Of apples and oranges? The evolution of “monogamy” in non-human primates

Behavioral ecologists, evolutionary biologists, and anthropologists have been long fascinated by the existence of “monogamy” in the animal kingdom. Multiple studies have explored the factors underlying its evolution and maintenance, sometimes with contradicting and contentious conclusions. These studies have been plagued by a persistent use of fuzzy terminology that often leads to researchers comparing “apples with oranges” (e.g., comparing a grouping pattern or social organization with a sexual or genetic mating system). In this review, we provide an overview of research on “monogamy” in mammals generally and primates in particular, and we discuss a number of problems that complicate comparative attempts to understand this issue. We first highlight why the muddled terminology has hindered our understanding of both a rare social organization and a rare mating system. Then, following a short overview of the main hypotheses explaining the evolution of pair-living and sexualmonogamy, we critically discuss various claims about the principal drivers of “monogamy” that have been made in several recent comparative studies.We stress the importance of using only high quality and comparable data. We then propose that a productive way to frame and dissect the different components of pair-living and sexual or genetic monogamy is by considering the behavioral and evolutionary implications of those components from the perspectives of all participants in a species’ social system. In particular, we highlight the importance of integrating the perspective of “floater” individuals and considering their impacts on local operational sex ratios, competition, and variance in reproductive success across a population. We stress that pair-living need not imply a reduced importance of intrasexual mate competition, a situation that may have implications for the sexual selection potential that have not yet been fully explored. Finally, we note that there is no reason to assume that different taxa and lineages, even within the same radiation, should follow the same pathway to or share a unifying evolutionary explanation for “monogamy”. The study of the evolution of pair-living, sexual monogamy, and genetic monogamy remains a challenging and exciting area of research.Fieldwork related to the data discussed and presented here was supported through grants awarded to AD, EF-D, and their students by the Wenner-Gren Foundation, the L.S.B. Leakey Foundation, the J. William Fulbright Scholar Program, Primate conservation, Inc., Idea Wild, the National Geographic Society, as well by the New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York University, the Zoological Society of San Diego, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Texas at Austin, and Yale University, as well as through grants awarded to Eckhard W. Heyman and MH by the Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft (HE 1870/10-1,2,3, HU1746-2/1). The Owl Monkey Project of Argentina was supported through the following grants to EFD: NSF-BCS-0621020, 1232349, 1503753 and 1848954; NSF-REU 0837921, 0924352 and 1026991; NSFRAPID-1219368; NIA- P30 AG012836-19, and NICHD R24 HD-044964-11

Structural stability of the two-fold singularity

At a two-fold singularity, the velocity vector of a flow switches discontinuously across a codimension one switching manifold, between two directions that both lie tangent to the manifold. Particularly intricate dynamics arises when the local flow curves toward the switching manifold from both sides, a case referred to as the Teixeira singularity. The flow locally performs two different actions: it winds around the singularity by crossing repeatedly through, and passes through the singularity by sliding along, the switching manifold. The case when the number of rotations around the singularity is infinite has been analyzed in detail. Here we study the case when the flow makes a finite, but previously unknown, number of rotations around the singularity between incidents of sliding. We show that the solution is remarkably simple: the maximum and minimum numbers of rotations made anywhere in the flow differ only by one and increase incrementally with a single parameter -the angular jump in the flow direction across the switching manifold at the singularity

