A hierarchical ecological classification system along the NE Atlantic coast: focusing on the local scale (Cantabria,N Spain)

An ecological classification at the local scale may be a useful tool for conservation planning and for the implementation of specific management programmes in a region. For this purpose, a methodology previously applied on a small scale has been adapted to classify the coast of Cantabria (N Spain). This methodology includes a physical classification and biological validation. The shoreline was divided into 1 km stretches, and the abiotic variables (sea surface temperature, photosynthetically active radiation, significant wave height and coastal morphology) were recorded for each stretch. A hierarchical classification was proposed, with a first level that encompassed a grouping of quantitative variables based on SOM and k-mean analysis and a second level that subdivided the previous groups according to the categorical variable ‘coastal morphology’. To validate the classification using biological data, cover of intertidal macroalgal species was obtained at 14 sites along the study area, and several statistical analyses were applied to test the ecological significance of this classification. Three physical units were obtained (western (W), central (C) and eastern (E) coast), based on abiotic variables. Each group was then subdivided into subunits according to its coastal morphology (cliffs or wave-cut platforms). A general agreement between the macroalgal distribution and physical units was accomplished. In the lower intertidal, Bifurcaria bifurcata and Halopteris scoparia dominated the western and central areas, whereas Corallina spp./Ellisolandia elongata and Gelidium spp. were most abundant towards the east. In contrast, throughout the middle intertidal, Corallina. spp./E. elongata were the dominant taxa. The classification system developed in this study completes a hierarchical framework for classifying the NE Atlantic coast, a promising approach that permits the application of the most suitable resolution in each case study that could be applicable to a wide range of coastal areas.     

Genome analysis reveals insights of the endophytic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus toyonensis</Emphasis> BAC3151 as a potentially novel agent for biocontrol of plant pathogens

Diseases caused by phytopathogenic microorganisms account for enormous losses for agribusiness. Although Bacillus species are recognized as being antimicrobial producers and some may provide benefits to plants, the association between Bacillus toyonensis and plants has not been studied. In this study, the whole-genome sequenced endophytic B. toyonensis BAC3151, which has demonstrated antimicrobial activity and quorum sensing inhibition of phytopathogenic bacteria, was investigated for its potential for the production of compounds for biocontrol of plant pathogens. Four whole-genome sequenced B. toyonensis strains shared 3811 protein-coding DNA sequences (CDSs), while strain-specific CDSs, such as biosynthetic gene clusters of antimicrobials, were associated with specific chromosomal regions and mobile genetic elements of the strains. B. toyonensis strains had a higher frequency of putative bacteriocins gene clusters than that of Bacillus species traditionally used for the production of antimicrobials. In addition, gene clusters potentially involved in the production of novel bacteriocins were found in BAC3151, as well as biosynthetic genes of several other compounds, including non-ribosomal peptides, N-acyl homoserine lactonase and chitinases, revealing a genetic repertoire for antimicrobial synthesis greater than that of other Bacillus strains that have demonstrated effective activity against phytopathogens. This study showed for the first time that B. toyonensis has potential to produce various antimicrobials, and the analyses performed indicated that the endophytic strain BAC3151 can be useful for the development of new strategies to control microbial diseases in plants that are responsible for large damages in agricultural crops.     

Chlorinative stress in age-related diseases: a literature review

Aging is an agglomerate of biological long-lasting processes that result being inevitable. Main actors in this scenario are both long-term inflammation and oxidative stress. It has been proved that oxidative stress induce alteration in proteins and this fact itself is critically important in the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to diseases typical of aging. Among reactive species, chlorine ones such as hypochlorous acid (HOCl) are cytotoxic oxidants produced by activated neutrophils during chronic inflammation processes. HOCl can also cause damages by reacting with biological molecules. HOCl is generated by myeloperoxidase (MPO) and augmented serum levels of MPO have been described in acute and chronic inflammatory conditions in cardiovascular patients and has been implicated in many inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative conditions, and some cancers. Due to these data, we decided to conduct an up-to-date review evaluating chlorinative stress effects on every age-related disease linked; potential anti-oxidant countermeasures were also assessed. Results obtained associated HOCl generation to the aging processes and confirmed its connection with diseases like neurodegenerative and cardiovascular pathologies, atherosclerosis and cancer; chlorination was mainly linked to diseases where molecular (protein) alteration constitute the major suspected cause: i.e. inflammation, tissue lesions, DNA damages, apoptosis and oxidative stress itself. According data collected, a healthy lifestyle together with some dietary suggestion and/or the administration of nutracetical antioxidant integrators could balance the effects of chlorinative stress and, in some cases, slow down or prevent the onset of age-releated diseases.     

Validation of outlier loci through replication in independent data sets: a test on Arabis alpina

Outlier detection and environmental association analysis are common methods to search for loci or genomic regions exhibiting signals of adaptation to environmental factors. However, a validation of outlier loci and corresponding allele distribution models through functional molecular biology or transplant/common garden experiments is rarely carried out. Here, we employ another method for validation, namely testing outlier loci in specifically designed, independent data sets. Previously, an outlier locus associated with three different habitat types had been detected in Arabis alpina. For the independent validation data set, we sampled 30 populations occurring in these three habitat types across five biogeographic regions of the Swiss Alps. The allele distribution model found in the original study could not be validated in the independent test data set: The outlier locus was no longer indicative of habitat‐mediated selection. We propose several potential causes of this failure of validation, of which unaccounted genetic structure and technical issues in the original data set used to detect the outlier locus were most probable. Thus, our study shows that validating outlier loci and allele distribution models in independent data sets is a helpful tool in ecological genomics which, in the case of positive validation, adds confidence to outlier loci and their association with environmental factors or, in the case of failure of validation, helps to explain inconsistencies.     

