Population dynamics and life history tactics of arthropods from Mediterranean-type ecosystems

The null hypothesis of this paper is that survival of arthropods under the severe Mediterranean conditions involves specific combinations of conservative and conformist traits. To test this hypothesis a modeling approach employing a Leslie-type matrix model and a fuzzy systems technique for parameter estimation is developed and applied to a model species. The general conclusion is that the results of this paper add support to the null hypothesis, whereas specific conclusions are as follows: 1) matrix models merging demographic and physiological parameters are suitable tools for the simulation of population dynamics of arthropods and further for the discussion of the interplay among life history traits; 2) employing linguistic instead of arithmetic variables, fuzzy approaches allow for the formalization of incomplete and/or missing data exploiting expertise concerning related species; 3) in general, population dynamics of arthropods follow the seasonality of the Mediterranean climate; 4) the basic mechanism underlying skewing phenologies and stochastic equilibrium is identified with the type of temperature dependence of arthropod metabolic activity; 5) under optimal conditions an exponential trend is superimposed on seasonal population dynamics; 6) more realistic conditions involving large-scale random oscillation in temperature in autumn and spring coupled with small-scale temperature oscillation in summer and winter result in stochastic equilibrium; 7) moderate contamination of soil and medium-scale oscillation in temperature result in stable temporal patterns; 8) a sensitivity analysis shows disproportional effect of different demographic parameters on population growth rate. Fecundity of young and middle-aged adults is most important for the rate of population growth, whereas elder animals are considered an important pool for maintenance of the population.     

Minor labdane diterpenes from Marrubium thessalum

Five new labdane diterpenes, thessalines A, B, and D, 14β-hydroxythessaline A, and 14β-hydroxythessaline B (1-5, resp.) were isolated from the aerial parts of Marrubium thessalum, along with the known labdane diterpene deacetylvitexilactone (6) and the methoxylated flavones 4',7-dimethylapigenin and salvigenin. (3S,5R)-Loliolide was also found in the same source. Their structures were established by 1D- and 2D-NMR (COSY, HSQC, HMBC, NOESY, and ROESY) and MS analyses. The plant produces a great variety of labdane-type diterpenes, with variations in functionalities, particularly in the side chain. Their structures could be of chemotaxonomic significance for the genus Marrubium.     

Notch signaling coordinates the patterning of striatal compartments

Numerous lines of evidence suggest that Notch signaling plays a pivotal role in controlling the production of neurons from progenitor cells. However, most experiments have relied on gain-of-function approaches because perturbation of Notch signaling results in death prior to the onset of neurogenesis. Here, we examine the requirement for Notch signaling in the development of the striatum through the analysis of different single and compound Notch1 conditional and Notch3 null mutants. We find that normal development of the striatum depends on the presence of appropriate Notch signals in progenitors during a critical window of embryonic development. Early removal of Notch1 prior to neurogenesis alters early-born patch neurons but not late-born matrix neurons in the striatum. We further show that the late-born striatal neurons in these mutants are spared as a result of functional compensation by Notch3. Notably, however, the removal of Notch signaling subsequent to cells leaving the germinal zone has no obvious effect on striatal organization and patterning. These results indicate that Notch signaling is required in neural progenitor cells to control cell fate in the striatum, but is dispensable during subsequent phases of neuronal migration and differentiation.     

Children’s Intuitive Teleology: Shifting the Focus of Evolution Education Research

Research has shown that children usually provide teleological explanations for the features of organisms and artifacts, from a very early age (3–4 years old). However, there is no consensus on whether teleological explanations are given in the same manner for non-living natural objects as well. The present study aimed to document the teleological explanations of 5- to 8-year-old children for particular features (color and shape) of organisms, artifacts and non-living natural objects. In addition, it was examined if there was any correlation between these explanations and children’s explanations for the usefulness of those features. Our results indicate a developmental shift in children’s teleological explanations, from a non-selective teleology in pre-school to a selective one in the second grade. In the latter case, children provided teleological explanations mostly for the shape of the feet of organisms and for the shape of artifacts, whereas pre-school children provided teleological explanations for non-living natural objects as well, both for the color and for the shape in all cases. Our results are not conclusive and further research is required, including a larger spectrum of students, since teleology is one of the most important conceptual obstacles in understanding evolution that persists even into adulthood. We conclude by proposing a particular research program for this purpose.     

Percutaneous treatment of spontaneous left main coronary artery dissection using drug-eluting stent

Background

Previous studies indicated that the clustering of major cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors is common, and multiple unhealthy lifestyles are responsible for the clustering of CVD risk factors. However, little is known about the direct association between the volume load and the clustering of CVD risk factors in general population.

Methods

We investigated the association of the clustering of CVD risk factors (defined as two or more of the following factors: hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and overweight) with volume load, which was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Hypovolaemia was defined as extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW) at and under the 10th percentile for the normal population.

Results

Among the 7900 adults, only 29.3% were free of any pre-defined CVD risk factors and 40.8% had clustering of CVD risk factors. Hypovolaemia in clustering group was statistically higher than that either in the single or in the none risk factor group, which was 23.7% vs. 17.0% and 10.0%, respectively (P <0.001). As a categorical outcome, the percentage of the lowest quartiles of ECW/TBW and TBW/TBWwatson in clustering group were statistically higher than either those in the single or in the none risk factor group, which were 44.9% vs. 36.9% and 25.1% (P <0.001), 36.2% vs. 32.2% and 25.0%, respectively (P <0.001). After adjusting of potential confounders, hypovolaemia was significantly associated with clustering of CVD risk factors, with an OR of 1.66 (95% CI, 1.45-1.90).

Conclusions

Hypovolaemia was associated with clustering of major CVD risk factors, which further confirms the importance of lifestyle for the development of CVD.

     

Training in High-Throughput Sequencing: Common Guidelines to Enable Material Sharing,Dissemination, and Reusability

The advancement of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies and the rapid development of numerous analysis algorithms and pipelines in this field has resulted in an unprecedentedly high demand for training scientists in HTS data analysis. Embarking on developing new training materials is challenging for many reasons. Trainers often do not have prior experience in preparing or delivering such materials and struggle to keep them up to date. A repository of curated HTS training materials would support trainers in materials preparation, reduce the duplication of effort by increasing the usage of existing materials, and allow for the sharing of teaching experience among the HTS trainers’ community. To achieve this, we have developed a strategy for materials’ curation and dissemination. Standards for describing training materials have been proposed and applied to the curation of existing materials. A Git repository has been set up for sharing annotated materials that can now be reused, modified, or incorporated into new courses. This repository uses Git; hence, it is decentralized and self-managed by the community and can be forked/built-upon by all users. The repository is accessible at http://bioinformatics.upsc.se/htmr.     

A preliminary study on the effect of Cu,Pb and Zn contamination of soils on community structure and certain life-history traits of oribatids from urban areas

The effect of pollution of urban soils by traffic exhausts on oribatid mites was studied along a traffic gradient of the city of Thessaloniki. Although the population density of the main orbatid species appeared increased in polluted areas, the total orbatid numbers were reduced due to the reduction in species richness. The highest species diversity was recorded in moderately polluted areas. The morphometric characteristics as well as certain life-history traits did no correlate with the level of traffic influence. Nevertheless, these characteristics were considered important for the understanding of the pollution impact on life in soils. Moderate body size, sexual reproduction, increased reproductive effort and wide habitat preferences characterize species in urban sites. Scheloribates latipes and Tectocepheus sarekensis can be used as bioindicators for Pb and Zn pollution of soils, respectively.