Relationship between the Absorption and Emission Spectra and the "Red Drop" in the Action Spectra of Fluorescence In Vivo

The Stepanov equation, relating the intensity of emission, f_e($\bar{v}$), at a given frequency, and that of absorption, k($\bar{v}$), at the same frequency, is applied, in its modified form (see equation 3 in text) to suspensions of Chlorella, Porphyridium, and Anacystis and to chlorophyll solutions. This application can reveal whether the yield of fluorescence, Φ($\bar{v}$), is constant, or changes with frequency. In Chlorella (green alga) a sharp drop of Φ($\bar{v}$) is indicated towards the lower frequencies (longer waves), beginning around $\bar{v}$ = 1.48 × 10⁴cm^-1 (680 mμ); the Φ($\bar{v}$) function calculated from the Stepanov equation is in fair agreement with the directly determined action spectrum for the excitation of chlorophyll fluorescence in this organism. In Porphyridium (red alga) and Anacystis (blue-green alga) application of the Stepanov equation supports the conclusions, derived from direct measurements, of a much earlier “red drop” of the fluorescence excitation spectra. Direct measurements suggest that the drop in Porphyridium may begin at about 1.53 × 10⁴cm^-1 (654 mμ); in Anacystis, it may begin already above 1.57 × 10⁴cm^-1 (<637mμ). These results confirm the relation, postulated earlier by Duysens and others, between the action spectra of photosynthesis and of chlorophyll a fluorescence in algal cells. The relation of these findings to spectroscopic evidence, suggesting the existence of two main chlorophyll a components in vivo, in green as well as in red and blue-green algae, is discussed.     

Comparison of breeding value prediction for two traits in a Nellore-Angus crossbred population using different Bayesian modeling methodologies

The objectives of this study were to 1) compare four models for breeding value prediction using genomic or pedigree information and 2) evaluate the impact of fixed effects that account for family structure. Comparisons were made in a Nellore-Angus population comprising F₂, F₃ and half-siblings to embryo transfer F₂ calves with records for overall temperament at weaning (TEMP; n = 769) and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF; n = 387). After quality control, there were 34,913 whole genome SNP markers remaining. Bayesian methods employed were BayesB ($\tilde{\pi }$ = 0.995 or 0.997 for WBSF or TEMP, respectively) and BayesC (π = 0 and $\tilde{\pi }$), where $\tilde{\pi }$ is the ideal proportion of markers not included. Direct genomic values (DGV) from single trait Bayesian analyses were compared to conventional pedigree-based animal model breeding values. Numerically, BayesC procedures (using $\tilde{\pi }$) had the highest accuracy of all models for WBSF and TEMP ($\widehat{\rho }$_gĝ = 0.843 and 0.923, respectively), but BayesB had the least bias (regression of performance on prediction closest to 1, $\widehat{\beta }$_y,x = 2.886 and 1.755, respectively). Accounting for family structure decreased accuracy and increased bias in prediction of DGV indicating a detrimental impact when used in these prediction methods that simultaneously fit many markers.     

A Variable Sampling Interval Synthetic Xbar Chart for the Process Mean

The usual practice of using a control chart to monitor a process is to take samples from the process with fixed sampling interval (FSI). In this paper, a synthetic X¯ control chart with the variable sampling interval (VSI) feature is proposed for monitoring changes in the process mean. The VSI synthetic X¯ chart integrates the VSI X¯ chart and the VSI conforming run length (CRL) chart. The proposed VSI synthetic X¯ chart is evaluated using the average time to signal (ATS) criterion. The optimal charting parameters of the proposed chart are obtained by minimizing the out-of-control ATS for a desired shift. Comparisons between the VSI synthetic X¯ chart and the existing X¯, synthetic X¯, VSI X¯ and EWMA X¯ charts, in terms of ATS, are made. The ATS results show that the VSI synthetic X¯ chart outperforms the other X¯ type charts for detecting moderate and large shifts. An illustrative example is also presented to explain the application of the VSI synthetic X¯ chart.     

