Telomere length reflects reproductive effort indicated by corticosterone levels in a long‐lived seabird

Telomere length (TL) is a candidate biomarker of ageing and phenotypic quality, but little is known of the (physiological) causes of TL variation. We previously showed that individual common terns Sterna hirundo with high reproductive success had short telomeres independent of age, and this pattern was particularly strong in the longer telomeres of the within‐individual TL distribution. To test whether this relation can be attributed to effects of reproductive effort, we investigated baseline corticosterone in relation to reproductive success (number of fledglings) and TL. In this context, we assume that variation in baseline corticosterone can be interpreted as index of energy expenditure and allostatic load. Males with higher corticosterone levels during incubation, compared between and within individuals, achieved higher reproductive success and had shorter telomeres. The effect on telomeres was more pronounced in corticosterone measured later in incubation and in the longer telomeres of the within‐individual TL distribution. Female corticosterone level during incubation was neither related to reproductive success nor to TL. That we observed these effects only in males mirrors different parental roles during reproduction in the common tern, where males do most of the chick provisioning. The negative association between reproductive success and TL suggests individual differences in reproductive effort as reflected in, or mediated by, baseline corticosterone. We see this result as a promising step towards unravelling the physiological causes of variation in TL and the costs of reproduction.     

Die verteilung der Propriorezeptoren im spinnenbein

Every joint of the walking legs and the pedipalps of the tarantula is equipped with at least 2 groups of proprioceptors. There is a total of 18 groups containing around 135 neurones. They lie at the most strategic points, i.e. right at the pivots, where stress and strain are maximal during movements. The greatest number, namely 5 groups, is to be found at the coxotrochanteral joint, a ball and socket joint that permits movements in nearly every plane. At least some of the receptor cells are multipolar.

---

Verzeichnis der Abkürzungen Co Coxa - Fe Femur - Tr Trochanter - Pa Patella - T _i Tibia - M ₂ M. promoter trochanteris major (Bezeichnungen nach Dillon, 1952) - M ₄ M. levator trochanteris anticus - M ₅ M. depressor trochanteris medius - M ₇ M. depressor trochanteris obliquus - M ₈ M. remotor trochanteris ventralis - M ₉ M. remotor trochanteris dorsalis - M ₁₀ M. flexor femoris bilobatus - M ₁₁ M. flexor femoris longus - M ₁₂ M. flexor femoris dorsalis - M ₁₄ M. flexor patellae major - M ₁₅ M. flexor patellae robustus - M ₁₈ M. extensor femoris princeps - M ₁₉ M. flexor patellae minor - M ₂₀ M. extensor femoris posticus - M ₂₁ M. promotor tibiae - M ₂₂ M. remotor tibiae - M ₂₃ M. depressor tibiae anticus - M ₂₄ M. depressor tibiae posticus - M ₂₇ M. flexor tarsi anticus - M ₂₃ M. flexor tarsi posticus - M ₂₉ M. depressor praetarsi - S ₂₉ Sehne des M. depressor praetarsi - S ₃₀ Sehne des M. levator praetarsi Mit dankenswerter Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Herrn Priv.-Doz. Dr. Hölldobler danken wir fur die Durchsicht des Manuskriptes, Herrn Dr. K. E. Linsenmair für die Überlassung einer Walzenspinne und Frau T. Hölldobler für die Hilfe bei der Ausführung der Zeichnungen.     

Was ist Ganzheitskausalität?

Summary The article discusses the concept of holistic causality which has superseded that of mechanistic causality, mechanism.In a sequence of events a causal nexus is mentally established, attention being directed either to the initiation, the starting, the incitation of the process or to the conservation of matter and energy in the initiated transformation: initiation causality (Anstosskausalität A.K.) and conservation causality (Erhaltungskausalität E.K.).As a rule, the two kinds of causality are intimately interlinked, though they often are easily to be distinguished; for instance, catalytic causation and stimulus influences are clearly forms of A.K.If a totality (a whole), i.e., a more or les closed and stable uniformity of coexistences, is pushed or incited (from without or from within), it actively responds from its content of free energy by an event combining within itself A.K., E.K., and reciprocity (Wechselwirkung W. W.). This complex causality is holistic causality (Ganzheitskausalität G.K.). Holistic causality, already to be found in the inorganic, appears to perfection in the stimulus causality (Reizkausalität R.K.) of organism with its development of form and conservation of form; likewise in the entire psycho-physical phenomenation: psychic A.K., motive causality.Thus, in the constant Ocean of matter and energy there is a demon of unrest in the guise of A.K., setting up a distinct hierarchy (Rangordnung) ranging from atomistic causality to mechanic, chemical, and catalytic causality, and beyond to physiobiological incitation and to psychic, or even supra-psychic, direction and evolution causality.

