Paternity and Dominance Loss in Male Breeders: The Cost of Helpers in a Cooperatively Breeding Mammal

Paternity insurance and dominance tenure length are two important components of male reproductive success, particularly in species where reproduction is highly skewed towards a few individuals. Identifying the factors affecting these two components is crucial to better understand the pattern of variation in reproductive success among males. In social species, the social context (i.e. group size and composition) is likely to influence the ability of males to secure dominance and to monopolize reproduction. Most studies have analyzed the factors affecting paternity insurance and dominance tenure separately. We use a long term data set on Alpine marmots to investigate the effect of the number of subordinate males on both paternity insurance and tenure of dominant males. We show that individuals which are unable to monopolize reproduction in their family groups in the presence of many subordinate males are likely to lose dominance the following year. We also report that dominant males lose body mass in the year they lose both paternity and dominance. Our results suggest that controlling many subordinate males is energetically costly for dominant males, and those unable to support this cost lose the control over both reproduction and dominance. A large number of subordinate males in social groups is therefore costly for dominant males in terms of fitness

The genome of the seagrass Zostera marina reveals angiosperm adaptation to the sea

Seagrasses colonized the sea(1) on at least three independent occasions to form the basis of one of the most productive and widespread coastal ecosystems on the planet(2). Here we report the genome of Zostera marina (L.), the first, to our knowledge, marine angiosperm to be fully sequenced. This reveals unique insights into the genomic losses and gains involved in achieving the structural and physiological adaptations required for its marine lifestyle, arguably the most severe habitat shift ever accomplished by flowering plants. Key angiosperm innovations that were lost include the entire repertoire of stomatal genes(3), genes involved in the synthesis of terpenoids and ethylene signalling, and genes for ultraviolet protection and phytochromes for far-red sensing. Seagrasses have also regained functions enabling them to adjust to full salinity. Their cell walls contain all of the polysaccharides typical of land plants, but also contain polyanionic, low-methylated pectins and sulfated galactans, a feature shared with the cell walls of all macroalgae(4) and that is important for ion homoeostasis, nutrient uptake and O-2/CO2 exchange through leaf epidermal cells. The Z. marina genome resource will markedly advance a wide range of functional ecological studies from adaptation of marine ecosystems under climate warming(5,6), to unravelling the mechanisms of osmoregulation under high salinities that may further inform our understanding of the evolution of salt tolerance in crop plants(7)

Geographical variation in therapy for bloodstream infections due to multidrug-resistant enterobacteriaceae: a post hoc analysis of the INCREMENT study

We aimed to describe regional differences in therapy for bloodstream infection (BSI) caused by extended-spectrum ?-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) or carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). 1,482 patients in 12 countries were included from an observational study of BSI caused by ESBL-E or CPE. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for the influence of country of recruitment on empirical use of ?-lactam/?-lactamase inhibitors (BLBLI) or carbapenems, targeted use of BLBLI for ESBL-E and use of targeted combination therapy for CPE. The use of BLBLI for empirical therapy was least likely in sites from Israel (aOR 0.34, 95% CI 0.14-0.81), Greece (aOR 0.49, 95% CI 0.26-0.94) and Canada (aOR 0.31, 95% CI 0.11-0.88) but more likely in Italy (aOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.11-2.2) and Turkey (aOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.14-3.81), compared to Spain as a reference. Empirical carbapenems were more likely to be used in sites from Taiwan (aOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.03-2.92) and USA (aOR 1.89; 95% CI 1.05-3.39), and less likely in Italy (aOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.28-0.69) and Canada (aOR 0.10, 95% CI 0.01-0.74). Targeted BLBLI for ESBL-E was more likely in sites from Italy. Treatment at sites within Israel, Taiwan, Turkey and Brazil was associated with less combination therapy for CPE. Although this study does not provide precise data on the relative prevalence of ESBL-E or CPE, significant variation in therapy exists across countries even after adjustment for patient factors. A better understanding of what influences therapeutic choices for these infections will aid antimicrobial stewardship efforts.PH is supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award from the University of Queensland. The study was funded by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III - co-financed by European Development Regional Fund "A way to achieve Europe" ERDF, Spanish Network for the Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD12/0015). BGG, JRB, APH and YC also received funds from the COMBACTE-CARE project (grant agreement 115620), Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) and in-kind contributions from EFPIA companies

