Contrasting nutritional acclimation of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and red maple (Acer rubrum L.) to increasing conifers and soil acidity as demonstrated by foliar nutrient balances

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marshall, SM) is believed to be more sensitive to acidic and nutrient-poor soils associated with conifer-dominated stands than red maple (Acer rubrum L., RM). Greater foliar nutrient use efficiency (FNUE) of RM is likely the cause for this difference. In the context of climate change, this greater FNUE could be key in favoring northward migration of RM over SM. We used the concept of foliar nutrient balances to study the nutrition of SM and RM seedlings along an increasing gradient in forest floor acidity conditioned by increasing proportions of conifers (pH values ranging from 4.39 under hardwoods, to 4.29 under mixed hardwood-conifer stands and 4.05 under conifer-dominated stands). Nutrients were subjected to isometric log-ratio (ilr) transformation, which views the leaf as one closed system and considers interactions between nutrients. The ilr method eliminates numerical biases and weak statistical inferences based on raw or “operationally” log-transformed data. We analyzed foliar nutrients of SM and RM seedlings and found that the [Ca,Mg,K| P,N] and [Ca,Mg| K] balances of SM seedlings were significantly different among soil acidity levels, whereas they did not vary for RM seedlings. For SM seedlings, these differences among soil acidity levels were due to a significant decrease in foliar Ca and Mg concentrations with increasing forest floor acidity. Similar differences in foliar balances were also found between healthy and declining SM stands estimated from literature values. Conversely, foliar balances of RM seedlings did not differ among soil acidity levels, even though untransformed foliar nutrient concentrations were significantly different. This result highlights the importance of using ilr transformation, since it provides more sensitive results than standard testing of untransformed nutrient concentrations. The lower nutrient requirements of RM and its greater capacity to maintain nutrient equilibrium are factors that could explain its competitive success and recent northward expansion. This study underscores the importance of using nutrient balances to study the redistribution of plant species in natural ecosystems under climate change

Near Peripheral Motion Detection Threshold Predicts Detection Failure Accident Risk in Younger and Older Drivers

Motion contrast thresholds for 0.4 cycle/degree drifting Gabor stimuli were assessed at 15-degrees eccentricity for 16 younger drivers (ages 24 to 42), and 15 older drivers (ages 65 to 84), using a temporal two-alternative forced choice staircase procedure. Two self-report questionnaires assessed detection failure accident risk—the Driver Perception Questionnaire (DPQ5), and an abridged Aging Driver Questionnaire (ADQ15). The UFOV® test battery was also administered. Mean peripheral motion contrast thresholds (PMCT) of younger and older participants were –39.3 dB and –33.8 dB, respectively. For younger drivers, the correlation between PMCT and DPQ5 scores was .62 (p\u3c.01), and between DPQ5 and ADQ16 (new and validated self-report measures, respectively) was .59 (p\u3c.01). For older drivers, correlation between PMCT and DPQ5 scores was .49 (p\u3c.01), between DPQ5 and ADQ16 was .73 (p\u3c.01), and between PMCT and age was .49 (p\u3c.05). For drivers overall, correlation was .48 (p\u3c.01) between PMCT and DPQ5 scores, .63 (p\u3c.0001) between DPQ5 and ADQ16, and .69 (p\u3c.0001) between PMCT and age. For drivers overall, correlation was .30 (p\u3c.05) between UFOV1 and age, .67 (p\u3c.0001) between UFOV2 and age, .56 (p\u3c.001) between UFOV2 and PMCT, .80 (p\u3c.0001) between UFOV3 and age, and .58 (p\u3c.001) between UFOV3 and PMCT. Holding age constant, partial correlation of PMCT with DPQ5 was .55 (p\u3c.001), and of PMCT with ADQ15 was .39 (p\u3c.05). PMCT significantly predicted self-reported driving performance in a laboratory setting, and worsened significantly with age. PMCT assessment should be made practicable. Informing high-risk drivers may encourage appropriate risk reduction countermeasures

Evaluation of the subscapularis split created with passive rotation during arthroscopic dynamic anterior stabilization (DAS): A cadaveric study.

