Contrasting fecal corticosterone metabolite levels in captive and free-living colonial tuco-tucos (Ctenomys sociabilis)

The environment in which an animal lives can profoundly influence its biology, including physiological responses to external stressors. To examine the effects of environmental conditions on physiological stress reactions in colonial tuco-tucos (Ctenomys sociabilis), we measured glucocorticoid (GC) levels in captive and free-living members of this species of social, subterranean rodent. Analyses of plasma and fecal samples revealed immunoreactive corticosterone (metabolites) to be the most prevalent GC in this species. An adrenocorticotropic hormone challenge confirmed that fecal corticosterone metabolites are responsive to exogenous stressors and provided validation of the commercial enzyme immunoassay kit used to detect these metabolites. Comparisons of adult female C. sociabilis from natural and captive environments revealed significantly higher baseline concentrations of corticosterone metabolites and significantly greater individual variation in metabolite concentrations among free-living animals. These findings suggest that the natural environment in which these animals occur is more challenging and more variable than the captive housing conditions employed. In addition to providing the first evaluation of GC levels in captive and wild colonial tuco-tucos, our findings indicate that the influence of environmental conditions on stress physiology may have important implications for understanding the social behavior of this species in the laboratory and the field.     

Zinc requirement during meiosis I-meiosis II transition in mouse oocytes is independent of the MOS-MAPK pathway

Zinc is essential for many biological processes, including proper functioning of gametes. We recently reported that zinc levels rise by over 50% during oocyte maturation and that attenuation of zinc availability during this period could be achieved using the membrane-permeable heavy metal chelator N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN). This zinc insufficiency resulted in formation of large polar bodies, failure to establish metaphase II arrest, and impaired establishment of cortical polarity. As these phenotypes resemble those of MOS null oocytes, we examined the impact of zinc insufficiency on the MOS-MAPK pathway. Reduced levels of both MOS protein and phosphorylation of MAP2K1/2 are observed in zinc-insufficient oocytes; however, these differences appear only after completion of the first meiotic division. In addition, activation of the downstream effector of the MOS pathway, MAPK3/1, is not affected by zinc insufficiency, and reduced MOS levels are observed only with the presence of TPEN after the first polar body extrusion. These data are inconsistent with the hypothesis that reduced MOS mediates the observed phenotype. Finally, MOS overexpression does not rescue the phenotype of zinc-insufficient oocytes, confirming that the observed disruption of asymmetric division and spindle abnormalities cannot be attributed to impaired MOS signaling. Zinc-insufficient oocytes do not increase maturation promoting factor (MPF) activity following the first meiotic division, and increasing MPF activity through expression of nondegradable cyclin B1 partially rescues the ability of zinc-insufficient oocytes to enter metaphase II. Although we have shown that zinc has a novel role in the meiotic cell cycle, it is not mediated through the MOS-MAPK pathway.     

Transpiration and whole-tree conductance in ponderosa pine trees of different heights

Changes in leaf physiology with tree age and size could alter forest growth, water yield, and carbon fluxes. We measured tree water flux (Q) for 14 ponderosa pine trees in two size classes (12 m tall and ∼40 years old, and 36 m tall and ∼ 290 years old) to determine if transpiration (E) and whole-tree conductance (g _t) differed between the two sizes of trees. For both size classes, E was approximately equal to Q measured 2 m above the ground: Q was most highly correlated with current, not lagged, water vapor pressure deficit, and night Q was <12% of total daily flux. E for days 165–195 and 240–260 averaged 0.97 mmol m^–2 (leaf area, projected) s^–1 for the 12-m trees and 0.57 mmol m^–2 (leaf area) s^–1 for the 36-m trees. When photosynthetically active radiation (I _P) exceeded the light saturation for photosynthesis in ponderosa pine (900 μmol m^–2 (ground) s^–1), differences in E were more pronounced: 2.4 mmol m^–2 (leaf area) s^–1 for the 12-m trees and 1.2 mmol m^–2 s^–1 for the 36-m trees, yielding g _t of 140 mmol m^–2 (leaf area) s^–1 for the 12-m trees and 72 mmol m^–2 s^–1 for the 36-m trees. Extrapolated to forests with leaf area index =1, the 36-m trees would transpire 117 mm between 1 June and 31 August compared to 170 mm for the 12-m trees, a difference of 15% of average annual precipitation. Lower g _t in the taller trees also likely lowers photosynthesis during the growing season. Received: 19 April 1999 / Accepted: 23 March 2000     

The Possible Role of Resource Requirements and Academic Career-Choice Risk on Gender Differences in Publication Rate and Impact

Many studies demonstrate that there is still a significant gender bias, especially at higher career levels, in many areas including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). We investigated field-dependent, gender-specific effects of the selective pressures individuals experience as they pursue a career in academia within seven STEM disciplines. We built a unique database that comprises 437,787 publications authored by 4,292 faculty members at top United States research universities. Our analyses reveal that gender differences in publication rate and impact are discipline-specific. Our results also support two hypotheses. First, the widely-reported lower publication rates of female faculty are correlated with the amount of research resources typically needed in the discipline considered, and thus may be explained by the lower level of institutional support historically received by females. Second, in disciplines where pursuing an academic position incurs greater career risk, female faculty tend to have a greater fraction of higher impact publications than males. Our findings have significant, field-specific, policy implications for achieving diversity at the faculty level within the STEM disciplines.     

