification method. In this method, rAAVs are released into the packaging cell medium using high salt concentration, pelleted by ultracentrifugation to remove soluble impurities. Then, the resuspended pellet is purified using a protein spin-concentrator. In this protocol, we modify the conventional rAAV purification methods to eliminate the need for fraction collection and the labor-intensive steps for evaluating the titer and purity of individual fractions. The resulting rAAV preparations are comparable in titer and purity to commercially available samples. This simplified process can be used to generate highly purified rAAV particles on a small scale, thereby saving resources, generating less waste, and reducing a laboratory’s environmental footprint.
Magnetic flux synoptic charts are critical for a reliable modeling of the corona and heliosphere. Until now, however, these charts were provided without uncertainty estimates. The uncertainties are ...due to instrumental noise in the measurements and to the spatial variance of the magnetic flux distribution that contributes to each bin in the synoptic chart. We describe here a simple method to compute synoptic magnetic flux maps and their corresponding magnetic flux spatial variance charts that can be used to estimate the uncertainty in the results of coronal models. We have tested this approach by computing a potential-field source-surface model of the coronal field for a Monte Carlo simulation of Carrington synoptic magnetic flux maps generated from the variance map. We show that these uncertainties affect both the locations of source-surface neutral lines and the distributions of coronal holes in the models.
Objectives
To compare the progression‐free survival of dogs with high‐grade T‐cell lymphoma treated with either a cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone‐based or a modified ...mechlorethamine, vincristine, prednisone and procarbazine chemotherapy protocol.
Materials and Methods
In this retrospective study, cases were selected based on histologic or cytologic diagnosis of lymphoma, T‐cell phenotype, hypercalcaemia, or both, and no previous chemotherapy for lymphoma. Treatment was not randomly allocated.
Results
Seventy‐three dogs were included in this study: 50 in the cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone group and 23 in the mechlorethamine, vincristine, prednisone and procarbazine group. The median progression‐free survival was 133 days for dogs in the cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone group and 97 days for dogs in the mechlorethamine, vincristine, prednisone and procarbazine group. When golden retrievers (n = 16) were evaluated separately, progression‐free survival was longer in the cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone versus mechlorethamine, vincristine, prednisone and procarbazine treatment group (median PFS 154 days versus 70.5 days, respectively).
Clinical Significance
The progression‐free survival time for dogs with multi‐centric T‐cell lymphoma treated with a modified mechlorethamine, vincristine, prednisone and procarbazine protocol was similar to that of dogs treated with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone. Further studies, including those evaluating golden retrievers separately, are needed to confirm these findings.
A new conjugated semiconductor di(phenylvinyl)anthracene (DPVAnt) is synthesized with a structure as shown in the inset to the figure. As shown in the figure, the transport characteristics of DPVAnt ...transistors are very similar to that of pentacene transistors. However, owing to the higher ionization potential of DPVAnt, the mobility of DPVAnt transistors is less affected by exposure to air.
BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in dogs after traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: Determine whether MRI findings are associated with ...prognosis after TBI in dogs. ANIMALS: Fifty client‐owned dogs. METHODS: Retrospective study of dogs with TBI that underwent 1.5T MRI within 14 days after head trauma. MRI evaluators were blinded to the clinical presentation, and all images were scored based on an MRI grading system (Grade I normal brain parenchyma to Grade VI bilateral lesions affecting the brainstem with or without any lesions of lesser grade). Skull fractures, percentage of intraparenchymal lesions, degree of midline shift, and type of brain herniation were evaluated. MGCS was assessed at presentation. The presence of seizures was recorded. Outcome was assessed at 48 h (alive or dead) and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after TBI. RESULTS: Sixty‐six percent of the dogs had abnormal MRI findings. MRI grade was negatively correlated (P < .001) with MGCS. A significant negative correlation of MRI grade, degree of midline shift, and percentage of intraparenchymal lesions with follow‐up scores was identified. The MGCS was lower in dogs with brain herniation (P = .0191). Follow‐up scores were significantly lower in dogs that had brain herniation or skull fractures. The possibility of having seizures was associated with higher percentage of intraparenchymal lesions (P = 0.0054) and 10% developed PTE. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Significant associations exist between MRI findings and prognosis in dogs with TBI. MRI can help to predict prognosis in dogs with TBI.
