A dead giveaway: Foraging vultures and other avian scavengers respond to auditory cues

Carrion represents an unpredictable and widely distributed primary food source for vultures and other avian scavengers. Avian scavengers in African savanna ecosystems are reported to rely exclusively on visual stimuli to locate carcasses. However, carnivores’ predation of large mammalian herbivores and subsequent competition for access to the carcass can result in considerable noise, often audible over long distances and for prolonged periods. Vultures and other avian scavengers may therefore detect and respond to these auditory cues, as do the mammalian carnivores alongside which vultures have coevolved, but this has not been investigated to date. Working in the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania, we used diurnal auditory broadcasts to simulate predation and competitive carnivore feeding interactions. Based on the current understanding of avian scavenger ecology, we hypothesized that avian responses to call‐in stations would be evoked exclusively by visual, rather than auditory, cues. We therefore predicted that (a) the arrival of avian scavengers at call‐in stations should be preceded and facilitated by mammalian carnivores and that (b) the arrival of avian scavengers would be positively correlated with the number of mammalian scavengers present, which would increase detectability. We recorded 482 birds during 122 separate playback events. In 22% of these instances, avian scavengers arrived first, ruling out responses based exclusively on visual observations of mammalian carnivores, thereby contradicting our first prediction. Furthermore, the first avian arrivals at survey sessions were inversely related to the number of hyenas and jackals present, contradicting our second prediction. Since no bait or carcasses were used during the experiments, these responses are indicative of the birds’ ability to detect and respond to audio stimuli. Our findings challenge the current consensus of sensory perception and foraging in these species and provide evidence that avian scavengers have the ability to use sound to locate food resources.     

Geographic distribution of Ophiothela brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea): substrate use plasticity and implications for the silent invasion of O. mirabilis in the Atlantic

Hydrobiologia - This study aimed to address the Ophiothela species distribution worldwide, report invasive populations, and investigate their association with benthic organisms through an...     

In vitro induction of neoantigen-specific T cells in myelodysplastic syndrome,a disease with low mutational burden

Therapies that utilize immune checkpoint inhibition work by leveraging mutation-derived neoantigens and have shown greater clinical efficacy in tumors with higher mutational burden. Whether tumors with a low mutational burden are susceptible to neoantigen-targeted therapy has not been fully addressed. To examine the feasibility of neoantigen-specific adoptive T-cell therapy, the authors studied the T-cell response against somatic variants in five patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a malignancy with a very low tumor mutational burden. DNA and RNA from tumor (CD34⁺) and normal (CD3⁺) cells isolated from the patients’ blood were sequenced to predict patient-specific MDS neopeptides. Neopeptides representing the somatic variants were used to induce and expand autologous T cells ex vivo, and these were systematically tested in killing assays to determine the proportion of neopeptides yielding neoantigen-specific T cells. The authors identified a total of 32 somatic variants (four to eight per patient) and found that 21 (66%) induced a peptide-specific T-cell response and 19 (59%) induced a T-cell response capable of killing autologous tumor cells. Of the 32 somatic variants, 11 (34%) induced a CD4⁺ response and 11 (34%) induced a CD8⁺ response that killed the tumor. These results indicate that in vitro induction of neoantigen-specific T cells is feasible for tumors with very low mutational burden and that this approach warrants investigation as a therapeutic option for such patients.     

Modeling the circular economy in environmentally extended input–output: A web application

Global environmental and resource problems ask for new ways of managing the production and consumption of resources. The implementation of new paradigms, such as the circular economy, requires decision‐makers at multiple levels to make complex decisions. For this, clear analyses and modeling of scenarios are of utmost importance. Meanwhile, as the sophistication of databases and models increases so does the need for user‐friendly tools to use them. The RaMa‐Scene web platform reduces these barriers by allowing users to visualize easily diverse impacts of implementing circular‐economy interventions. This online web platform makes use of the multi‐regional environmentally extended input–output database EXIOBASE version 3 in monetary units, which has been modified to show explicit transactions of raw materials from recycling activities.     