Orcas and PCBs

The dramatic population decline which has been predicted to affect killer whales (Orcinus orca) on a global scale by the end of this century is of concern, with the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in tissues from free-ranging orcas having been estimated to be among the highest in the animal kingdom (1). As in other cetacean and non-cetacean “top predators”, in fact, lipophilic PCBs may heavily accumulate in killer whales’ subcutaneous blubber, thereafter undergoing ad hoc “biomagnification” processes. Since these bioaccumulation and biomagnification dynamics are shared by many other persistent environmental pollutants - either “classical” (i.e. DDTs, dioxins, heavy metals, etc.) or “emerging” (i.e. PBDEs, PFAS, micro- and nanoplastics, etc.) -, that almost unvariably form “mixtures” to which aquatic organisms are chronically exposed via the marine food web(s) (2), one could wonder how the biological effects of PCBs may be effectively “dissected” from those of the other contaminants present in the aforementioned mixtures. Furthermore, the “endocrine disrupting” and the additional pathogenic activities of PCBs on host’s reproductive and immune functions are also known to be exerted by other organochlorine (OC) pollutants, the entry of which into exposed animals’ cells is mediated by aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AHRs) (3). This implies that the susceptibility of a given species to PCBs and, more in general, to OC contaminants could “ideally” result from the “sum” of its trophic position and tissue expression level(s) of AHRs. Alternatively, if not complementarily, such an increased tendency to accumulate high PCB tissue burdens might depend upon a metabolic capacity toward OC xenobiotics that is less efficient in orcas as compared to other odontocete cetacean species. The prominent PCB immunotoxicity (3) has been also linked to an increased sensitivity toward infectious pathogens, as in the case of the dramatic Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV) epidemic which affected, between 1990 and 1992, the population of Western Mediterranean striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) (4). To the best of our knowledge, however, neither morbilliviral epidemics nor overt cases of morbilliviral infection have been hitherto reported in orcas, the susceptibility of which to CeMV is currently unknown. In this respect, should PCBs represent the major factor underlying the predicted killer whales’ population decline (1), one could reasonably expect a prevalence of “opportunistic” infections and/or neoplastic disease conditions (significantly) higher than in other cetacean and aquatic mammal species occupying a lower trophic level. Is this really the case? We are afraid that not enough, sufficiently reliable and robust data are available, thus far, to provide an affirmative or negative answer to the above query, considering also the “intrinsic” limitation due to the fact that an undefined number of orcas, similarly to their cetacean “heterospecifics”, will die in the open sea, with no possibility to perform a post mortem examination on them. Finally, the dramatically increasing pollution of global oceans and seas by plastics, micro- and nanoplastics would also deserve special concern, given that micro- and nanoplastics may act as “attractors and concentrators” for many chemical pollutants (including PCBs) (5), coupled with their long distance transfer across marine waters, as it has been recently described following the catastrophic tsunami in March 2011 along the Eastern coast of Japan (6). In conclusion, the herein dealt PCB-related alert (1), albeit of remarkable concern, appears to be influenced by a number of “environment”-dependent and “host”-related variables which should be carefully taken into account for an accurate evaluation of the effects of chronic PCB ingestion - and, more in general, exposure to OCs and other toxic pollutants - on killer whales’ health and conservation

Release of anandamide from blood cells

Background: Endogenous ligands of cannabinoid receptors ( endocannabinoids), in particular anandamide ( arachidonylethanolamide), have been recognized as being of crucial importance in a variety of physiological functions. Plasma concentrations of anandamide have been measured in a number of investigations; however, discrepant data on "normal'' anandamide plasma concentrations were reported. Since this might be caused by pre-analytical variables, we investigated the impact of different sample handling conditions on measured plasma anandamide concentrations. Methods: Blood samples were taken from healthy volunteers in EDTA- or heparin-containing tubes; whole blood samples were kept at +4 degrees C, room temperature, or 37 degrees C, respectively, for up to 120 min before obtaining plasma by centrifugation. Plasma anandamide concentrations were measured by an isotope-dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry ( LC-MS/MS) method. Results: A marked time- and temperature-dependent increase in plasma anandamide concentrations ex vivo was observed in both EDTA- and heparin-containing tubes. Mean anandamide concentrations approximately doubled when EDTA samples were kept at 4 degrees C for 60 min before centrifugation {[}immediately centrifuged, 1.3 mg/L ( SD 0.3 mg/L); 2.8 mg/L ( SD 0.5 mg/L) after storage for 60 min; n=12). After storage of heparinized whole-blood samples for 120 min at 37 degrees C, a mean plasma anandamide concentration of 11.9 mg/L ( SD 1.8 mg/L) was found. In cell-free plasma, no increase in anandamide concentrations was found. Conclusion: Anandamide is released from blood cells ex vivo at a very high rate; therefore, strictly standardized pre-analytical protocols have to be applied for plasma anandamide determination

The Gal4-Type Transcription Factor Pro1 Integrates Inputs from Two Different MAPK Cascades to Regulate Development in the Fungal Pathogen Fusarium oxysporum

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways control fundamental aspects of growth and development in fungi. In the soil-inhabiting ascomycete Fusarium oxysporum, which causes vascular wilt disease in more than a hundred crops, the MAPKs Fmk1 and Mpk1 regulate an array of developmental and virulence-related processes. The downstream components mediating these disparate functions are largely unknown. Here we find that the GATA-type transcription factor Pro1 integrates signals from both MAPK pathways to control a subset of functions, including quorum sensing, hyphal fusion and chemotropism. By contrast, Pro1 is dispensable for other downstream processes such as invasive hyphal growth and virulence, or response to cell wall stress. We further show that regulation of Pro1 activity by these upstream pathways occurs at least in part at the level of transcription. Besides the MAPK pathways, upstream regulators of Pro1 transcription also include the Velvet regulatory complex, the signaling protein Soft (Fso1) and the transcription factor Ste12 which was previously shown to act downstream of Fmk1. Collectively, our results reveal a role of Pro1 in integrating the outputs from different signaling pathways of F. oxysporum thereby mediating key developmental decisions in this important fungal pathogen

