The expression of melanin-based plumage is separately modulated by exogenous oxidative stress and a melanocortin

Melanin-based traits involved in animal communication have been traditionally viewed as occurring under strict genetic control. However, it is generally accepted that both genetic and environmental factors influence melanin production. Medical studies suggest that, among environmental factors influencing melanization, oxidative stress could play a relevant role. On the other hand, genetic control would be exerted by the melanocortin system, and particularly by the alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), which triggers the production of eumelanins (black pigments). To determine how the melanocortin system and an exogenous source of oxidative stress interact in the expression of melanin-based plumage, developing red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) were manipulated. Some partridges were injected with α-MSH, while other birds received a pro-oxidant molecule (diquat) in drinking water. Controls and birds receiving both treatments were also studied. Both α-MSH- and diquat-treated individuals presented larger eumelanin-based traits than controls, but α-MSH+diquat-treated birds showed the largest traits, suggesting that oxidative stress and melanocortins promote additive but independent effects. Diquat also induced a decline in the level of a key intracellular antioxidant (glutathione), which is associated with high expression of eumelanin-based signals in other bird species. Some scenarios for the evolution of melanin-based traits in relation to oxidative stress are proposed.     

Variable selection with P-splines in functional linear regression: Application in graft-versus-host disease

This paper focuses on the problems of estimation and variable selection in the functional linear regression model (FLM) with functional response and scalar covariates. To this end, two different types of regularization (L₁ and L₂) are considered in this paper. On the one hand, a sample approach for functional LASSO in terms of basis representation of the sample values of the response variable is proposed. On the other hand, we propose a penalized version of the FLM by introducing a P-spline penalty in the least squares fitting criterion. But our aim is to propose P-splines as a powerful tool simultaneously for variable selection and functional parameters estimation. In that sense, the importance of smoothing the response variable before fitting the model is also studied. In summary, penalized (L₁ and L₂) and nonpenalized regression are combined with a presmoothing of the response variable sample curves, based on regression splines or P-splines, providing a total of six approaches to be compared in two simulation schemes. Finally, the most competitive approach is applied to a real data set based on the graft-versus-host disease, which is one of the most frequent complications (30% –50%) in allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation.     

Chromosome Numbers in Three Asteraceae Tribes from Inner Mongolia (China), with Genome Size Data for Cardueae

Chromosome counts are reported for 15 species of the family Asteraceae from Inner Mongolia (People’s Republic of China). This study includes representatives of the tribes Anthemideae (Artemisia, Chrysanthemum, Filifolium, Hippolytia and Neopallasia), Astereae (Heteropappus) and Cardueae (Echinops and Olgaea). The significance of the chromosome counts is discussed for each species. Within the Anthemideae, chromosome counts for Hippolytia alashanensis (2n?=?36) and the tetraploid level of Artemisia eriopoda (2n?=?36) are reported for the first time. The chromosome number of Heteropappus altaicus (Astereae) agrees with previous reports of one (4x) of the two ploidy levels reported for this taxon. As a complement to the karyological data, genome size of the Cardueae representatives was assessed using flow cytometry. Within this tribe, Echinops gmelini (2n?=?26) and its sister taxon E. acantholepis (2n?=?14) show strongly divergent karyological patterns of difficult interpretation, whereas the count of E. przewalskyi (2n?=?32), assigned here for the first time, coincides with those of its close relatives. In Olgaea tangutica, the chromosome count (2n?=?24) and genome size (2C?=?3.01 pg) given here are the first reports for both the species and the genus.     

Expression of lipoxygenase during organogenic nodule formation from hop internodes.

Study of lipoxygenase expression (LOX; EC 1.13.11.12) during organogenic nodule formation in hop (Humulus lupulus var. Nugget) showed that LOXs are developmentally regulated throughout the process, suggesting their involvement in the response of internodes to wounding, nodule formation, and plantlet regeneration from these nodules. LOX activity and lipid peroxides exhibited a huge increase during the first week of culture, which may indicate a role for LOX and LOX products in response to wounding in hop, as reported for other systems. Western blotting analysis showed a de novo synthesis of LOX isoenzymes in response to wounding and the detection of three different isoenzymes. Confocal analysis of LOX immunofluorescence revealed the presence of the enzyme in cortical cells of induced internodes and in prenodular cells, mostly appearing as cytoplasmic spots. Some of them were identified as lipid bodies by cytochemical and double immunofluorescence assays, suggesting the involvement of a lipid body LOX during nodule formation. Immunogold labeling detected LOX in peroxisomes, lipid bodies, and plastids of nodular cells. Quantification of the labeling density provided statistical significance for the localization of LOX (three different isoenzymes) in the three compartments, which suggested a possible involvement of LOX in metabolic functions of these organelles during organogenic nodule formation and plantlet regeneration.     

Regional distribution patterns predict bird occurrence in Mediterranean cropland afforestations

Part of the abandoned cropland in Mediterranean landscapes is being subjected to afforestation dominated by pines. Here we simultaneously evaluate the effect of three categories of factors as predictors of the interspecific variation in bird habitat occupancy of fragmented afforestations, namely regional distribution, habitat preferences, and life-history traits of species. We use the “natural experiment” that highly fragmented pine plantations of central Spain represent due to the prevailing pattern of land ownership of small properties. Many species with marked habitat preferences for woodland habitats were very scarce or were never recorded in this novel habitat within a matrix of deforested agricultural landscape. Interspecific variability in occurrence was mainly explained by regional distribution patterns: occurrence was significantly and positively associated with the proportion of occupied 10 × 10 UTM km squares around the study area, habitat breadth, and population trend of species in the period 1998–2011. It was also positively associated with regional occupancy of mature and large pine plantations. Other predictor variables related to habitat preferences (for woodland, agricultural and urban habitats) or life-history traits (migratory strategy, body mass, and clutch size) were unrelated to the occurrence of species. Thus, small man-made pinewood islands funded by the Common Agrarian Policy within a landscape dominated by Mediterranean agricultural habitats only capture widespread and habitat generalist avian species with increasing population trends, not contributing to enhance truly woodland species.