Sediment microbial communities in Great Boiling Spring are controlled by temperature and distinct from water communities

Great Boiling Spring is a large, circumneutral, geothermal spring in the US Great Basin. Twelve samples were collected from water and four different sediment sites on four different dates. Microbial community composition and diversity were assessed by PCR amplification of a portion of the small subunit rRNA gene using a universal primer set followed by pyrosequencing of the V8 region. Analysis of 164 178 quality-filtered pyrotags clearly distinguished sediment and water microbial communities. Water communities were extremely uneven and dominated by the bacterium Thermocrinis. Sediment microbial communities grouped according to temperature and sampling location, with a strong, negative, linear relationship between temperature and richness at all taxonomic levels. Two sediment locations, Site A (87–80 °C) and Site B (79 °C), were predominantly composed of single phylotypes of the bacterial lineage GAL35 ($\widehat{p}$=36.1%), Aeropyrum ($\widehat{p}$=16.6%), the archaeal lineage pSL4 ($\widehat{p}$=15.9%), the archaeal lineage NAG1 ($\widehat{p}$=10.6%) and Thermocrinis ($\widehat{p}$=7.6%). The ammonia-oxidizing archaeon ‘Candidatus Nitrosocaldus'' was relatively abundant in all sediment samples <82 °C ($\widehat{p}$=9.51%), delineating the upper temperature limit for chemolithotrophic ammonia oxidation in this spring. This study underscores the distinctness of water and sediment communities in GBS and the importance of temperature in driving microbial diversity, composition and, ultimately, the functioning of biogeochemical cycles.     

The effects of fasting on swimming performance in juvenile qingbo (Spinibarbus sinensis) at two temperatures

We measured the following variables to investigate the effects of fasting and temperature on swimming performance in juvenile qingbo (Spinibarbus sinensis): the critical swimming speed (U_crit), resting metabolic rate ${(\dot{\mathrm{M}}O}_{\mathrm{2rest}})$ and active metabolic rate ${(\dot{\mathrm{M}}O}_{2active})$ of fish fasting for 0 (control), 1, 2 and 4 weeks at low and high acclimation temperatures (15 and 25 °C). Both fasting treatment and temperature acclimation had significant effects on all parameters measured (P<0.05). Fasting at the higher temperature had a negative effect on all measured parameters after 1 week (P<0.05). However, when acclimated to the lower temperature, fasting had a negative effect on U_crit until week 2 and on ${(\dot{\mathrm{M}}O}_{\mathrm{2rest}})$, ${(\dot{\mathrm{M}}O}_{\mathrm{2active}})$ and metabolic scope (MS, ${(\dot{\mathrm{M}}O}_{\mathrm{2active}})$–${(\dot{\mathrm{M}}O}_{\mathrm{2rest}})$) until week 4 (P<0.05). The values of all parameters at the lower temperature were significantly lower than those at the higher temperature in the identical fasting period groups except for ${(\dot{\mathrm{M}}O}_{\mathrm{2rest}})$ of the fish that fasted for 2 weeks. The relationship between fasting time (T) and U_crit was described as U_crit(15)=−0.302T²−0.800T+35.877 (r=0.781, n=32, P<0.001) and U_crit(25)=0.471T²−3.781T+50.097 (r=0.766, n=32, P<0.001₎ at 15 and 25 °C, respectively. The swimming performance showed less decrease in the early stage of fasting but more decrease in the later stage at the low temperature compared to the high temperature, which might be related to thermal acclimation time, resting metabolism, respiratory capacity, energy stores, enzyme activity in muscle tissue and energy substrate utilization changes with fasting between low and high temperatures. The divergent response of the swimming performance to fasting in qingbo at different temperatures might be an adaptive strategy to seasonal temperature and food resource variation in their habitat.     