Objectives
To evaluate the prevalence of cluster seizures and status epilepticus in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy and determine risk factors for cluster seizure frequency, severity and patient ...outcome.
Methods
Retrospective review of medical records of 407 dogs with idiopathic epilepsy was made. Follow‐up questionnaires were evaluated in cases with cluster seizures.
Results
Mean age at diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy was 4 years. Cluster seizures were documented in 169 (41%) dogs. German shepherds and boxers were significantly (P=0·04 and 0·01, respectively) more likely to suffer from cluster seizures compared to Labrador retrievers. There was no association between the occurrence of status epilepticus and cluster seizures and frequency and severity of cluster seizures and status epilepticus episodes with age or breed. Intact males were twice as likely (P=0·003) than neutered dogs to suffer from cluster seizures. Intact females had significantly (P=0·007) more frequent cluster seizures than neutered dogs. The median survival time for all dogs with cluster seizures was 95 months. Significantly (P=0·03) more dogs with frequent cluster seizures were euthanased because of the cluster seizures.
Clinical Significance
There was a high prevalence of cluster seizures in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. Neutering status appears to influence cluster seizure occurrence with intact females more likely to experience more frequent episodes. Euthanasia is associated with frequency of cluster seizure episodes.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a poly- and perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in mice and humans, but little is known regarding one of its replacements, ...hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, referred to here as GenX), both of which have been reported as contaminants in drinking water.
We compared the toxicity of PFOA and GenX in pregnant mice and their developing embryo-placenta units, with a specific focus on the placenta as a hypothesized target.
Pregnant CD-1 mice were exposed daily to PFOA (0, 1, or
) or GenX (0, 2, or
) via oral gavage from embryonic day (E) 1.5 to 11.5 or 17.5 to evaluate exposure effects on the dam and embryo-placenta unit. Gestational weight gain (GWG), maternal clinical chemistry, maternal liver histopathology, placental histopathology, embryo weight, placental weight, internal chemical dosimetry, and placental thyroid hormone levels were determined.
Exposure to GenX or PFOA resulted in increased GWG, with increase in weight most prominent and of shortest latency with
GenX exposure. Embryo weight was significantly lower after exposure to
PFOA (9.4% decrease relative to controls). Effect sizes were similar for higher doses (
PFOA and
GenX) and lower doses (
PFOA and
GenX), including higher maternal liver weights, changes in liver histopathology, higher placental weights and embryo-placenta weight ratios, and greater incidence of placental abnormalities relative to controls. Histopathological features in placentas suggested that PFOA and GenX may exhibit divergent mechanisms of toxicity in the embryo-placenta unit, whereas PFOA- and GenX-exposed livers shared a similar constellation of adverse pathological features.
Gestational exposure to GenX recapitulated many documented effects of PFOA in CD-1 mice, regardless of its much shorter reported half-life; however, adverse effects toward the placenta appear to have compound-specific signatures. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6233.
The pathogenesis and virulence of Bovine enterovirus-1 (BEV-1) in cattle is largely unknown. Reports concerning its virulence suggest that there might be an association between BEV-1 infections and a ...range of diseases in cattle that vary from respiratory to enteric to reproductive disease and infertility. In the current study, the pathogenesis associated with acute infection of BEV-1 in calves experimentally inoculated with the Oklahoma isolate of BEV-1 was described. Although interpretation of the study was limited by lack of an effective control group, results suggest that an association between inoculation of BEV-1, virus localization, and the potential development of lesions in the brain and heart probably exists. In the experiment, BEV-1 virus localized to the terminal ileum, ileocecal and cecocolonic junctions, spiral colon, and ileocecal lymph nodes; BEV-1 virus was detected in the cytoplasm of enterocytes, lamina propria macrophages, endothelium, neurons of the submucosal and myenteric plexi, and lymphocytes of the submucosal lymphoid tissue. Although no clinical signs were noted following acute infection, BEV-1 was localized in the cerebellar white matter of a calf with encephalitis and in the heart of another calf with coronary arteritis. The current study suggests that the BEV-1 isolate is infectious to young calves and that BEV-1 potentially can have a similar pathogenesis to that observed in natural or experimental enterovirus infections in other species.
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