Permanent Genetic Resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 February 2013-31 March 2013

This article documents the addition of 142 microsatellite marker loci to the Molecular Ecology Resources database. Loci were developed for the following species: Agriophyllum squarrosum, Amazilia cyanocephala, Batillaria attramentaria, Fungal strain CTeY1 (Ascomycota), Gadopsis marmoratus, Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata, Liriomyza sativae, Lupinus polyphyllus, Metschnikowia reukaufii, Puccinia striiformis and Xylocopa grisescens. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Amazilia beryllina, Amazilia candida, Amazilia rutila, Amazilia tzacatl, Amazilia violiceps, Amazilia yucatanensis, Campylopterus curvipennis, Cynanthus sordidus, Hylocharis leucotis, Juniperus brevifolia, Juniperus cedrus, Juniperus osteosperma, Juniperus oxycedrus, Juniperus thurifera, Liriomyza bryoniae, Liriomyza chinensis, Liriomyza huidobrensis and Liriomyza trifolii. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.Peer Reviewe

Spatial effects, sampling errors, and task specialization in the honey bee

Task allocation patterns should depend on the spatial distribution of work within the nest, variation in task demand, and the movement patterns of workers, however, relatively little research has focused on these topics. This study uses a spatially explicit agent based model to determine whether such factors alone can generate biases in task performance at the individual level in the honey bees, Apis mellifera. Specialization (bias in task performance) is shown to result from strong sampling error due to localized task demand, relatively slow moving workers relative to nest size, and strong spatial variation in task demand. To date, specialization has been primarily interpreted with the response threshold concept, which is focused on intrinsic (typically genotypic) differences between workers. Response threshold variation and sampling error due to spatial effects are not mutually exclusive, however, and this study suggests that both contribute to patterns of task bias at the individual level. While spatial effects are strong enough to explain some documented cases of specialization; they are relatively short term and not explanatory for long term cases of specialization. In general, this study suggests that the spatial layout of tasks and fluctuations in their demand must be explicitly controlled for in studies focused on identifying genotypic specialists

Asymmetric Dispersal and Colonization Success of Amazonian Plant-Ants Queens

The dispersal ability of queens is central to understanding ant life-history evolution, and plays a fundamental role in ant population and community dynamics, the maintenance of genetic diversity, and the spread of invasive ants. In tropical ecosystems, species from over 40 genera of ants establish colonies in the stems, hollow thorns, or leaf pouches of specialized plants. However, little is known about the relative dispersal ability of queens competing for access to the same host plants. We used empirical data and inverse modeling—a technique developed by plant ecologists to model seed dispersal—to quantify and compare the dispersal kernels of queens from three Amazonian ant species that compete for access to host-plants. We found that the modal colonization distance of queens varied 8-fold, with the generalist ant species (Crematogaster laevis) having a greater modal distance than two specialists (Pheidole minutula, Azteca sp.) that use the same host-plants. However, our results also suggest that queens of Azteca sp. have maximal distances that are four-sixteen times greater than those of its competitors. We found large differences between ant species in both the modal and maximal distance ant queens disperse to find vacant seedlings used to found new colonies. These differences could result from interspecific differences in queen body size, and hence wing musculature, or because queens differ in their ability to identify potential host plants while in flight. Our results provide support for one of the necessary conditions underlying several of the hypothesized mechanisms promoting coexistence in tropical plant-ants. They also suggest that for some ant species limited dispersal capability could pose a significant barrier to the rescue of populations in isolated forest fragments. Finally, we demonstrate that inverse models parameterized with field data are an excellent means of quantifying the dispersal of ant queens

Neotropical ant-plant Triplaris americana attracts Pseudomyrmex mordax ant queens during seedling stages

The association between the myrmecophyte Triplaris and ants of the genus Pseudomyrmex is an often-reported example of mutualism in the Neotropics. The ants colonize the hollow stems of their hosts, and in exchange, the plants benefit from a reduced degree of herbivory. The previous studies have shown that workers can discriminate their host from other plants, including a closely related species. Little is known about how queens locate their host during the colonization process, but it has been suggested that host recognition is mediated by volatiles. Since queens of Pseudomyrmex mordax colonize their hosts during the seedling stage, we hypothesized that queens would discriminate leaves of seedlings from adult plants. To evaluate our hypothesis, we used a two-sided olfactometer, to test the preference of queens towards different leaf and plant ages of Triplaris americana. Virgin queens of Pseudomyrmex mordax preferred seedlings over adult plants, as well as plant leaves over empty controls, showing no discrimination for leaf age. Our results suggest that the volatiles virgin queens recognize are either produced or are more abundant at the early growing stage of the host when colonization is crucial for the host's survival. © 2017, The Author(s)