Pollen and spores morphology from the Holocene of the Iberá Wetlands in northeastern Argentina

Introducción y objetivos: Los trabajos taxonómicos de polen actual de la vegetación de los esteros del Iberá en el noreste de Argentina y otras áreas de la provincia de Corrientes se han llevaron a cabo mayoritariamente en la última década. Sin embargo, muy pocos de estos trabajos incluyen la ilustración de los palinomorfos. El objetivo de esta contribución es proporcionar el primer registro morfológico de palinomorfos de angiospermas, helechos, licofitas y briofitas de sedimentos del Holoceno de los Esteros del Iberá. M&M: Se analizaron muestras de núcleos obtenidos por medio de un muestreador tipo Livingston de seis lagos en sus partes central y más profunda en el margen occidental de los Esteros del Iberá. Resultados: Se describen e ilustran 55 tipos de palinomorfos: 46 tipos de polen corresponden a 27 familias de angiospermas y nueve tipos de esporas triletas a helechos, licofitas y briofitas. Se incluye información para diferenciar taxones locales (que forman parte de la vegetación natural de los Esteros del Iberá) y extra-locales (aquellos que no pertenecen al Iberá) que lograron llegar a los depocentros provenientes de vegetación regional más lejana. Conclusiones: La identificación de granos de polen y esporas hasta el nivel de especie mejora las reconstrucciones paleoambientales basadas sobre información ecológica y distribución geográfica más precisas. Este trabajo amplía el conocimiento de la flora palinológica del noreste de Argentina y contribuirá a diferenciar la vegetación local de la extra-local en futuras interpretaciones paleoecológicas y paleoambientales.Background and aims: Taxonomic works of the modern pollen grains from the vegetation of the Iberá Wetlands from northeastern Argentina, and other areas of the Corrientes province, have mostly been carried out in last decade. However, very few of these taxonomic works include illustration of palynomorphs. The objective of this contribution is to provide the first morphological records of palynomorphs of angiosperms, ferns, lycophytes and bryophytes from sediments from the Holocene of the Iberá Wetlands. M&M: Core samples obtained by mean of a Livingston-type sampler from six lakes in their central and deepest parts on the western margin of the Iberá Wetlands were analyzed. Results: Fifty-five types of palynomorphs are described and illustrated: 46 pollen types correspond to 27 families of angiosperms and nine trilete spore-types to ferns, lycophytes and bryophytes. Information to differentiate local (species that form part of the natural vegetation of the Iberá Wetlands) and extra-local taxa (those that do not belong to the Iberá), that achieved to depocenters mostly by means of wind currents coming from farther regional vegetation, was included. Conclusions: Pollen grains and spores identifications up to species level enhances paleoenvironmental reconstructions based on more accurate ecologic information and geographical distribution. This work broadens the knowledge of the palynological flora of northeastern Argentina and it will contribute to differentiate the local vegetation from the extra-local in future paleocological and paleoenvironmental interpretations.Fil: Fernandez Pacella, Lionel Edgar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Naturales y Agrimensura. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Di Pasquo Lartigue, Maria. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; Argentin

Selective vulnerability of neurons to acute toxicity after proteasome inhibitor treatment: Implications for oxidative stress and insolubility of newly synthesized proteins