Abstract Introduction The purpose of the present study was to analyze the ability to create a subscapularis split by passive rotation of the arm during dynamic anterior stabilization (DAS) and to analyze the new geometry of the long head of the biceps LHB. Hypothesis The hypothesis was that this passive simple technique can create subscapularis split without additional dissection giving rise to new position of LHB with a new stabilization function. Material and methods A technique of subscapularis split using the LHB was used in 12 fresh-frozen human cadaveric shoulders. A subscapularis split was created by passive rotation of the arm after the LHB is shuttled into the joint during DAS. The length of the subscapularis split, post-DAS position and length of the LHB, and the angulation of the LHB relative to bicipital groove were measured after DAS and if this new geometry can give a new dynamic effect on subscapularis muscle. Results The mean length of the subscapular split after maximal rotation was 20.4 ± 6.0 mm (range: 10–32 mm). The mean elongation of the LHB was 0.6 ± 1.4 mm (range: −1 to +3 mm). The final angle of the LHB relative to the bicipital groove was 45 ± 5 degrees (range: 41 to 55 degrees). Discussion There is no need to create a distinct split prior to DAS. Additionally, DAS maintains the length-tension relationship of the LHB. The post-procedure medial angulation of the LHB relative to the bicipital groove may provide a lowering of the subscapularis, helping explain the anterior reinforcement of this technique. Level of evidence Basic science study, cadaver study

Shoulder biomechanics in normal and selected pathological conditions

The stability of the glenohumeral joint depends on soft tissue stabilizers, bone morphology and dynamic stabilizers such as the rotator cuff and long head of the biceps tendon. Shoulder stabilization techniques include anatomic procedures such as repair of the labrum or restoration of bone loss, but also non-anatomic options such as remplissage or tendon transfers.Rotator cuff repair should restore the cuff anatomy, reattach the rotator cable and respect the coracoacromial arch whenever possible. Tendon transfer, superior capsular reconstruction or balloon implantation have been proposed for irreparable lesions.Shoulder rehabilitation should focus on restoring balanced glenohumeral and scapular force couples in order to avoid an upward migration of the humeral head and secondary cuff impingement. The primary goal of cuff repair is to be as anatomic as possible and to create a biomechanically favourable environment for tendon healing

MIMAS 3.0 is a Multiomics Information Management and Annotation System

BACKGROUND: DNA sequence integrity, mRNA concentrations and protein-DNA interactions have been subject to genome-wide analyses based on microarrays with ever increasing efficiency and reliability over the past fifteen years. However, very recently novel technologies for Ultra High-Throughput DNA Sequencing (UHTS) have been harnessed to study these phenomena with unprecedented precision. As a consequence, the extensive bioinformatics environment available for array data management, analysis, interpretation and publication must be extended to include these novel sequencing data types. DESCRIPTION: MIMAS was originally conceived as a simple, convenient and local Microarray Information Management and Annotation System focused on GeneChips for expression profiling studies. MIMAS 3.0 enables users to manage data from high-density oligonucleotide SNP Chips, expression arrays (both 3'UTR and tiling) and promoter arrays, BeadArrays as well as UHTS data using MIAME-compliant standardized vocabulary. Importantly, researchers can export data in MAGE-TAB format and upload them to the EBI's ArrayExpress certified data repository using a one-step procedure. CONCLUSION: We have vastly extended the capability of the system such that it processes the data output of six types of GeneChips (Affymetrix), two different BeadArrays for mRNA and miRNA (Illumina) and the Genome Analyzer (a popular Ultra-High Throughput DNA Sequencer, Illumina), without compromising on its flexibility and user-friendliness. MIMAS, appropriately renamed into Multiomics Information Management and Annotation System, is currently used by scientists working in approximately 50 academic laboratories and genomics platforms in Switzerland and France. MIMAS 3.0 is freely available via http://multiomics.sourceforge.net/

L'école sauve des vies : l'éducation physique au cœur du développement de citoyens responsables