Modeling Caribou Movements: Seasonal Ranges and Migration Routes of the Central Arctic Herd

Migration is an important component of the life history of many animals, but persistence of large-scale terrestrial migrations is being challenged by environmental changes that fragment habitats and create obstacles to animal movements. In northern Alaska, the Central Arctic herd (CAH) of barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) is known to migrate over large distances, but the herd’s seasonal distributions and migratory movements are not well documented. From 2003–2007, we used GPS radio-collars to determine seasonal ranges and migration routes of 54 female caribou from the CAH. We calculated Brownian bridges to model fall and spring migrations for each year and used the mean of these over all 4 years to identify areas that were used repeatedly. Annual estimates of sizes of seasonal ranges determined by 90% fixed kernel utilization distributions were similar between summer and winter ($\bar{X}$ = 27,929 SE = 1,064 and $\bar{X}$ = 26,585 SE = 4912 km², respectively). Overlap between consecutive summer and winter ranges varied from 3.3–18.3%. Percent overlap between summer ranges used during consecutive years ($\bar{X}$ = 62.4% SE = 3.7%) was higher than for winter ranges ($\bar{X}$ = 42.8% SE = 5.9%). Caribou used multiple migration routes each year, but some areas were used by caribou during all years, suggesting that these areas should be managed to allow for continued utilization by caribou. Restoring migration routes after they have been disturbed or fragmented is challenging. However, prior knowledge of movements and threats may facilitate maintenance of migratory paths and seasonal ranges necessary for long-term persistence of migratory species.     

A Global Analysis of Deforestation in Moist Tropical Forest Protected Areas

Protected areas (PAs) have been established to conserve tropical forests, but their effectiveness at reducing deforestation is uncertain. To explore this issue, we combined high resolution data of global forest loss over the period 2000–2012 with data on PAs. For each PA we quantified forest loss within the PA, in buffer zones 1, 5, 10 and 15 km outside the PA boundary as well as a 1 km buffer within the PA boundary. We analysed 3376 tropical and subtropical moist forest PAs in 56 countries over 4 continents. We found that 73% of PAs experienced substantial deforestation pressure, with >0.1% a⁻¹ forest loss in the outer 1 km buffer. Forest loss within PAs was greatest in Asia (0.25% a⁻¹) compared to Africa (0.1% a⁻¹), the Neotropics (0.1% a⁻¹) and Australasia (Australia and Papua New Guinea; 0.03% a⁻¹). We defined performance (P) of a PA as the ratio of forest loss in the inner 1 km buffer compared to the loss that would have occurred in the absence of the PA, calculated as the loss in the outer 1 km buffer corrected for any difference in deforestation pressure between the two buffers. To remove the potential bias due to terrain, we analysed a subset of PAs (n = 1804) where slope and elevation in inner and outer 1 km buffers were similar (within 1° and 100 m, respectively). We found 41% of PAs in this subset reduced forest loss in the inner buffer by at least 25% compared to the expected inner buffer forest loss (P<0.75). Median performance (P˜) of subset reserves was 0.87, meaning a reduction in forest loss within the PA of 13%. We found PAs were most effective in Australasia (P˜=0.16), moderately successful in the Neotropics (P˜=0.72) and Africa (P˜=0.83), but ineffective in Asia (P˜=1). We found many countries have PAs that give little or no protection to forest loss, particularly in parts of Asia, west Africa and central America. Across the tropics, the median effectiveness of PAs at the national level improved with gross domestic product per capita. Whilst tropical and subtropical moist forest PAs do reduce forest loss, widely varying performance suggests substantial opportunities for improved protection, particularly in Asia.     

Rhinos in the Parks: An Island-Wide Survey of the Last Wild Population of the Sumatran Rhinoceros

