Community Variation of Gastrointestinal Parasites Found in Urban and Rural Coyotes (Canis latrans) of Calgary, Alberta

We compared parasite variation in coyote feces collected in eight urban sites within Calgary, Alberta, to those in six rural sites outside the city limits. Four hundred and sixty fresh fecal samples (\u3c 4 days old) were collected weekly between July 2009 and June 2010. Fecal flotation analysis identified parasites to the level of genus. We calculated parasite richness, diversity, and evenness. Parasite richness was significantly greater in rural than urban sites. Disparities in the parasite community included a significant variation in parasite richness, diversity, and evenness among rural and urban sites. Toxascaris leonina and Cystoisospora spp. were shared among all urban sites, while these species in addition to Taenia-like spp. and Trichuris spp. were shared among all rural sites. Both urban and rural sites yielded evidence of Toxocara canis, Taenia-like spp., and Giardia spp., which are potential zoonotic parasites. Toxocara canis was at highest prevalence in a core urban site, Inglewood Wildlands, which exhibits unique biotic and abiotic characteristics. Factors of exposure to parasites, such as diet, behavior, and environmental factors, are suggested to be most influential on variation in urban and rural coyote parasitism. We suggest coyotes are an important focal species for further research in urban disease ecology, due to the resilient nature of the carnivore and its propensity to co-exist with people and domestic animals

Eosinophilic esophagitis: search for non-invasive techniques for long-term monitoring

Comment on: Unsedated transnasal esophagoscopy for monitoring therapy in pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis. [Gastrointest Endosc. 2016

Structural and functional basis for p38-MK2 activated Rsk signalling in Toll-Like receptor-stimulated dendritic cells

Rsk kinases play important roles in several cellular processes such as proliferation, metabolism, and migration. Until recently, Rsk activation was thought to be exclusively initiated by Erk1/2, but in dendritic cells (DC) Rsk is also activated by p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase via its downstream substrates, MK2/3. How and why this noncanonical configuration of the MAP kinase pathway is adopted by these key immune cells are not known. We demonstrate that the Erk1/2-activated C-terminal kinase domain of Rsk is dispensable for p38-MK2/3 activation and show that compared with fibroblasts, a greater fraction of p38 and MK2/3 is located in the cytosol of DC prior to stimulation, suggesting a partial explanation for the operation of the noncanonical pathway of Rsk activation in these cells. p38/MK2/3-activated Rsk phosphorylated downstream targets and is physiologically important because in plasmacytoid DC (pDC) stimulated with Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonists, Erk1/2 activation is very weak relative to p38. As a result, Rsk activation is entirely p38 dependent. We show that this unusual configuration of MAP kinase signaling contributes substantially to production of type I interferons, a hallmark of pDC activation

What do we learn from correlations of local and global network properties?

In complex networks a common task is to identify the most important or "central" nodes. There are several definitions, often called centrality measures, which often lead to different results. Here we study extensively correlations between four local and global measures namely the degree, the shortest-path-betweenness, the random-walk betweenness and the subgraph centrality on different random-network models like Erdos-Renyi, Small-World and Barabasi-Albert as well as on different real networks like metabolic pathways, social collaborations and computer networks. Correlations are quite different between the real networks and the model networks questioning whether the models really reflect all important properties of the real world

Structural Classification of Metal Complexes with Three-Coordinate Centres

Attempts to describe the geometry about three-coordinate silver(I) complexes have proven difficult because interatomic angles generally vary wildly and there is no adequate or readily available classification system found in the literature. A search of the Cambridge Structural Database shows that complexes formed between any metal centre and three non-metal donors (18001 examples) usually adopt geometries that are quite different than ideal ‘textbook’ extremes of either trigonal planar (∼4% with α = β = γ = 120 ± 2°), T-shaped (∼0.05% with α = 180 ± 2°, β = γ = 90 ± 2°), or trigonal pyramidal (∼0.3% with α = β = γ = 110 ± 2°). Moreover, there are multiple variations of “Y-type” and “other” shapes that require elaboration. Thus, to assist in future structural descriptions, we developed a classification system that spans all known and yet-to-be-discovered three-coordinate geometries. A spreadsheet has also been constructed that utilizes the “shape-space” approach to extract the structural description from a user input of three angles about a tri-coordinate centre and the number of atoms in a plane. The structures of two silver(I) complexes of new N-donor ligands p-NH2C6H4C6H4CH(pz = pyrazol-1-yl)2, L1, and 2-ferrocenyl-4,5-di(2-pyridyl)imidazole, L2, illustrate the utility of this classification system

Netons: Vibrations of Complex Networks

We consider atoms interacting each other through the topological structure of a complex network and investigate lattice vibrations of the system, the quanta of which we call {\em netons} for convenience. The density of neton levels, obtained numerically, reveals that unlike a local regular lattice, the system develops a gap of a finite width, manifesting extreme rigidity of the network structure at low energies. Two different network models, the small-world network and the scale-free network, are compared: The characteristic structure of the former is described by an additional peak in the level density whereas a power-law tail is observed in the latter, indicating excitability of netons at arbitrarily high energies. The gap width is also found to vanish in the small-world network when the connection range $r = 1$.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, to appear in JP

‘It’s my own fault’: Accounts and consequences of falling when living with rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) leads to biomechanical joint changes which increases risk of falling. The consequence of falling may be physical injury. However, as important can be the psychological consequences including fear of falling. Methods: Participants were recruited from a larger prospective study which explored the incidence of falls in people with RA. Purposive sampling considered age, sex, time since diagnosis and fall history. The recruitment site was a regional hospital. Data from semi-structured qualitative interviews and, after each fall, brief telephone interviews. Thematic analysis methods were used to investigate the psychological and social impact of falling in people with RA. Results: Twelve participants were interviewed (aged 64-85, mean 74 years: 6 had fallen between 1-23 times: 6 had no reported fall in last 12 months). Data was supplemented with telephone notes from 287 post-fall telephone calls. Three themes were developed: 1) The falls Imaginary illustrates that fear of falling is not dependent on experience; 2) Agentic risk management reports on the ways people self-manage and display resilience when at risk of falling; 3) The absence of the health professional explores the ways in which people reported being unsupported by health care services. Conclusion: Fear of falling when living with RA is tangible in those who have and have not fallen. This fear may limit opportunities for full participation in life. However some people display personal resourcefulness continuing to live purposeful lives. Understanding personal responses to falling will support the development of community interventions specific to this high risk group

The ‘Blueprint’ framework for career management skills: a critical exploration

This article examines the Blueprint framework for career management skills as it has been revealed across sequential implementations in the USA, Canada and Australia. It is argued that despite its lack of an empirical basis, the framework forms a useful and innovative means through which career theory, practice and policy can be connected. The framework comprises both core elements (learning areas, learning model and levels) and contextual elements (resources, community of practice, service delivery approach and policy connection). Each of these elements is explored