Predicting U.S. Tuberculosis Case Counts through 2020

In 2010, foreign-born persons accounted for 60% of all tuberculosis (TB) cases in the United States. Understanding which national groups make up the highest proportion of TB cases will assist TB control programs in concentrating limited resources where they can provide the greatest impact on preventing transmission of TB disease. The objective of our study was to predict through 2020 the numbers of U.S. TB cases among U.S.-born, foreign-born and foreign-born persons from selected countries of birth. TB case counts reported through the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System from 2000–2010 were log-transformed, and linear regression was performed to calculate predicted annual case counts and 95% prediction intervals for 2011–2020. Data were analyzed in 2011 before 2011 case counts were known. Decreases were predicted between 2010 observed and 2020 predicted counts for total TB cases (11,182 to 8,117 [95% prediction interval 7,262–9,073]) as well as TB cases among foreign-born persons from Mexico (1,541 to 1,420 [1,066–1,892]), the Philippines (740 to 724 [569–922]), India (578 to 553 [455–672]), Vietnam (532 to 429 [367–502]) and China (364 to 328 [249–433]). TB cases among persons who are U.S.-born and foreign-born were predicted to decline 47% (4,393 to 2,338 [2,113–2,586]) and 6% (6,720 to 6,343 [5,382–7,476]), respectively. Assuming rates of declines observed from 2000–2010 continue until 2020, a widening gap between the numbers of U.S.-born and foreign-born TB cases was predicted. TB case count predictions will help TB control programs identify needs for cultural competency, such as languages and interpreters needed for translating materials or engaging in appropriate community outreach.     

Coverage of Adequately Iodized Salt Is Suboptimal and Rice Fortification Using Public Distribution Channels Could Reach Low-Income Households: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey of Anganwadi Center Catchment Areas in Telangana,India

Food fortification is a cost-effective approach to prevent and control of micronutrient deficiencies in India. A cross-sectional survey of children 0–35 months of age residing in the catchment areas of anganwadi centers in the state of Telangana was conducted to assess the coverage of adequately iodized salt and the potential for rice fortification. Salt samples were collected and tested for iodine concentration using iodometric titration. Information on demographics, household rice consumption, and Telangana’s rice sector was collected and interpreted. In households of selected children, 79% of salt samples were found to be adequately iodized. Salt brand and district were significant predictors of inadequately iodized salt. Daily rice consumption among children and women averaged 122 grams and 321 grams per day, respectively. Approximately 28% of households reported consuming rice produced themselves or purchased from a local farmer, 65% purchased rice from a market or shop, 6% got rice from a public distribution system site, and 2% obtained it from a rice mill. In the catchment areas of Telangana’s anganwadi centers, there is significant variation in the coverage of adequately iodized salt by district. Future surveys in Telangana should measure the coverage of salt iodization in the general population using quantitative methods. Nonetheless, increasing the adequacy of iodization of smaller salt manufacturers would help achieve universal salt iodization in Telangana. Despite high consumption of rice, our findings suggest that large-scale market-based rice fortification is not feasible in Telangana due to a large proportion of households producing their own rice and highly fragmented rice distribution. Distributing fortified rice via Telangana’s public distribution system may be a viable approach to target low-income households, but would only reach a small proportion of the population in Telangana.     

Genetics of Biomphalaria glabrata: Linkage analysis of genes for pigmentation,enzymes, and resistance to Schistosoma mansoni

The snail, Biomphalaria glabrata, is a major intermediate host of the human blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni, in the Americas. The inheritance and linkage relationships of a gene enabling adult snails to resist infection by a Puerto Rican strain of the parasite were analyzed using two laboratory stocks that differed in susceptibility, pigmentation, and five electrophoretically detectable enzyme markers. Segregation ratios in second-generation intraspecific hybrids between susceptible (M-stock) and resistant (10-R2-stock) snails indicate that the susceptibility gene is not linked to the enzyme (ACON-1, ACP, EST-2, PEP-2, PGD) or pigmentation loci studied. These seven loci assort independently of one another. Observed rates of infection among F1 and F2 progeny are consistent with Richards' finding that adult susceptibility to the PR-1 strain of S. mansoni is controlled by a single locus with resistance dominant. No association between allozymes of acid phosphatase and snail susceptibility to PR-1 was seen in the snail-parasite combinations studied.     