Maintaining protein homeostasis is vital to cell viability, with numerous studies demonstrating a role for proteasome inhibition occurring during the aging of a variety of tissues and, presumably, contributing to the disruption of cellular homeostasis during aging. In this study we sought to elucidate the differences between neurons and astrocytes in regard to basal levels of protein synthesis, proteasome-mediated protein degradation, and sensitivity to cytotoxicity after proteasome inhibitor treatment. In these studies we demonstrate that neurons have an increased vulnerability, compared to astrocyte cultures, to proteasome-inhibitor-induced cytotoxicity. No significant difference was observed between these two cell types in regard to the basal rates of protein synthesis, or basal rates of protein degradation, in the pool of short-lived proteins. After proteasome inhibitor treatment neuronal crude lysates were observed to undergo greater increases in the levels of ubiquitinated and oxidized proteins and selectively exhibited increased levels of newly synthesized proteins accumulating within the insoluble protein pool, compared to astrocytes. Together, these data suggest a role for increased oxidized proteins and sequestration of newly synthesized proteins in the insoluble protein pool, as potential mediators of the selective neurotoxicity after proteasome inhibitor treatment. The implications for neurons exhibiting increased sensitivity to acute proteasome inhibitor exposure, and the corresponding changes in protein homeostasis observed after proteasome inhibition, are discussed in the context of both aging and age-related disorders of the nervous system.Fil: Dasuri, Kalavathi. State University of Louisiana; Estados UnidosFil: Ebenezer, Philip J.. State University of Louisiana; Estados UnidosFil: Zhang, Le. State University of Louisiana; Estados UnidosFil: Fernandez Kim, Sun Ok. State University of Louisiana; Estados UnidosFil: Uranga, Romina Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca; ArgentinaFil: Gavilán, Elena. State University of Louisiana; Estados UnidosFil: Di Blasio, Alessia. State University of Louisiana; Estados UnidosFil: Keller, Jeffrey N.. State University of Louisiana; Estados Unido

Transcriptomic identification of candidate genes involved in sunflower responses to chilling and salt stresses based on cDNA microarray analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Considering that sunflower production is expanding to arid regions, tolerance to abiotic stresses as drought, low temperatures and salinity arises as one of the main constrains nowadays. Differential organ-specific sunflower ESTs (expressed sequence tags) were previously generated by a subtractive hybridization method that included a considerable number of putative abiotic stress associated sequences. The objective of this work is to analyze concerted gene expression profiles of organ-specific ESTs by fluorescence microarray assay, in response to high sodium chloride concentration and chilling treatments with the aim to identify and follow up candidate genes for early responses to abiotic stress in sunflower.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Abiotic-related expressed genes were the target of this characterization through a gene expression analysis using an organ-specific cDNA fluorescence microarray approach in response to high salinity and low temperatures. The experiment included three independent replicates from leaf samples. We analyzed 317 unigenes previously isolated from differential organ-specific cDNA libraries from leaf, stem and flower at R1 and R4 developmental stage. A statistical analysis based on mean comparison by ANOVA and ordination by Principal Component Analysis allowed the detection of 80 candidate genes for either salinity and/or chilling stresses. Out of them, 50 genes were up or down regulated under both stresses, supporting common regulatory mechanisms and general responses to chilling and salinity. Interestingly 15 and 12 sequences were up regulated or down regulated specifically in one stress but not in the other, respectively. These genes are potentially involved in different regulatory mechanisms including transcription/translation/protein degradation/protein folding/ROS production or ROS-scavenging. Differential gene expression patterns were confirmed by qRT-PCR for 12.5% of the microarray candidate sequences.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Eighty genes isolated from organ-specific cDNA libraries were identified as candidate genes for sunflower early response to low temperatures and salinity. Microarray profiling of chilling and NaCl-treated sunflower leaves revealed dynamic changes in transcript abundance, including transcription factors, defense/stress related proteins, and effectors of homeostasis, all of which highlight the complexity of both stress responses. This study not only allowed the identification of common transcriptional changes to both stress conditions but also lead to the detection of stress-specific genes not previously reported in sunflower. This is the first organ-specific cDNA fluorescence microarray study addressing a simultaneous evaluation of concerted transcriptional changes in response to chilling and salinity stress in cultivated sunflower.</p

An impedimetric immunosensor for the selective detection of CD34+ T-cells in human serum

Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy has led to a paradigm change in cancer treatment. To allow widespread use of this therapy, it is important to reduce the costs associated with cells manufacturing whilst ensuring a high-quality production. Online biosensors can help monitor in real time the effectiveness of engineering CAR-T cells, with the possibility to be integrated on the workflow without the need to extract samples for off line analysis that require specialised personnel and expensive analytical equipment. In this context, we present an innovative label-free impedimetric immunosensor for the detection of CD34 + T-cells in human serum. The sensor is based on screen-printed gold electrodes functionalised with anti-CD34 antibody, via a mixed self-assembled monolayer of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid and 6-mercapto-1-hexanol, which recognizes the CD34 antigen expressed onto the T-cells surfaces. The immunosensor exhibits a high selectivity and a wide working range in human serum, both in Faradaic and non-Faradaic detection conditions, being respectively of 230 – 1.4 × 10 3 cell mL −1 and 50 – 1 × 10 5 cell mL −1. This result, along with performance validation both in batch and flow-through operations, demonstrates the applicability of the developed immunosensor for clinical use. </p