Population regulation and demography in a harvested freshwater crayfish from Madagascar

Despite advances in statistical techniques for investigating population dynamics based on mark–recapture data, the majority of our understanding about demography and regulation comes from relatively few taxa. Most proposed generalisations about the association between demography and variation in population size are based on data from vertebrates, there are few sufficiently detailed invertebrate studies to examine whether these generalisations are widely supported. The population biology of freshwater invertebrates is especially poorly known. We present a large-scale mark–recapture study of an endemic freshwater crayfish from Madagascar ( Astacoides granulimanus ). Variation in density, caused by difference in fishing pressure due to local taboos, allowed us to investigate density-dependent regulation. We found evidence of density dependence in fecundity operating through the proportion of reproductive females by size but no significant evidence of density dependence in growth. Using a prospective analysis based on the elasticities from a size-structured matrix model, we found that both recruitment rates and survival rates of large individuals were strongly associated with deterministic population growth – a result that differs from generalisations drawn from vertebrate studies. A central assumption in mark–recapture studies is that handling does not affect mortality. By treating the number of times an individual was captured as an individual covariate, easily done using the freeware program MARK, we were able to test for, and take account of, handling-induced mortality. Our results show interesting similarities, and important differences, to generalisations based on vertebrate studies and emphasise the importance of population studies on poorly known taxa.     

Narratives of success among Irish and African Caribbean migrants

This paper compares the narratives of two men in midlife who migrated to the UK from Ireland and from the Caribbean as children, in the middle of the last century. We examine how success is narrated over the life course to show how migrants’ positioning of themselves differs from the ways in which they are positioned by outsiders, including in policy and public discourse. We conclude that while outsider narratives often polarise success and failure, insider understandings of success are dynamic and culturally and historically situated.     

Bodians Protargol Method Applied to Other than Neurological Preparations

Some applications of the Bodian technic for other than neurological purposes are described. After fixation for 48 hours, in formalin, 5 ml., acetic acid, glacial, 5 ml., and 80% ethyl alcohol, 90 ml., the routine procedures are recommended, with the exception that the exposure to protargol for 24 hours and subsequent reduction should be repeated once. Gold toning may be o-mitted. With this method the argentaffin (chromaffin) cells of the digestive tract (rat, hamster), the alpha cells of the pancreatic islands (hamster) and the medullary cells of the suprarenal gland (hamster) are selectively impregnated. In the mammalian pituitary gland (rat, hamster) certain of the granulated chromophile cells are impregnated. In the rat only the basophiles appear to react with the silver.     

The Roles of FMRP-Regulated Genes in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Single- and Multiple-Hit Genetic Etiologies

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heritable complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication and restricted and repetitive behaviors. Although roles for both de novo and familial genetic variation have been documented, the underlying disease mechanisms remain poorly elucidated. In this study, we defined and explored distinct etiologies of genetic variants that affect genes regulated by Fragile-X mental retardation protein (FMRP), thought to play a key role in neuroplasticity and neuronal translation, in ASD-affected individuals. In particular, we developed the Trend test, a pathway-association test that is able to robustly detect multiple-hit etiologies and is more powerful than existing approaches. Exploiting detailed spatiotemporal maps of gene expression within the human brain, we identified four discrete FMRP-target subpopulations that exhibit distinct functional biases and contribute to ASD via different types of genetic variation. We also demonstrated that FMRP target genes are more likely than other genes with similar expression patterns to contribute to disease. We developed the hypothesis that FMRP targets contribute to ASD via two distinct etiologies: (1) ultra-rare and highly penetrant single disruptions of embryonically upregulated FMRP targets (“single-hit etiology”) or (2) the combination of multiple less penetrant disruptions of nonembryonic, synaptic FMRP targets (“multiple-hit etiology”). The Trend test provides rigorous support for a multiple-hit genetic etiology in a subset of autism cases and is easily extendible to combining information from multiple types of genetic variation (i.e., copy-number and exome variants), increasing its value to next-generation sequencing approaches.     

