Fluctuating asymmetry as an indicator of stress: Implications for conservation biology

Extinction can be attributed broadly to environmental or genetic stress. The ability to detect such stresses before they seriously affect a population can enhance the effectiveness of conservation programs. Recent studies have shown that within-individual morphological variability may provide a valuable early indicator of environmental and genetic stress.     

Effectiveness of training family physicians to deliver a brief intervention to address excessive substance use among young patients: a cluster randomized controlled trial

Background:

Brief interventions delivered by family physicians to address excessive alcohol use among adult patients are effective. We conducted a study to determine whether such an intervention would be similarly effective in reducing binge drinking and excessive cannabis use among young people.

Methods:

We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial involving 33 family physicians in Switzerland. Physicians in the intervention group received training in delivering a brief intervention to young people during the consultation in addition to usual care. Physicians in the control group delivered usual care only. Consecutive patients aged 15–24 years were recruited from each practice and, before the consultation, completed a confidential questionnaire about their general health and substance use. Patients were followed up at 3, 6 and 12 months after the consultation. The primary outcome measure was self-reported excessive substance use (≥ 1 episode of binge drinking, or ≥ 1 joint of cannabis per week, or both) in the past 30 days.

Results:

Of the 33 participating physicians, 17 were randomly allocated to the intervention group and 16 to the control group. Of the 594 participating patients, 279 (47.0%) identified themselves as binge drinkers or excessive cannabis users, or both, at baseline. Excessive substance use did not differ significantly between patients whose physicians were in the intervention group and those whose physicians were in the control group at any of the follow-up points (odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence interval [CI] at 3 months: 0.9 [0.6–1.4]; at 6 mo: 1.0 [0.6–1.6]; and at 12 mo: 1.1 [0.7–1.8]). The differences between groups were also nonsignificant after we re stricted the analysis to patients who reported excessive substance use at baseline (OR 1.6, 95% CI 0.9–2.8, at 3 mo; OR 1.7, 95% CI 0.9–3.2, at 6 mo; and OR 1.9, 95% CI 0.9–4.0, at 12 mo).

Interpretation:

Training family physicians to use a brief intervention to address excessive substance use among young people was not effective in reducing binge drinking and excessive cannabis use in this patient population. Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, no. ACTRN12608000432314.Most health-compromising behaviours begin in adolescence.¹ Interventions to address these behaviours early are likely to bring long-lasting benefits.² Harmful use of alcohol is a leading factor associated with premature death and disability worldwide, with a disproportionally high impact on young people (aged 10–24 yr).^3,4 Similarly, early cannabis use can have adverse consequences that extend into adulthood.^5–8In adolescence and early adulthood, binge drinking on at least a monthly basis is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes later in life.^9–12 Although any cannabis use is potentially harmful, weekly use represents a threshold in adolescence related to an increased risk of cannabis (and tobacco) dependence in adulthood.¹³ Binge drinking affects 30%–50% and excessive cannabis use about 10% of the adolescent and young adult population in Europe and the United States.^10,14,15Reducing substance-related harm involves multisectoral approaches, including promotion of healthy child and adolescent development, regulatory policies and early treatment interventions.¹⁶ Family physicians can add to the public health messages by personalizing their content within brief interventions.^17,18 There is evidence that brief interventions can encourage young people to reduce substance use, yet most studies have been conducted in community settings (mainly educational), emergency services or specialized addiction clinics.^1,16 Studies aimed at adult populations have shown favourable effects of brief alcohol interventions, and to some extent brief cannabis interventions, in primary care.^19–22 These interventions have been recommended for adolescent populations.^4,5,16 Yet young people have different modes of substance use and communication styles that may limit the extent to which evidence from adult studies can apply to them.Recently, a systematic review of brief interventions to reduce alcohol use in adolescents identified only 1 randomized controlled trial in primary care.²³ The tested intervention, not provided by family physicians but involving audio self-assessment, was ineffective in reducing alcohol use in exposed adolescents.²⁴ Sanci and colleagues showed that training family physicians to address health-risk behaviours among adolescents was effective in improving provider performance, but the extent to which this translates into improved outcomes remains unknown.^25,26 Two nonrandomized studies suggested screening for substance use and brief advice by family physicians could favour reduced alcohol and cannabis use among adolescents,^27,28 but evidence from randomized trials is lacking.²⁹We conducted the PRISM-Ado (Primary care Intervention Addressing Substance Misuse in Adolescents) trial, a cluster randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of training family physicians to deliver a brief intervention to address binge drinking and excessive cannabis use among young people.     

Aulacotheca collicola n.sp. (medullosaceae) from the early Pennsylvanian of the Illinois basin

Compressed synangia referable to the medullosan pollen organ genus Aulacotheca Halle have been discovered in Early Pennsylvanian sediments from Rock Island County, Illinois, U.S.A. Specimens were recovered from localized shales containing floral elements suggesting an upland environment. Based on synangial size, morphology, sporangial number, and prepollen type, two distinct forms, A. collicola n.sp. and Aulacotheca sp., are recognized. Synangia of A. collicola are 11–17 × 2.5 – 4.0 mm and have four to six sporangia. Free sporangial tips are acutely pointed and dehiscence is through a longitudinal slit to the inside of the synangium. Prepollen averages 181 × 129 μm and has a monolete suture with median deflection. Sexine on proximal and distal surfaces shows narrow, closely spaced, anastomosing inpockets; distal and lateral walls are separated by a deep, encircling fold. Synangia of Aulacotheca sp. are 21–33 × 3.8 – 5.5 mm and have 4–6 sporangia. Distally, free sporangial tips have a narrow extension, giving a mucronate appearance. Features of these species suggest that greater morphological diversity in synangial and pollen structure occurs in Aulacotheca and the medullosan pteridosperms than previously recognized.     

