Sighting of the western gentle lemur Hapalemur griseus occidentalis in north-west Madagascar

The grey gentle lemur Hapalemur griseus is currently divided into three subspecies. Of these, very little is known about the western gentle lemur H. g. occidentalis and survey work to assess its distribution and numbers is urgently needed. The sighting of this species approximately 200 km to the south and 200 km to the north of the previously recorded populations further highlights this need. The Tsiombikibo Forest, where Hapalemur was sighted, may harbour further surprises and should be investigated more extensively in order to assess habitat condition and the species presen

Group size, home range use, and seasonal variation in the ecology of Eulemur mongoz

We collected data during a 10-month study carried out on the mongoose lemur, Eulemur mongoz, at Anjamena in northwestern Madagascar, which provide baseline information on seasonal variation in the ecology, home range use and some aspects of the behavior of two neighboring groups. We monitored group size of nine groups in the study area and assessed them for seasonal variation. We present additional information collected during short-term surveys in other areas before and during the study for comparison. The study groups were small family units, and changes in group size were limited to births and emigrations of sexually mature progeny. In spite of clear seasonal changes in climate and vegetation, there is no variation in grouping patterns, so it is not possible to correlate variation in group size with seasonal variation of ecological variables. Comparison with ecological data from other field studies on lemurids reveals differences in food resource distribution in western forests versus other types of Malagasy forest. This distribution of food resources may predict home range size in mixed frugivorous-folivorous lemurs. Small home ranges, mainly in the West, could be correlated with a uniform distribution of food resources. Finally, we suggest that the dry season in the West may not present frugivorous-folivorous lemurs with major problems in finding an adequate food supply. This is supported by the lack of seasonal differences in ranging behavior of mongoose lemur

Surveys on Propithecus verreauxi deckeni, a melanistic variant, and P. v. coronatus in north-west Madagascar

Propithecus verreauxi is currently divided into three or four subspecies. Decken's sifaka, P. v. deckeni, and the crowned sifaka, P. v. coronatus, are believed to be synonymous by some authors, while others regard them as separate subspecies. The results of a survey on an isolated melanistic population of Decken's sifaka, known from museum specimens collected in Ambararatabe, as well as the results of additional surveys carried out within the ranges of P. v. deckeni and P. v. coronatus are presented. A detailed description and photographs of the melanistic variant are provided. The data are employed to argue the case for recognition of the subspecific status of the endangered P. v. coronatus. The consistency of sightings of P. v. coronatus to the east of the river Mahavavy and to the west of the river Betsiboka, and sightings of P. v. deckeni to the west of the Mahavavy indicate clear separation of the two subspecies in the lower reaches of two rivers. Clarification of the status of the enigmatic museum specimens from Ambararatabe, representing a melanisticform rather than hybridization of P. v. deckeni and P. v. coronatus, lends further support to this argumen

Genetic analysis of hybridization and introgression between wild mongoose and brown lemurs.

BACKGROUND: Hybrid zones generally represent areas of secondary contact after speciation. The nature of the interaction between genes of individuals in a hybrid zone is of interest in the study of evolutionary processes. In this study, data from nuclear microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA sequences were used to genetically characterize hybridization between wild mongoose lemurs (Eulemur mongoz) and brown lemurs (E. fulvus) at Anjamena in west Madagascar. RESULTS: Two segments of mtDNA have been sequenced and 12 microsatellite loci screened in 162 brown lemurs and mongoose lemurs. Among the mongoose lemur population at Anjamena, we identified two F1 hybrids (one also having the mtDNA haplotype of E. fulvus) and six other individuals with putative introgressed alleles in their genotype. Principal component analysis groups both hybrids as intermediate between E. mongoz and E. fulvus and admixture analyses revealed an admixed genotype for both animals. Paternity testing proved one F1 hybrid to be fertile. Of the eight brown lemurs genotyped, all have either putative introgressed microsatellite alleles and/or the mtDNA haplotype of E. mongoz. CONCLUSION: Introgression is bidirectional for the two species, with an indication that it is more frequent in brown lemurs than in mongoose lemurs. We conclude that this hybridization occurs because mongoose lemurs have expanded their range relatively recently. Introgressive hybridization may play an important role in the unique lemur radiation, as has already been shown in other rapidly evolving animals.RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are

Arc-textured metal surfaces for high thermal emittance space radiators

Carbon arc electrical discharges struck across the surfaces of metals such as Nb-1 percent Zr, alter the morphology to produce a high thermal emittance surface. Metal from the surface and carbon from the arc electrode vaporize during arcing, and then condense on the metal surface to produce a microscopically rough surface having a high thermal emittance. Quantitative spectral reflectance measurements from 0.33 to 15 microns were made on metal surfaces which were carbon arc treated in an inert gas environment. The resulting spectral reflectance data were then used to calculate thermal emittance as a function of temperature for various methods of arc treatment. The results of arc treatment on various metals are presented for both ac and dc arcs. Surface characterization data, including thermal emittance as a function of temperature, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic oxygen durability, are also presented. The ac arc texturing was found to increase the thermal emittance at 800 K from 0.05 to 0.70