Clinical Use and Therapeutic Potential of IVIG/SCIG, Plasma-Derived IgA or IgM, and Other Alternative Immunoglobulin Preparations

Intravenous and subcutaneous immunoglobulin preparations, consisting of IgG class antibodies, are increasingly used to treat a broad range of pathological conditions, including humoral immune deficiencies, as well as acute and chronic inflammatory or autoimmune disorders. A plethora of Fab- or Fc-mediated immune regulatory mechanisms has been described that might act separately or in concert, depending on pathogenesis or stage of clinical condition. Attempts have been undertaken to improve the efficacy of polyclonal IgG preparations, including the identification of relevant subfractions, mild chemical modification of molecules, or modification of carbohydrate side chains. Furthermore, plasma-derived IgA or IgM preparations may exhibit characteristics that might be exploited therapeutically. The need for improved treatment strategies without increase in plasma demand is a goal and might be achieved by more optimal use of plasma-derived proteins, including the IgA and the IgM fractions. This article provides an overview on the current knowledge and future strategies to improve the efficacy of regular IgG preparations and discusses the potential of human plasma-derived IgA, IgM, and preparations composed of mixtures of IgG, IgA, and IgM

La "démocratie participative", de mai 68 aux mobilisations anti-TGV. Processus de consolidation d'institutions sociales émergentes.

This these analyzes the dynamic process through which, at the end of the sixties, " participatory democracy " appears in France, and can, under specific conditions, develop from itself. We give an overall view of participatory tools and emphasize the diversity of the expectations they are supposed to fulfill. The perspective adopted combines three fields generally usued separately in political science : public policy analysis, social movements analysis, and theories of democracy and political participation, using the notion of political opportunity structures. Participatory democracy is thus decribed in its diffuse, contrasted, complex dimensions, and in its unintend dimensions. A " participationist context " caracterizes France at the end of the 90's, with both the valorisation of citizen participation, and the development of techniques intending to associate citizens to the decision-making process. Various, unrelated processes have led to such a context. This first overview is completed by a case study, in order to test our hypotheses and to understand the concrete functioning of this notion whose intellectual, social and historical backgrounds have been described in the first step. The combination of these two perspectives allows us to show how participatory democracy is constructed and develop unequally according to the issues at stake. Our methodology combines analysis of existing procedures through specific through both empirical inquiries and secondary analysis of the litterature, with a case study about a public debate on a high-speed railway infrastructure plan.La thèse analyse la dynamique à travers laquelle, à partir de la fin des années 60, la " démocratie participative " se construit en France, et peut, sous certaines conditions, se nourrir d'elle-même. L'approche adoptée articule trois sous-champs de la science politique souvent utilisés de faon cloisonnée : analyse des transformations de l'action publique, sociologie des mobilisations, et théories de la démocratie et de la participation politique, en s'appuyant notamment sur la notion de structure des opportunités politiques. La " démocratie participative " est ainsi analysée dans son caractère diffus, protéiforme, complexe et largement non voulu, ce qui permet de dresser un inventaire - provisoire et non exhaustif - des procédures et démarches participatives, et de souligner la diversité des attentes auxquelles elles sont supposées répondre. Un contexte participationniste caractérise la France à la fin des années 90, marqué d'une part, par la valorisation de l'idée de participation du citoyen ordinaire, et d'autre part la multiplication de détours participatifs, visant à associer le public à la décision. Les séries causales largement indépendantes ayant conduit à ce contexte sont mises en évidence. Cette première approche est complétée par l'analyse plus approfondie d'un cas, qui permet de tester les hypothèses émises, et d'appréhender sur la durée le fonctionnement concret d'une notion dont on a montré au préalable les étapes historiques, sociales et intellectuelles d'apparition. L'articulation de ces deux temps permet de rendre compte des processus complexes à travers lesquels la " démocratie participative " se met en place et gagne en consistance, avec un succès inégal selon les enjeux considérés. La méthodologie utilisée combine un travail de recensement et d'analyse des procédures participatives existantes, s'appuyant sur des enquêtes de terrain mais aussi sur l'analyse secondaire de la littérature existante, avec l'étude plus fine d'une procédure particulière - le débat public - à travers un cas d'application, - un projet de ligne ferroviaire à Très Grande Vitesse

Développement durable et démocratie participative : la dynamique performative locale

Cette recherche se centre sur les conditions et les modalités d'appropriation concrètes du développement durable par les acteurs locaux au travers de différents modes de gouvernance de l'action collective. Les rapports entre démocratie participative et développement durable sont analysés, sous l'angle de leur performativité, au travers de trois démarches d'élaboration collective de politiques locales de développement durable (Marennes-Oléron, Montreuil, Sénart)