Inflammatory intestinal damage induced by 5-fluorouracil requires IL-4

Background5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) induces intestinal mucositis, which is characterized by epithelial ulcerations in the mucosa and clinical manifestations, such as pain and dyspeptic symptoms. Cytokines participate in the inflammatory and functional events of intestinal mucositis. IL-4 is an important mediator of intestinal inflammation, with either anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory functions, depending on the model of intestinal inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the role of IL-4 in 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis.MethodsIL-4^+/+ or IL-4^?/? mice (25–30 g) were intraperitoneally injected with 5-FU (450 mg/Kg) or saline (C). After 3 days, the mice were sacrificed and the duodenum was evaluated for epithelial damage, MPO activity and cytokine concentration.Results5-FU induced significant damage in the intestinal epithelium of IL-4^+/+ mice (reduction in the villus/crypt ratio: control = 3.31 ± 0.21 μm, 5-FU = 0.99 ± 0.10 μm). However, the same treatment did not induce significant damage in IL-4^?/? mice (5-FU = 2.87 ± 0.19 μm) compared to wild-type mice. 5-FU-induced epithelial damage increased the MPO activity (neutrophil number) and the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, TNF-α, IL-1β and CXCL-8) in the duodenum. These results were not observed in IL-4^?/? mice treated with 5-FU.ConclusionOur data suggest that IL-4 participates as a pro-inflammatory cytokine in a 5-FU-induced intestinal damage model and suggests that IL-4 antagonists may be novel therapeutics for this condition.     

Impiego delle sezioni di coleoptile di alcune varietà italiane di frumento nel dosaggio biologico di sostanze promotrici ed inibitrici della crescita

Abstract

Growth response of coleoptile sections from four Italian cultivars of wheat to some growth regulators.—The following Italian wheat varieties were used to obtain the coleoptile sections used throughout the experiments: Funo, S. Pastore, Abbondanza, Generoso.

The growth substances tested were Indolacetic acid (IAA), Abscisic acid (ABA), Kinetin and Gibberellic acid.

The colcoptile response of each variety was tested with three different concentrations for each growth regulator in combination with two sucrose concentrations and three different pH levels.

The experiments indicated that the coleoptiles from the variety « Funo » react linearly to incresing IAA and ABA concentration resulting the best one to be used in this bioassay.     

Il Pinus Mugo Turra Ed Il Pinus Uncinata Miller in Piemonte. Note Critiche e Distribuzione

Abstract

«Pinus mugo» Turra and «Pinus uncinata» Miller in Piedmont. Critical notes and distribution. — The Authors have carried on a research on the distribution of Pinus mugo Turra (sensu Fl. Eur.) and Pinus uncinata Miller in all Piedmont Alpes and, having observed the extreme variability of the characters which are employed in the keys of determination to differentiate these two species, they suggest other and more constant characters. These are:

Il Pinus Mugo Turra Ed Il Pinus Uncinata Miller in Piemonte. Note Critiche e Distribuzione

All authors

Franco Montacchini & Rosanna Caramiello

https://doi.org/10.1080/11263506809426488

Published online:

14 September 2009

Table     

Carotenoids in ripe green and in autumn senescing leaves of apple tree: I - Qualitative composition of free carotenoids,xanthophyll esters and fatty acids of esters

Abstract

By different chemical, spectral and chromatographic procedures seven carotenoids, two carotenes (α- and β-carotene) and five free xanthophylls (violaxanthin, lutein, antheraxanthin, zeaxanthin and neoxanthin) have been isolated and identified in green apple leaves. In autumn senescing leaves, besides the above seven carotenoids, the occurrence of at least seven xanthophyll esters has also been proved. Four esters, violaxanthin mono- and diester and lutein mono- and diester, (≥90% of total esters) and a minor component, neoxanthin triester, have been identified. Another minor component is most probably a monoester of antheraxanthin; the seventh, present in traces, has not been identified.

The fatty acids combined with the above xanthophyll esters have been analysed by gas-chromatography. The unusual presence of low molecular weight fatty acids, C7-C11, has been registered (1,5-8% of the total); caprilic and capric acids have been identified. Lauric acid with three minor homologous (2-7% and myristic acid (9-15%) are also present. The major component, palmitic acid, with palmitoleic and two other minor components, reaches 36-44%. In addition a remarkable presence of oleic acid (12-26%) has been observed together with stearic (8-10%), linolenic (5-6%), arachidic (0,7-2,5%) and linolenic-gadoleic acids (2,5-9,3%).     

Rendiconti e Atti del Congresso Della Societàg Botanica Italiana a Venezia

Abstract

An investigation has been carried out on the effects of some macroelements on the growth and differentiation of carnation meristem-tip. The meristem-tips were cultured over one year period using BAKER and PHILLIPS (1962) modified medium as basal medium. Different concentration of N, P, K and S were used and their effect on the explants was scored. Variation in the K level had no effect on the growth of the meristems except in one case while P at 1/2 X, 1/4 X to 1/8 X levels considerably increased the number of plantlets obtained. N supplied as urea had an inhibiting action on the explant as two different sources of S did.