---

Résumé Dans ce traité il s'agit d'une discussion de la conception de causalité holistique qui a remplacé l'autocratie de la causalité mécanique, du mécanisme.Dans des séquences d'événements, l'intellect reconnaît des causalnexus, en observant ou l'impulsion, le motif, le stimulus de l'action — ou, dans la transformation initiée, la conservation de la matière et de l'énergie: causalité impulsatrice (Anstosskausalität A.K.) et causalité conservatrice (Erhaltungskausalität E.K.).A l'ordinaire ces deux causalités sont étroitement liées; mais souvent elles se laissent distinguer sans difficulté. Par exemple, les effets catalytiques et les influences stimulantes sont expressément des formes de l'A.K.Si une totalité (un tout), c.-à-d. un système, un ordre en coïncidences, plus ou moins clos et stable, est poussé ou stimulé (du dehors ou de l'intérieur), il répond, du fonds de son énergie libre, par une action qui unit en soi l'A.K., l'E.K. et la réciprocité (Wechselwirkung W.W.). Cette causalité complexe est la causalité holistique (la Ganzheitskausalität G.K.), déjà existante dans l'inorganique. Elle apparaît parfaite dans la causalité stimulus (la Reizkausalität R.K.) de l'organisme à tendances formatives et conservatives, ainsi que dans tous les rapports psychophysiques: A.K. psychique, causalité motive.Ainsi, il y a dans la Mer constante de la matière et de l'énergie un courant d'inquiétude qui se présente comme l'A.K. Cet esprit laisse reconnaître une distincte hiérarchie (Rangordnung), s'étendant de la causalité dans la physique atomaire et la causalité mécanique, chimique et catalytique, jusqu'à l'excitation physio-biologique et jusqu'à la causalité directrice et évolutionnaire, psychique ou même superpsychique.

     

Novel Proteome Extraction Method Illustrates a Conserved Immunological Signature of MSI-H Colorectal Tumors

1. Download : Download high-res image (249KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

Highlights

• •TOP: robust, bio-friendly FFPE proteome extraction method with less fixation bias.
• •Proteome of MSI-H colorectal cancer identifies immunobiology key elements.
• •MSI-H tumor displays an “INFg-STAT1 centric signature”.
• •Long-term IFNg induction In-vitro mimicks MSI-H signature.

     

Creatine nanoliposome reverts the HPA-induced damage in complex II–III activity of the rats’ cerebral cortex

Molecular Biology Reports - Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a metabolic disorder accumulating phenylalanine (Phe) and its metabolites in plasma and tissues of the patients. Regardless of the mechanisms,...     

Medical Team Evaluation: Effect on Emergency Department Waiting Time and Length of Stay

Emergency Departments (ED) are trying to alleviate crowding using various interventions. We assessed the effect of an alternative model of care, the Medical Team Evaluation (MTE) concept, encompassing team triage, quick registration, redesign of triage rooms and electronic medical records (EMR) on door-to-doctor (waiting) time and ED length of stay (LOS). We conducted an observational, before-and-after study at an urban academic tertiary care centre. On July 17^th 2014, MTE was initiated from 9:00 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week. A registered triage nurse was teamed with an additional senior ED physician. Data of the 5-month pre-MTE and the 5-month MTE period were analysed. A matched comparison of waiting times and ED LOS of discharged and admitted patients pertaining to various Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triage categories was performed based on propensity scores. With MTE, the median waiting times improved from 41.2 (24.8–66.6) to 10.2 (5.7–18.1) minutes (min; P < 0.01). Though being beneficial for all strata, the improvement was somewhat greater for discharged, than for admitted patients. With a reduction from 54.3 (34.2–84.7) to 10.5 (5.9–18.4) min (P < 0.01), in terms of waiting times, MTE was most advantageous for ESI4 patients. The overall median ED LOS increased for about 15 min (P < 0.01), increasing from 3.4 (2.1–5.3) to 3.7 (2.3–5.6) hours. A significant increase was observed for all the strata, except for ESI5 patients. Their median ED LOS dropped by 73% from 1.2 (0.8–1.8) to 0.3 (0.2–0.5) hours (P < 0.01). In the same period the total orders for diagnostic radiology increased by 1,178 (11%) from 10,924 to 12,102 orders, with more imaging tests being ordered for ESI 2, 3 and 4 patients. Despite improved waiting times a decrease of ED LOS was only seen in ESI level 5 patients, whereas in all the other strata ED LOS increased. We speculate that this was brought about by the tendency of triage physicians to order more diagnostic radiology, anticipating that it may be better for the downstream physician to have more information rather than less.     

Genomes of the wild beets Beta patula and Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima

We present draft genome assemblies of Beta patula, a critically endangered wild beet endemic to the Madeira archipelago, and of the closely related Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima (sea beet). Evidence‐based reference gene sets for B. patula and sea beet were generated, consisting of 25 127 and 27 662 genes, respectively. The genomes and gene sets of the two wild beets were compared with their cultivated sister taxon B. vulgaris ssp. vulgaris (sugar beet). Large syntenic regions were identified, and a display tool for automatic genome‐wide synteny image generation was developed. Phylogenetic analysis based on 9861 genes showing 1:1:1 orthology supported the close relationship of B. patula to sea beet and sugar beet. A comparative analysis of the Rz2 locus, responsible for rhizomania resistance, suggested that the sequenced B. patula accession was rhizomania susceptible. Reference karyotypes for the two wild beets were established, and genomic rearrangements were detected. We consider our data as highly valuable and comprehensive resources for wild beet studies, B. patula conservation management, and sugar beet breeding research.