An efficient chemical approach to bispecific antibodies and antibodies of high valency

Irreversible chemical programming of monoclonal aldolase antibody (mAb) 38C2 has been accomplished with β-lactam equipped mono- and bifunctional targeting modules, including a cyclic-RGD peptide linked to either the peptide (d-Lys⁶)-LHRH or another cyclic RGD unit and a small-molecule integrin inhibitor SCS-873 conjugated to (d-Lys⁶)LHRH. We also prepared monofunctional targeting modules containing either cyclic RGD or (d-Lys⁶)-LHRH peptides. Binding of the chemically programmed antibodies to integrin receptors α(v)β(3) and α(v)β(5) and to the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone receptor were evaluated. The bifunctional and bivalent c-RGD/LHRH and SCS-783/LHRH, the monofunctional and tetravalent c-RGD/c-RGD, and the monofunctional bivalent c-RGD chemically programmed antibodies bound specifically to the isolated integrin receptor proteins as well as to integrins expressed on human melanoma M-21 cells. c-RGD/LHRH, SCS-783/LHRH, and LHRH chemically programmed antibodies bound specifically to the LHRH receptors expressed on human ovarian cancer cells. This approach provides an efficient, versatile, and economically viable route to high-valency therapeutic antibodies that target defined combinations of specific receptors. Additionally, this approach should be applicable to chemically programmed vaccines.     

Radiation techniques used in patients with breast cancer: Results of a survey in Spain

AimTo evaluate the resources and techniques used in the irradiation of patients with breast cancer after lumpectomy or mastectomy and the status of implementation of new techniques and therapeutic schedules in our country.BackgroundThe demand for cancer care has increased among the Spanish population, as long as cancer treatment innovations have proliferated. Radiation therapy in breast cancer has evolved exponentially in recent years with the implementation of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, intensity modulated radiotherapy, image guided radiotherapy and hypofractionation.Material and MethodsAn original survey questionnaire was sent to institutions participating in the SEOR-Mama group (GEORM). In total, the standards of practice in 969 patients with breast cancer after surgery were evaluated.ResultsThe response rate was 70% (28/40 centers). In 98.5% of cases 3D conformal treatment was used. All the institutions employed CT-based planning treatment. Boost was performed in 56.4% of patients: electrons in 59.8%, photons in 23.7% and HDR brachytherapy in 8.8%. Fractionation was standard in 93.1% of patients. Supine position was the most frequent. Only 3 centers used prone position. The common organs of risk delimited were: homolateral lung (80.8%) and heart (80.8%). In 84% histograms were used. An 80.8% of the centers used isocentric technique. In 62.5% asymmetric fields were employed. CTV was delimited in 46.2%, PTV in 65% and both in 38.5%. A 65% of the centers checked with portal films. IMRT and hypofractionation were used in 1% and in 5.5% respectively.ConclusionIn most of centers, 3D conformal treatment and CT-based planning treatment were used. IMRT and hypofractionation are currently poorly implemented in Spain.     

Interacting forces of predation and fishing affect species’ maturation size

1. Fishing is a strong selective force and is supposed to select for earlier maturation at smaller body size. However, the extent to which fishing‐induced evolution is shaping ecosystems remains debated. This is in part because it is challenging to disentangle fishing from other selective forces (e.g., size‐structured predation and cannibalism) in complex ecosystems undergoing rapid change.
2. Changes in maturation size from fishing and predation have previously been explored with multi‐species physiologically structured models but assumed separation of ecological and evolutionary timescales. To assess the eco‐evolutionary impact of fishing and predation at the same timescale, we developed a stochastic physiologically size‐structured food‐web model, where new phenotypes are introduced randomly through time enabling dynamic simulation of species'' relative maturation sizes under different types of selection pressures.
3. Using the model, we carried out a fully factorial in silico experiment to assess how maturation size would change in the absence and presence of both fishing and predation (including cannibalism). We carried out ten replicate stochastic simulations exposed to all combinations of fishing and predation in a model community of nine interacting fish species ranging in their maximum sizes from 10 g to 100 kg. We visualized and statistically analyzed the results using linear models.
4. The effects of fishing on maturation size depended on whether or not predation was enabled and differed substantially across species. Fishing consistently reduced the maturation sizes of two largest species whether or not predation was enabled and this decrease was seen even at low fishing intensities (F = 0.2 per year). In contrast, the maturation sizes of the three smallest species evolved to become smaller through time but this happened regardless of the levels of predation or fishing. For the four medium‐size species, the effect of fishing was highly variable with more species showing significant and larger fishing effects in the presence of predation.
5. Ultimately our results suggest that the interactive effects of predation and fishing can have marked effects on species'' maturation sizes, but that, at least for the largest species, predation does not counterbalance the evolutionary effect of fishing. Our model also produced relative maturation sizes that are broadly consistent with empirical estimates for many fish species.