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are associated with decreased CD4+ & CD8+ T cells and increased growth & differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) in peripheral blood

Abstract Background Although T cells, especially CD8+, have been implicated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis, their role during acute exacerbations (AE-COPD) is uncertain. Methods We recruited subjects with COPD and a history of previous AE-COPD and studied them quarterly to collect blood and spontaneously expectorated sputum while stable. During exacerbations (defined by a change in symptoms plus physician diagnosis and altered medications), we collected blood and sputum before administering antibiotics or steroids. We used flow cytometry to identify leukocytes in peripheral blood, plus Luminex® analysis or ELISA to determine levels of inflammatory biomarkers in serum and sputum supernatants. Results Of 33 enrolled subjects, 13 participated in multiple stable visits and had ≥1 AE-COPD visit, yielding 18 events with paired data. Flow cytometric analyses of peripheral blood demonstrated decreased CD4+ and CD8+ T cells during AE-COPD (both absolute and as a percentage of all leukocytes) and significantly increased granulocytes, all of which correlated significantly with serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. No change was observed in other leukocyte populations during AE-COPD, although the percentage of BDCA-1+ dendritic cells expressing the activation markers CD40 and CD86 increased. During AE-COPD, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, IL-10, IL-15 and GDF-15 increased in serum, while in sputum supernatants, CRP and TIMP-2 increased and TIMP-1 decreased. Conclusions The decrease in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (but not other lymphocyte subsets) in peripheral blood during AE-COPD may indicate T cell extravasation into inflammatory sites or organized lymphoid tissues. GDF-15, a sensitive marker of cardiopulmonary stress that in other settings independently predicts reduced long-term survival, is acutely increased in AE-COPD. These results extend the concept that AE-COPD are systemic inflammatory events to which adaptive immune mechanisms contribute. Trial registration NCT00281216 , ClinicalTrials.gov.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112169/1/12931_2015_Article_251.pd

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are associated with decreased CD4+ & CD8+ T cells and increased growth & differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) in peripheral blood

Abstract Background Although T cells, especially CD8+, have been implicated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis, their role during acute exacerbations (AE-COPD) is uncertain. Methods We recruited subjects with COPD and a history of previous AE-COPD and studied them quarterly to collect blood and spontaneously expectorated sputum while stable. During exacerbations (defined by a change in symptoms plus physician diagnosis and altered medications), we collected blood and sputum before administering antibiotics or steroids. We used flow cytometry to identify leukocytes in peripheral blood, plus Luminex® analysis or ELISA to determine levels of inflammatory biomarkers in serum and sputum supernatants. Results Of 33 enrolled subjects, 13 participated in multiple stable visits and had ≥1 AE-COPD visit, yielding 18 events with paired data. Flow cytometric analyses of peripheral blood demonstrated decreased CD4+ and CD8+ T cells during AE-COPD (both absolute and as a percentage of all leukocytes) and significantly increased granulocytes, all of which correlated significantly with serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. No change was observed in other leukocyte populations during AE-COPD, although the percentage of BDCA-1+ dendritic cells expressing the activation markers CD40 and CD86 increased. During AE-COPD, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, IL-10, IL-15 and GDF-15 increased in serum, while in sputum supernatants, CRP and TIMP-2 increased and TIMP-1 decreased. Conclusions The decrease in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (but not other lymphocyte subsets) in peripheral blood during AE-COPD may indicate T cell extravasation into inflammatory sites or organized lymphoid tissues. GDF-15, a sensitive marker of cardiopulmonary stress that in other settings independently predicts reduced long-term survival, is acutely increased in AE-COPD. These results extend the concept that AE-COPD are systemic inflammatory events to which adaptive immune mechanisms contribute. Trial registration NCT00281216 , ClinicalTrials.gov.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134660/1/12931_2015_Article_251.pd

Strategies to prevent Clostridium difficile infections in acute care hospitals: 2014 update

Previously published guidelines are available that provide comprehensive recommendations for detecting and preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The intent of this document is to highlight practical recommendations in a concise format designed to assist acute care hospitals in implementing and prioritizing their Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) prevention efforts. This document updates “Strategies to Prevent Clostridium difficile Infections in Acute Care Hospitals,” published in 2008. This expert guidance document is sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and is the product of a collaborative effort led by SHEA, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the American Hospital Association (AHA), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and The Joint Commission, with major contributions from representatives of a number of organizations and societies with content expertise. The list of endorsing and supporting organizations is presented in the introduction to the 2014 updates

Curriculum Guidelines for Undergraduate Programs in Data Science

The Park City Math Institute (PCMI) 2016 Summer Undergraduate Faculty Program met for the purpose of composing guidelines for undergraduate programs in Data Science. The group consisted of 25 undergraduate faculty from a variety of institutions in the U.S., primarily from the disciplines of mathematics, statistics and computer science. These guidelines are meant to provide some structure for institutions planning for or revising a major in Data Science