In the 200 years since the Sumatran rhinoceros was first scientifically described (Fisher 1814), the range of the species has contracted from a broad region in Southeast Asia to three areas on the island of Sumatra and one in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Assessing population and spatial distribution of this very rare species is challenging because of their elusiveness and very low population number. Using an occupancy model with spatial dependency, we assessed the fraction of the total landscape occupied by Sumatran rhinos over a 30,345-km² survey area and the effects of covariates in the areas where they are known to occur. In the Leuser Landscape (surveyed in 2007), the model averaging result of conditional occupancy estimate was ψ^(SE[ψ^])=0.151(0.109) or 2,371.47 km², and the model averaging result of replicated level detection probability p^(SE[p^])=0.252(0.267); in Way Kambas National Park—2008: ψ^(SE[ψ^])=0.468(0.165) or 634.18 km², and p^(SE[p^])=0.138(0.571); and in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park—2010: ψ^(SE[ψ^])=0.322(0.049) or 819.67 km², and p^(SE[p^])=0.365(0.42). In the Leuser Landscape, rhino occurrence was positively associated with primary dry land forest and rivers, and negatively associated with the presence of a road. In Way Kambas, occurrence was negatively associated with the presence of a road. In Bukit Barisan Selatan, occurrence was negatively associated with presence of primary dryland forest and rivers. Using the probabilities of site occupancy, we developed spatially explicit maps that can be used to outline intensive protection zones for in-situ conservation efforts, and provide a detailed assessment of conserving Sumatran rhinos in the wild. We summarize our core recommendation in four points: consolidate small population, strong protection, determine the percentage of breeding females, and recognize the cost of doing nothing. To reduce the probability of poaching, here we present only the randomized location of site level occupancy in our result while retaining the overall estimation of occupancy for a given area.     

A Novel Method for Quantifying the Inhaled Dose of Air Pollutants Based on Heart Rate,Breathing Rate and Forced Vital Capacity

To better understand the interaction of physical activity and air pollution exposure, it is important to quantify the change in ventilation rate incurred by activity. In this paper, we describe a method for estimating ventilation using easily-measured variables such as heart rate (HR), breathing rate (f_B), and forced vital capacity (FVC). We recruited healthy adolescents to use a treadmill while we continuously measured HR, f_B, and the tidal volume (V_T) of each breath. Participants began at rest then walked and ran at increasing speed until HR was 160–180 beats per minute followed by a cool down period. The novel feature of this method is that minute ventilation (V˙E) was normalized by FVC. We used general linear mixed models with a random effect for subject and identified nine potential predictor variables that influence either V˙E or FVC. We assessed predictive performance with a five-fold cross-validation procedure. We used a brute force selection process to identify the best performing models based on cross-validation percent error, the Akaike Information Criterion and the p-value of parameter estimates. We found a two-predictor model including HR and f_B to have the best predictive performance (V˙E/FVC = -4.247+0.0595HR+0.226f_B, mean percent error = 8.1±29%); however, given the ubiquity of HR measurements, a one-predictor model including HR may also be useful (V˙E/FVC = -3.859+0.101HR, mean percent error = 11.3±36%).     

Cardiorespiratory Adaptations during Concurrent Aerobic and Strength Training in Men and Women

This study investigated the effects of endurance followed by strength training (ES, men n = 16; women n = 15), the reverse exercise order (SE, men n = 18, women n = 13) and concurrent endurance and strength training performed on alternating days (AD, men n = 21, women n = 18) on cardiorespiratory parameters. Peak oxygen consumption (V˙O_2peak) and oxygen consumption at sub-maximal power outputs (V˙O_2submax) of 50 to 175 Watts in men and 50 to 125 Watts in women were assessed during an incremental cycling test both before and after 24 weeks of training. Increases in V˙O_2peak in both men and women were statistically larger in AD (18±9% and 25±11%) compared to ES (7±9% and 12±12%, p = 0.002 and 0.009, respectively) and SE (7±9% and 10±8%, p = 0.005 and 0.008, respectively). No statistical group interaction was observed for V˙O_2submax in men, but in women V˙O_2submax was statistically lower at week 24 in ES compared to AD at 75 W (-2±6% vs. +3±6%, p = 0.027) and 125 W (-4±5% vs. +2±5%, p = 0.010). These findings indicate that endurance and strength training performed on alternating days may optimize the adaptations in V˙O_2peak in both sexes, while performing ES training in women may optimize cardiorespiratory fitness at sub-maximal power outputs.     