Relationship between aerobic fitness and metabolic power metrics in elite male soccer players

The aim was to assess the relationship between aerobic fitness and metabolic power metrics in elite male soccer players, and the possible differences that playing positions might impose during match play over new metabolic power metrics. Sixty-two elite professional male soccer players (13 central backs, 13 side backs, 22 midfielders, and 14 forwards) took part in the study. Players were monitored during eleven months of full training (including pre-season and in-season) and over all official matches (Serie A matches, Italy Cup matches). Aerobic fitness tests were conducted one week after the start of the preseason, and 8, 24 and 36 weeks after the beginning of the Championship. Players’ aerobic fitness and metabolic power metrics were considered as the mean of all seasonal testing and of pooling data of 38 championship matches and 3 or 6 Italy Cup matches for all the calculations respectively. The velocity at 4 mmol·L^-1 (VL₄) was significantly related to metabolic power metrics match variables with correlation ranging from trivial to very large (r = 0.32 to r = 0.89). Receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that speed at VL₄ was sensitive in detecting high metabolic power distance (HMPD) changes in all but central back players as revealed by area under the curve (central back .78, 95%CI .47 to .95; full back .93, 95%CI .64 to 0.99; midfielder .88, 95%CI .67 to 0.98; forward .90, 95%CI .62 to 0.99). This study’s findings provide further evidence for the ecological validity of aerobic fitness in elite male soccer players. Players having a HMPD cut-off equal to or higher than > 1450 m for central backs, > 1990 m for full backs, > 2170 m for midfielders and > 1670 m for forwards may be considered as possessing superior aerobic fitness status. In light of this study’s findings, the VL₄ test may be considered a valid test to evaluate meaningful information for direct generic aerobic training in soccer players.     

Odorant-binding proteins in vertebrates and insects: similarities and possible common function

Among the various chemoreception systems, pheromone perceptionin insects provides perhaps the best biochemical model for comparingwith olfaction in vertebrates. The proteins recently identifiedin the two systems are reviewed and their characteristics arecompared with particular reference to the soluble odorant-bindingand pheromone-binding proteins that are present in large concentrationsin both systems. Hypotheses about the functions of these bindingproteins in modulating the olfactory signals are reported anddiscussed.     

Binding of selected odorants to bovine and porcine odorant-binding proteins

Twenty floral smelling tetrahydropyranyl and tetrahydrofuranylethers, and 12 additional compounds with different odours wereused in ligand-binding experiments with purified 19 kDa bovineOBP and 22 kDa porcine OBP. Most of the odorants examined werefound to be good ligands for both proteins, with dissociationconstants in the micromolar range; the data confirm the broadbinding specificity of OBPs. Significant differences, however,measured with some odorants, indicate the possibility of usingOBPs, purified from several animal species, in biosensors forodour discrimination.     

Floral diversity assessment in Alno communal mixed forest in Benguet,Philippines

This study was conducted to assess the floral composition of the Alno communal mixed forest in the Philippines. A quadrat method of vegetational analysis was used for the assessment of trees, shrubs, saplings, and seedlings. A total of 78 species belonging to 43 families were identified in this communal forest. For the assessment of grasses, herbs, ferns, and other low-lying vegetation, the line intercept method was used. A total of 31 species belonging to 20 families were found using this method. The diversity (Shannon–Wiener) indices of this communal forest are 3.2129 and 2.3870 for the quadrat method and line intercept method, respectively. The most dominant species in this area is Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon (Benguet pine) with an importance value of 64.19 %. Endemic species in the area also connote ecological importance, being considered a good indication of the status of habitats and ecosystems of this communal forest.     

Resumption of seasonal breeding patterns in male and female rhesus monkeys transferred from an indoor to an outdoor environment

Seasonal aspects of social behavior and sex steroid levels were observed in two groups of rhesus monkeys from March through December. One group (3 males, 7 females) had lived outdoors for several years. The other group (6 males, 5 females), transferred outdoors in late February, had lived indoors for several years. In March-April, the long-term outdoor residents displayed the expected seasonal pattern of sexual behavior, characterized by absence of complete sequences of copulatory behavior. At this time the indoor-adapted group displayed high levels of copulatory behavior. Thereafter, frequencies of sexual behavior of the two groups were similar. Testosterone in the males was positively correlated with frequency of sexual behavior in each group. Females in the indoor-adapted group displaced menstrual cycles in March and April and 3 of 5 became pregnant at this time. The two remaining indoor-adapted females continued to display ovulatory cycles, but little sexual behavior, throughout the summer. Interestingly, two females in the outdoor-adapted group also displayed summer ovulatory cycles; without concomitant sexual activity. These data show that the disruption of seasonal breeding patterns produced by lengthy indoor housing remains briefly apparent following transfer outdoors, but is substantially overcome within a few months.