Environmental stochasticity and extinction risk in a population of a small songbird, the great tit

Using a long-term demographic data set, we estimated the separate effects of demographic and environmental stochasticity in the growth rate of the great tit population in Wytham Wood, United Kingdom. Assuming logistic density regulation, both the demographic (sigma2d = 0.569) and environmental (sigma2e = 0.0793) variance, with interactions included, were significantly greater than zero. The estimates of the demographic variance seemed to be relatively insensitive to the length of the study period, whereas reliable estimates of the environmental variance required long time series (at least 15 yr of data). The demographic variance decreased significantly with increasing population density. These estimates are used in a quantitative analysis of the demographic factors affecting the risk of extinction of this population. The very long expected time to extinction of this population (approximately 10(19) yr) was related to a relatively large population size (>/=120 pairs during the study period). However, for a given population size, the expected time to extinction was sensitive to both variation in population growth rate and environmental stochasticity. Furthermore, the form of the density regulation strongly affected the expected time to extinction. Time to extinction decreased when the maximum density regulation approached K. This suggests that estimates of viability of small populations should be given both with and without inclusion of density dependence.     

Tidal and diurnal variations in larval fish abundance in an estuarine inlet in Ariake Bay,Japan: implication for selective tidal stream transport

We have conducted a preliminary study of tidal and diurnal variations in the distribution of dominant larval and juvenile fishes in the Chikugo River inlet (Ariake Bay, Kyushu, Japan) to determine whether selective tidal stream transport (STST) occurs. Larval and juvenile fish were collected from the mesohaline zone of the Chikugo River inlet during spring 2002. Temperature, salinity, depth, and current velocity were measured. Larval and juvenile abundance were compared among four tidal conditions, flooding tide, high tide, ebbing tide, and low tide, and between day and night. A total of 12 families, 15 species, and 5,577 individuals were collected. Temperature did not vary significantly with tidal conditions whereas salinity, depth, and current velocity varied significantly. Salinity also was correlated significantly and positively with depth. The abundance of most of the fishes was correlated positively and significantly with salinity and depth. Lateolabrax japonicus, Trachidermus fasciatus, Acanthogobius hasta, and other gobiid larvae (Gobiidae spp.) were significantly more abundant during high tide; in contrast, Coilia nasus and Neosalanx reganius were most abundant during low tide. The abundance of most of the fishes was higher during high tides at night than during the day, indicating the existence of STST, which may be strategically associated with ascending progress to upstream nursery areas.     

Vimentin expression in human squamous carcinoma cells: relationship with phenotypic changes and cadherin-based cell adhesion

Phenotypic changes resembling an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition often occur as epithelial cells become tumorigenic. Two proteins that have been implicated in this process are vimentin and N-cadherin. In this study, we sought to establish a link between expression of vimentin and N-cadherin as oral squamous epithelial cells undergo a morphologic change resembling an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. We found that N-cadherin and vimentin did not influence the expression of one another.     

Selective toxicity of engineered lentivirus lytic peptides in a CF airway cell model

Lentivirus lytic peptides (LLPs) are derived from HIV-1 and have antibacterial properties. LLP derivatives (eLLPs) were engineered for greater potency against Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was determined in low and physiologic salt concentrations. MBC was decreased against SA and equivalent against PA in physiologic salt when compared to the parent compound LLP1. In a novel cystic fibrosis (CF) airway cell model, one derivative, WLSA5, reduced the number of adherent PA and only moderately affected CF cell viability. Overall, eLLPs are selectively toxic to bacteria and may be useful against CF airway infections.     

Bioactive Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Capacity of Wheatgrass Treated with Salicylic Acid under Organic Soil Cultivation

This study was undertaken to determine the influence of salicylic acid (SA) on the bioactive phytochemicals and antioxidant capacity of wheatgrass extract in the organic growing medium. Wheatgrass was cultivated in SA-enriched organic growing medium, obtained from acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) of various concentrations (0 [control], 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, and 2.00 mM) in a plant growth chamber by controlling atmosphere (20/15 °C, day/night), light (14/10 h, light/dark; light intensity 150 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, using quantum dot light-emitting diodes), and atmospheric moisture (60 %) for 10 d. The 0.25 mM SA-treatment showed the highest impact on germination rate, wheatgrass length, weight, yield, and chlorophyll content. Levels of bioactive phytochemicals, mainly phenolic compounds, flavonoids, β-carotene, and vitamin C, were the highest in the 1.00 mM SA-treated wheatgrass extract. The DPPH radical and nitrite-scavenging capacities were the highest in the 1.00 mM SA-treated wheatgrass extract. The 0.50 mM SA-treated wheatgrass extract showed the highest superoxide dismutase-like capacity, whereas the 2.00 mM SA-treated wheatgrass extract showed the highest anthocyanin content and ABTS radical-scavenging capacity. Therefore, it might be suggested that the appropriate levels of SA-treatment were between 0.5 and 1.0 mM to enhance the bioactive phytochemicals and antioxidant capacity of wheatgrass.     

SHANK3 genetic polymorphism and susceptibility to ASD: evidence from molecular,in silico,and meta-analysis approaches

Molecular Biology Reports - The SHANK3 gene encodes a master synaptic scaffolding protein at the excitatory synapse’s postsynaptic density, which is predominantly responsible for constructing...