Advancing an interdisciplinary framework to study seed dispersal ecology

Although dispersal is generally viewed as a crucial determinant for the fitness of any organism, our understanding of its role in the persistence and spread of plant populations remains incomplete. Generalizing and predicting dispersal processes are challenging due to context dependence of seed dispersal, environmental heterogeneity and interdependent processes occurring over multiple spatial and temporal scales. Current population models often use simple phenomenological descriptions of dispersal processes, limiting their ability to examine the role of population persistence and spread, especially under global change. To move seed dispersal ecology forward, we need to evaluate the impact of any single seed dispersal event within the full spatial and temporal context of a plant’s life history and environmental variability that ultimately influences a population’s ability to persist and spread. In this perspective, we provide guidance on integrating empirical and theoretical approaches that account for the context dependency of seed dispersal to improve our ability to generalize and predict the consequences of dispersal, and its anthropogenic alteration, across systems. We synthesize suitable theoretical frameworks for this work and discuss concepts, approaches and available data from diverse subdisciplines to help operationalize concepts, highlight recent breakthroughs across research areas and discuss ongoing challenges and open questions. We address knowledge gaps in the movement ecology of seeds and the integration of dispersal and demography that could benefit from such a synthesis. With an interdisciplinary perspective, we will be able to better understand how global change will impact seed dispersal processes, and potential cascading effects on plant population persistence, spread and biodiversity

Induction of apoptosis of human primary osteoclasts treated with extracts from the medicinal plant Emblica officinalis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Osteoclasts (OCs) are involved in rheumatoid arthritis and in several pathologies associated with bone loss. Recent results support the concept that some medicinal plants and derived natural products are of great interest for developing therapeutic strategies against bone disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. In this study we determined whether extracts of <it>Emblica officinalis </it>fruits display activity of possible interest for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis by activating programmed cell death of human primary osteoclasts.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The effects of extracts from <it>Emblica officinalis </it>on differentiation and survival of human primary OCs cultures obtained from peripheral blood were determined by tartrate-acid resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positivity and colorimetric MTT assay. The effects of <it>Emblica officinalis </it>extracts on induction of OCs apoptosis were studied using TUNEL and immunocytochemical analysis of FAS receptor expression. Finally, <it>in vitro </it>effects of <it>Emblica officinalis </it>extracts on NF-kB transcription factor activity were determined by gel shift experiments.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Extracts of <it>Emblica officinalis </it>were able to induce programmed cell death of mature OCs, without altering, at the concentrations employed in our study, the process of osteoclastogenesis. <it>Emblica officinalis </it>increased the expression levels of Fas, a critical member of the apoptotic pathway. Gel shift experiments demonstrated that <it>Emblica officinalis </it>extracts act by interfering with NF-kB activity, a transcription factor involved in osteoclast biology. The data obtained demonstrate that <it>Emblica officinalis </it>extracts selectively compete with the binding of transcription factor NF-kB to its specific target DNA sequences. This effect might explain the observed effects of <it>Emblica officinalis </it>on the expression levels of interleukin-6, a NF-kB specific target gene.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Induction of apoptosis of osteoclasts could be an important strategy both in interfering with rheumatoid arthritis complications of the bone skeleton leading to joint destruction, and preventing and reducing osteoporosis. Accordingly, we suggest the application of <it>Emblica officinalis </it>extracts as an alternative tool for therapy applied to bone diseases.</p

The direct and indirect costs of the chronic management of osteoporosis: a prospective follow-up of 3440 active subjects

Introduction: The objective of this study was to estimate the direct and indirect costs attributable to osteoporosis (OP) from a societal and a payer's perspective among active subjects living in Belgium and employed in the public workforce. Materials and methods: A cohort of 3440 subjects employed by the Liege City Council was followed for 6 months. The City Council employees were invited to fill a monthly log of the data related to their utilization of health resources ( contacts with health professionals, medical examinations, drug use,...) due to OP. Information on work disability ( number of days of sick leave) and on informal care ( number of days off work incurred by active subjects in helping relatives or friends suffering from OP) was also collected. Results: Of those asked to participate in the study, 1,811 subjects filled in at least one questionnaire. The mean duration of follow-up was 3.46 months. Self-reported prevalence of OP at inclusion was 5.3%. OP subjects were significantly older (52.7 +/- 6.1 years) than normal subjects (45.5 +/- 9.8 years) ( p< 0.05) and included more women (85.3 vs. 55.9%). Direct costs came to E44.6 per OP patient-month: E10.9 was spent on contact with health professionals, E19.0 on medical examinations, E12.1 on drugs and E2.6 on hospitalizations. During this 6-month study, a total of 140 days of sick leave was recorded ( mean: 0.4 per OP patient-month). From a payer's perspective, this loss in productivity yielded a mean cost of E34.05 per OP patient-month. A mean number of days off work of 0.018 per active subject-month, attributable to informal care, was recorded. These days of inactivity represented, for the employer, a mean cost of E1.8 per active subject-month. Conclusion: The results of this survey of a large sample of active subjects confirm that OP-related expenditures, both for medical care and for loss of productivity, are significant