Angle of Inclination of Tank-Treading Red Cells: Dependence on Shear Rate and Suspending Medium

Red cells suspended in solutions much more viscous than blood plasma assume an almost steady-state orientation when sheared above a threshold value of shear rate. This orientation is a consequence of the motion of the membrane around the red cell called tank-treading. Observed along the undisturbed vorticity of the shear flow, tank-treading red cells appear as slender bodies. Their orientation can be quantified as an angle of inclination (θ) of the major axis with respect to the undisturbed flow direction. We measured θ using solution viscosities (η₀) and shear rates (γ˙) covering one and three orders of magnitude, respectively. At the lower values of η₀, θ was almost independent of γ˙. At the higher values of η₀, θ displayed a maximum at intermediate shear rates. The respective maximal values of θ increased by ∼10° from 10.7 to 104 mPas. After accounting for the absent membrane viscosity in models by using an increased cytoplasmic viscosity, their predictions of θ agree qualitatively with our data. Comparison of the observed variation of θ at constant γ˙ with model results suggests a change in the reference configuration of the shear stiffness of the membrane.     

Determination of sedimentation coefficients of subcellular particles of rat liver homogenates. A theoretical and experimental approach

A simple and convenient method is described for the determination of the average sedimentation coefficients ($\overline{S}?values$) of subcellular particles in a homogenous solution by velocity sedimentation in the preparative ultracentrifuge (swinging-bucket rotor). Theoretically the method is based on the distribution of intact organelles between sediment and supernatant and the convergence of their sedimentation at high centrifugal effects. The data have been treated according to the rate equation of parallel sedimentation in horizontal cylindrical tubes which has been converted to a linear function. By measuring activities of marker enzymes in the sediments, the theory has been confirmed experimentally in the determination of $\overline{S}?values$ and the distribution between supernatant and sediment of intact mitochondria, lysosomes and peroxisomes of rat liver homogenates. The effect of particle concentration on the $\overline{S}?values$ of mitochondria has been determined.     

The Impact of Prior Information on Estimates of Disease Transmissibility Using Bayesian Tools

The basic reproductive number (R₀) and the distribution of the serial interval (SI) are often used to quantify transmission during an infectious disease outbreak. In this paper, we present estimates of R₀ and SI from the 2003 SARS outbreak in Hong Kong and Singapore, and the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) outbreak in South Africa using methods that expand upon an existing Bayesian framework. This expanded framework allows for the incorporation of additional information, such as contact tracing or household data, through prior distributions. The results for the R₀ and the SI from the influenza outbreak in South Africa were similar regardless of the prior information (R^0 = 1.36–1.46, μ^ = 2.0–2.7, μ^ = mean of the SI). The estimates of R₀ and μ for the SARS outbreak ranged from 2.0–4.4 and 7.4–11.3, respectively, and were shown to vary depending on the use of contact tracing data. The impact of the contact tracing data was likely due to the small number of SARS cases relative to the size of the contact tracing sample.     

CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS,ACTIVITY LEVEL,HEALTH-RELATED ANTHROPOMETRIC VARIABLES,SEDENTARY BEHAVIOUR AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS IN A SAMPLE OF IRANIAN 7-11 YEAR OLD BOYS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), activity level, some health-related anthropometric variables, sedentary behaviour and socioeconomic status (SES) of 7-11 year old boys in the city of Ardabil, Iran. Of 21 253 school boys aged 7-11 years, 766 participated in this study using the cluster sampling method. Subjects underwent standard anthropometry. One-mile test was used to evaluate V.O₂ max. BMI cut-off points were used to identify weight status. Child''s TV watching and video playing daily time (TVVPT) was taken for sedentary behaviour evaluation. SES and activity level were measured by standard questionnaires. Of all participants, 8.9% (N=68) of students had CRF lower than normal and 58.6% (N=449) of them had inadequate physical activity. There was a significant adverse relationship between V.O₂ max and body mass index (BMI), waist to height ratio (WHtR), waist circumference (WC), and fat mass (FM) (p<0.05). A significant direct association between SES and both FM and TVVPT was observed (p<0.05). Significantly lower physical activity and V.O₂ max, and higher TVVPT were observed in the obese boys than their counterparts (p<0.05). The results of this study indicated a significant relationship between CRF and physical activity, and health-related anthropometric variables in a selected sample of 7-11 year boys. Moreover, the obese subjects had not only lower physical activity but also longer sedentary behaviour time than their counterparts.