We're in this Together: Sensation of the Host Cell Environment by Endosymbiotic Bacteria

Bacteria inhabit diverse environments, including the inside of eukaryotic cells. While a bacterial invader may initially act as a parasite or pathogen, a subsequent mutualistic relationship can emerge in which the endosymbiotic bacteria and their host share metabolites. While the environment of the host cell provides improved stability when compared to an extracellular environment, the endosymbiont population must still cope with changing conditions, including variable nutrient concentrations, the host cell cycle, host developmental programs, and host genetic variation. Furthermore, the eukaryotic host can deploy mechanisms actively preventing a bacterial return to a pathogenic state. Many endosymbionts are likely to use two-component systems (TCSs) to sense their surroundings, and expanded genomic studies of endosymbionts should reveal how TCSs may promote bacterial integration with a host cell. We suggest that studying TCS maintenance or loss may be informative about the evolutionary pathway taken toward endosymbiosis, or even toward endosymbiont-to-organelle conversion.Peer reviewe

Precision measurement of the Ξcc++Ξcc++ {\varXi}_{cc}^{++} mass

A measurement of the Ξ++cc mass is performed using data collected by the LHCb experiment between 2016 and 2018 in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.6 fb−1. The Ξ++cc candidates are reconstructed via the decay modes Ξ++cc→Λ+cK−π+π+ and Ξ++cc→Ξ+cπ+. The result, 3621.55 ± 0.23 (stat) ± 0.30 (syst) MeV/c2, is the most precise measurement of the Ξ++cc mass to date

Search for CP Violation in D-s(+) -> K-S(0)pi(+), D+ -> (KSK+)-K-0, and D+ -> phi pi(+) Decays

A search for charge-parity ($CP$) violation in Cabibbo-suppressed $D_s^+\to K_S^0 \pi^+$, $D^+\to K_S^0 K^+$ and $D^+\to \phi \pi^+$ decays is reported using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.8 fb$^{-1}$, collected at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the LHCb detector. High-yield samples of kinematically and topologically similar Cabibbo-favored $D_{(s)}^+$ decays are analyzed to subtract nuisance asymmetries due to production and detection effects, including those induced by $CP$ violation in the neutral kaon system. The results are \begin{align*} \mathcal{A}_{CP}(D_s^+\to K_S^0 \pi^+) &=\left(\phantom{-}1.3\phantom{0}\pm1.9\phantom{0}\pm0.5\phantom{0}\right)\times10^{-3},\\ \mathcal{A}_{CP}(D^+\to K_S^0 K^+) &=\left(-0.09\pm0.65\pm0.48\right)\times10^{-3},\\ \mathcal{A}_{CP}(D^+\to \phi \pi^+) &=\left(\phantom{-}0.05\pm0.42\pm0.29\right)\times10^{-3}, \end{align*} where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. They are the most precise measurements of these quantities to date, and are consistent with $CP$ symmetry.Comment: All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/p/LHCb-PAPER-2019-002.htm

Observation of the Λb0 → χc1 (3872) pK− decay

No abstract available

Search for the lepton-flavor-violating decays Bs0→τ±μ∓ and B0→τ±μ∓

Results are reported from a search for the rare decays B 0 s → τ ± μ ∓ and B 0 → τ ± μ ∓ , where the τ lepton is reconstructed in the channel τ − → π − π + π − ν τ . These processes are effectively forbidden in the standard model, but they can potentially occur at detectable rates in models of new physics that can induce lepton-flavor-violating decays. The search is based on a data sample corresponding to 3     fb − 1 of proton-proton collisions recorded by the LHCb experiment in 2011 and 2012. The event yields observed in the signal regions for both processes are consistent with the expected standard model backgrounds. Because of the limited mass resolution arising from the undetected τ neutrino, the B 0 s and B 0 signal regions are highly overlapping. Assuming no contribution from B 0 → τ ± μ ∓ , the upper limit B ( B 0 s → τ ± μ ∓ ) < 4.2 × 10 − 5 is obtained at 95% confidence level. If no contribution from B 0 s → τ ± μ ∓ is assumed, a limit of B ( B 0 → τ ± μ ∓ ) < 1.4 × 10 − 5 is obtained at 95% confidence level. These results represent the first limit on B ( B 0 s → τ ± μ ∓ ) and the most stringent limit on B ( B 0 → τ ± μ ∓ )

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1.

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field