Direct and indirect costs attributable to osteoarthritis in active subjects

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the direct and indirect costs of osteoarthritis (OA) in an active population, and to identify factors significantly influencing these expenditures. METHODS: A cohort of 3,440 subjects employed by the Liege City Council was followed prospectively for 6 months. Subjects were asked to report monthly OA related health resource utilization (contacts with health professionals, medical examinations, drug consumption, etc.) and absence from work. Health related quality of life (HRQOL) was evaluated at baseline using the Medical Outcomes Study Short-form 36 (SF-36). Logistic regression analysis identified factors associated with the probability that the individual incurred costs, and multiple regression identified factors influencing the magnitude of these costs. RESULTS: A total of 1,811 subjects filled in at least one questionnaire (response rate 52%). The mean duration of followup was 3.46 months. Self-reported prevalence of OA was 34.1%. The mean total direct costs were 44.5 euros per OA patient-month. Contacts with health professionals, medical examinations, drugs, and hospital stays accounted for 23.7 euros, 8.7 euros, 6.7 euros, and 4.9 euros, respectively, per OA patient-month. The average number of sick-leave days was 0.8 per OA patient-month. From a payer's perspective, this loss of productivity represented a mean cost of 64.5 euros per OA patient-month. We also recorded 0.02 mean days off work per active subject-month due to informal care by relatives, yielding a mean cost of 1.8 euro per active subject-month for the employer. Poorer scores for most of the dimensions of the SF-36 at baseline were significantly associated with greater likelihood of incurring direct and indirect costs and with higher costs among subjects who reported costs. If we consider the overall cohort of active subjects, the burden of OA related to the direct and indirect costs was 15.2 euros and 23.8 euros, respectively, per active subject-month. CONCLUSION: Direct and indirect costs attributable to OA are substantial, with productivity related costs being predominant. Poorer HRQOL was a major determinant of these expenditures

Intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of intraspecific variation in seed dispersal are diverse and pervasive.

There is growing realization that intraspecific variation in seed dispersal can have important ecological and evolutionary consequences. However, we do not have a good understanding of the drivers or causes of intraspecific variation in dispersal, how strong an effect these drivers have, and how widespread they are across dispersal modes. As a first step to developing a better understanding, we present a broad, but not exhaustive, review of what is known about the drivers of intraspecific variation in seed dispersal, and what remains uncertain. We start by decomposing 'drivers of intraspecific variation in seed dispersal' into intrinsic drivers (i.e. variation in traits of individual plants) and extrinsic drivers (i.e. variation in ecological context). For intrinsic traits, we further decompose intraspecific variation into variation among individuals and variation of trait values within individuals. We then review our understanding of the major intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of intraspecific variation in seed dispersal, with an emphasis on variation among individuals. Crop size is the best-supported and best-understood intrinsic driver of variation across dispersal modes; overall, more seeds are dispersed as more seeds are produced, even in cases where per seed dispersal rates decline. Fruit/seed size is the second most widely studied intrinsic driver, and is also relevant to a broad range of seed dispersal modes. Remaining intrinsic drivers are poorly understood, and range from effects that are probably widespread, such as plant height, to drivers that are most likely sporadic, such as fruit or seed colour polymorphism. Primary extrinsic drivers of variation in seed dispersal include local environmental conditions and habitat structure. Finally, we present a selection of outstanding questions as a starting point to advance our understanding of individual variation in seed dispersal

Intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of intraspecific variation in seed dispersal are diverse and pervasive

© 2019 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. There is growing realization that intraspecific variation in seed dispersal can have important ecological and evolutionary consequences. However, we do not have a good understanding of the drivers or causes of intraspecific variation in dispersal, how strong an effect these drivers have, and how widespread they are across dispersal modes. As a first step to developing a better understanding, we present a broad, but not exhaustive, review of what is known about the drivers of intraspecific variation in seed dispersal, and what remains uncertain. We start by decomposing \u27drivers of intraspecific variation in seed dispersal\u27 into intrinsic drivers (i.e. variation in traits of individual plants) and extrinsic drivers (i.e. variation in ecological context). For intrinsic traits, we further decompose intraspecific variation into variation among individuals and variation of trait values within individuals. We then review our understanding of the major intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of intraspecific variation in seed dispersal, with an emphasis on variation among individuals. Crop size is the best-supported and best-understood intrinsic driver of variation across dispersal modes; overall, more seeds are dispersed as more seeds are produced, even in cases where per seed dispersal rates decline. Fruit/seed size is the second most widely studied intrinsic driver, and is also relevant to a broad range of seed dispersal modes. Remaining intrinsic drivers are poorly understood, and range from effects that are probably widespread, such as plant height, to drivers that are most likely sporadic, such as fruit or seed colour polymorphism. Primary extrinsic drivers of variation in seed dispersal include local environmental conditions and habitat structure. Finally, we present a selection of outstanding questions as a starting point to advance our understanding of individual variation in seed dispersal