Direct detection of a dioxygen adduct of cytochrome a3 in the mixed valence cytochrome oxidase/dioxygen reaction

Time-resolved resonance Raman spectra have been recorded during the reaction of mixed valence (a3+ a2+(3)) cytochrome oxidase with dioxygen at room temperature. In the spectrum recorded at 10 microseconds subsequent to carbon monoxide photolysis, a mode is observed at 572 cm-1 that shifts to 548 cm-1 when the experiment is repeated with 18O2. The appearance of this mode is dependent upon the laser intensity used and disappears at higher incident energies. The high frequency data in conjunction with the mid-frequency data allow us to assign the 572 cm-1 mode to the Fe-O stretching vibration of the low-spin O2 adduct that forms in the mixed valence cytochrome oxidase/dioxygen reaction. The 572 cm-1 v(Fe2(+)-O2) frequency in the mixed valence enzyme/O2 adduct is essentially identical to the 571 cm-1 frequency we measured for this mode during the reduction of O2 by the fully reduced enzyme (Varotsis, C., Woodruff, W. H., and Babcock, G. T. (1989) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 111, 6439-6440; Varotsis, C., Woodruff, W. H., and Babcock, G. T. (1990) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 112, 1297), which indicates that the O2-bound cytochrome a3 site is independent of the redox state of the cytochrome a/CuA pair. The photolabile oxy intermediate is replaced by photostable low- or intermediate-spin cytochrome a3+(3), with t1/2 congruent to 200 microseconds.     

Time-resolved magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy of photolyzed carbonmonoxy cytochrome c oxidase (cytochrome aa3).

Nanosecond time-resolved magnetic circular dichroism (TRMCD) and time-resolved natural circular dichroism (TRCD) measurements of photolysis products of the CO complex of eukaryotic cytochrome c oxidase (CcO-CO) are presented. TRMCD spectra obtained at 100 ns and 10 microseconds after photolysis are diagnostic of pentacoordinate cytochrome a3Fe2+, as would be expected for simple photodissociation. Other time-resolved spectroscopies (UV-visible and resonance Raman), however, show evidence for unusual Fea3(2+) coordination after CO photolysis (Woodruff, W. H., O. Einarsdóttir, R. B. Dyer, K. A. Bagley, G. Palmer, S. J. Atherton, R. A. Goldbeck, T. D. Dawes, and D. S. Kliger. 1991. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88:2588-2592). Furthermore, time-resolved IR experiments have shown that photodissociated CO binds to CuB+ prior to recombining with Fea3(2+) (Dyer, R. B., O. Einarsdóttir, P. M. Killough, J. J. López-Garriga, and W. H. Woodruff. 1989. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 111:7657-7659). A model of the CcO-CO photolysis cycle which is consistent with all of the spectroscopic results is presented. A novel feature of this model is the coordination of a ligand endogenous to the protein to the Fe axial site vacated by the photolyzed CO and the simultaneous breaking of the Fe-imidazole(histidine) bond.     

Centrilobular emphysema and coronary artery calcification: mediation analysis in the SPIROMICS cohort

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with a two-to-five fold increase in the risk of coronary artery disease independent of shared risk factors. This association is hypothesized to be mediated by systemic inflammation but this link has not been established.

Methods

We included 300 participants enrolled in the SPIROMICS cohort, 75 each of lifetime non-smokers, smokers without airflow obstruction, mild-moderate COPD, and severe-very severe COPD. We quantified emphysema and airway disease on computed tomography, characterized visual emphysema subtypes (centrilobular and paraseptal) and airway disease, and used the Weston visual score to quantify coronary artery calcification (CAC). We used the Sobel test to determine whether markers of systemic inflammation mediated a link between spirometric and radiographic features of COPD and CAC.

Results

FEV₁/FVC but not quantitative emphysema or airway wall thickening was associated with CAC (p?=?0.036), after adjustment for demographics, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, statin use, and CT scanner type. To explain this discordance, we examined visual subtypes of emphysema and airway disease, and found that centrilobular emphysema but not paraseptal emphysema or bronchial thickening was independently associated with CAC (p?=?0.019). MMP3, VCAM1, CXCL5 and CXCL9 mediated 8, 8, 7 and 16% of the association between FEV₁/FVC and CAC, respectively. Similar biomarkers partially mediated the association between centrilobular emphysema and CAC.

Conclusions

The association between airflow obstruction and coronary calcification is driven primarily by the centrilobular subtype of emphysema, and is linked through bioactive molecules implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: Identifier: NCT01969344.