Face à un arrêt cardiaque, moins de 20% de la population est capable d'effectuer les gestes qui sauvent (Plant & Taylor, 2013). Un témoin qui pratique une réanimation cardio-respiratoire (RCP) pourrait presque tripler les chances de survie de la victime, voire les multiplier par six s'il utilise un défibrillateur (ERC, 2015). L'apprentissage des gestes qui sauvent à l'école, et plus particulièrement au cours d'éducation physique, est recommandé pour contribuer à former des citoyens responsables (Colquhoun, 2012). L'objectif de cette étude était de développer et d'étudier les effets de trois dispositifs pédagogiques en éducation physique, validés par les enseignants (n=23), et enseignés à des élèves de fin de primaire (11-12 ans), de milieu (13-15 ans) et de fin d'études secondaires (17-18 ans) en Belgique francophone (n= 617). Une approche mixte (qualitative/quantitative) a été utilisée pour étudier l'impact des dispositifs auprès des enseignants et des élèves.Ecole sauve des vie

Manuales digitales: el caso de la enseñanza de la historia secundaria en Quebec francés

Cet article a pour objet de faire la synthèse de la recherche québécoise à propos de la présence et l’usage des manuels numériques utilisés en classe d’histoire au Québec. Dans la première partie, nous expliquons le contexte éditorial et définissons le concept de manuel numérique. Nous présenterons ensuite l’offre de manuels électroniques. Pour terminer, nous comparons les manuels numériques et imprimés, notamment par rapport à leur contenu et leur usage pour favoriser l’apprentissage des euristiques (ou méthodes) de l’histoire, avant de mettre en lumière quelques pistes de recherche qui ont été dégagés dans cette synthèse.Universidad de Granada. Departamento de Didáctica y Organización Escolar. Grupo FORCE (HUM-386

Regional and cellular gene expression changes in human Huntington's disease brain

Huntington's disease (HD) pathology is well understood at a histological level but a comprehensive molecular analysis of the effect of the disease in the human brain has not previously been available. To elucidate the molecular phenotype of HD on a genome-wide scale, we compared mRNA profiles from 44 human HD brains with those from 36 unaffected controls using microarray analysis. Four brain regions were analyzed: caudate nucleus, cerebellum, prefrontal association cortex [Brodmann's area 9 (BA9)] and motor cortex [Brodmann's area 4 (BA4)]. The greatest number and magnitude of differentially expressed mRNAs were detected in the caudate nucleus, followed by motor cortex, then cerebellum. Thus, the molecular phenotype of HD generally parallels established neuropathology. Surprisingly, no mRNA changes were detected in prefrontal association cortex, thereby revealing subtleties of pathology not previously disclosed by histological methods. To establish that the observed changes were not simply the result of cell loss, we examined mRNA levels in laser-capture microdissected neurons from Grade 1 HD caudate compared to control. These analyses confirmed changes in expression seen in tissue homogenates; we thus conclude that mRNA changes are not attributable to cell loss alone. These data from bona fide HD brains comprise an important reference for hypotheses related to HD and other neurodegenerative disease

The Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer Book 2018

(Abridged) This is the Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer 2018 book. It is intended as a concise reference guide to all aspects of the scientific and technical design of MSE, for the international astronomy and engineering communities, and related agencies. The current version is a status report of MSE's science goals and their practical implementation, following the System Conceptual Design Review, held in January 2018. MSE is a planned 10-m class, wide-field, optical and near-infrared facility, designed to enable transformative science, while filling a critical missing gap in the emerging international network of large-scale astronomical facilities. MSE is completely dedicated to multi-object spectroscopy of samples of between thousands and millions of astrophysical objects. It will lead the world in this arena, due to its unique design capabilities: it will boast a large (11.25 m) aperture and wide (1.52 sq. degree) field of view; it will have the capabilities to observe at a wide range of spectral resolutions, from R2500 to R40,000, with massive multiplexing (4332 spectra per exposure, with all spectral resolutions available at all times), and an on-target observing efficiency of more than 80%. MSE will unveil the composition and dynamics of the faint Universe and is designed to excel at precision studies of faint astrophysical phenomena. It will also provide critical follow-up for multi-wavelength imaging surveys, such as those of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, Gaia, Euclid, the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope, the Square Kilometre Array, and the Next Generation Very Large Array.Comment: 5 chapters, 160 pages, 107 figure