A dual switch in phloem unloading during ovule development in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis>

Developing flowers are important sinks in Arabidopsis thaliana. Their energy demand is covered by assimilates which are synthesized in source leaves and transported via the vasculature. Assimilates are unloaded either symplastically through plasmodesmata or apoplastically by specific transport proteins. Here we studied the pathway of phloem unloading and post-phloem transport in developing gynoecia. Using phloem-mobile fluorescent tracers, we show that phloem unloading into cells of ovule primordia followed a symplastic pathway. Subsequently, the same tracers could not move out of phloem cells into mature ovules anymore. A further change in the mode of phloem unloading occurred after anthesis. In open flowers as well as in outgrowing siliques, the phloem was again unloaded via the symplast. This observed onset of symplastic phloem unloading was accompanied by a change in frequency of MP17-GFP-labeled plasmodesmata. We could also show that the change in cell–cell connectivity was independent of fertilization and increasing sink demand. The presented results indicate that symplastic connectivity is highly regulated and varies not only between different sink tissues but also between different developmental stages.     

Endothelial expression of endoglin in normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic C57BL/6J mice before and after atorvastatin treatment

Endoglin (CD105) is a homodimeric transmembrane glycoprotein strongly related to transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta signaling and many pathological states. In this study, we wanted to evaluate whether endoglin is expressed in normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic C57BL/6J mice as well as whether it is affected by atorvastatin treatment in these mice. C57BL/6J mice were fed with chow diet or an atherogenic diet for 12 weeks after weaning. In 2 atorvastatin-treated groups, mice were fed the same diets (chow or atherogenic) as described above except atorvastatin was added at the dosage of 10 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1) for the last 8 weeks before euthanasia. Biochemical analysis of blood samples revealed that administration of atherogenic diet significantly increased levels of total cholesterol, VLDL, LDL, and decreased levels of HDL. Atorvastatin treatment resulted in a significant decrease in total cholesterol and VLDL only in mice fed by atherogenic diet. Quantitative stereological analysis revealed that atorvastatin significantly decreased endothelial expression of endoglin in C57BL/6J mice fed the atherogenic diet. In conclusion, we demonstrated that endothelial expression of endoglin is upregulated by hypercholesterolemia and decreased by the hypolipidemic effect of atorvastatin in C57BL/6J mice, suggesting that endoglin expression could be involved in atherogenesis.     

Biological control of cereal stem borers in Kenya: A cost benefit approach

Lepidopteran stem borers are the key pests of maize in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the lowland tropics, dry mid-altitude, dry transitional and the moist mid-altitude zones of Kenya, the invasive crambid Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) causes up to 73% yield loss. The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) started a biological control (BC) program in 1991 to control stem borers in subsistence agriculture in Africa with emphasis on classical BC of C. partellus. The project released the braconid larval parasitoid Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in 1993 in coastal Kenya, where it got established and spread to other regions. This study assesses the economic impact of the introduced parasitoid. Temporal data on percentage parasitism by the introduced parasitoid and on stem borer density were collected between 1995 and 2004. Socio-economic data was collected through administration of questionnaires to 300 farmers. Economic impact of the project was calculated as the value of the yield loss abated by the parasitoid based on a model of expected stem borer density and parasitism level. Average annual parasitism increased linearly from the time of introduction to reach 20% parasitism by 2004. The net reduction in total stem borer density over the last 10 years was 33.7%, thus abating 47.3% of yield loss. The region will accumulate a net present value of US $ 183 million in economic benefits in 20 years since release of the parasitoid. Introduction of other parasitoid species targeting the egg and pupal stages of the stem borer life cycle stages would be required for biological control to push yield loss by stem borers to an insignificant level.     

Persistent and novel threats to the biodiversity of Kazakhstan’s steppes and semi-deserts

Temperate grasslands have suffered disproportionally from conversion to cropland, degradation and fragmentation. A large proportion of the world’s remaining near-natural grassland is situated in Kazakhstan. We aimed to assess current and emerging threats to steppe and semi-desert biodiversity in Kazakhstan and evaluate conservation research priorities. We conducted a horizon-scanning exercise among conservationists from academia and practice. We first compiled a list of 45 potential threats. These were then ranked by the survey participants according to their perceived severity, the need for research on them, and their novelty. The highest-ranked threats were related to changes in land use (leading to habitat loss and deterioration), direct persecution of wildlife, and rapid infrastructure development due to economic and population growth. Research needs were identified largely in the same areas, and the mean scores of threat severity and research need were highly correlated. Novel threats comprised habitat loss by photovoltaic and wind power stations, climate change and changes in agriculture such as the introduction of biofuels. However, novelty was not correlated with threat severity or research priority, suggesting that the most severe threats are the established ones. Important goals towards more effective steppe and semi-desert conservation in Kazakhstan include more cross-sector collaboration (e.g. by involving stakeholders in conservation and agriculture), greater allocation of funds to under-staffed areas (e.g. protected area management), better representativeness and complementarity in the protected area system and enhanced data collection for wildlife monitoring and threat assessments (including the use of citizen-science databases).