The impacts of habitat disturbance on adult and larval dragonflies (Odonata) in rainforest streams in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo

$\textbf{1.}$ Dragonfly assemblages (Odonata: comprising damselflies, Zygoptera; and dragonflies, Anisoptera) in Southeast Asian rainforests are extremely diverse but increasingly threatened by habitat disturbance, including logging and conversion of forest to oil palm plantations. $\textbf{2.}$ Land-use change can affect dragonfly larval stages by altering within-stream environmental conditions, and adults by loss of perches, shade and hunting habitat. However, the extent to which dragonflies are affected by land-use change is not well known, and strategies for conservation are poorly developed. $\textbf{3.}$ We surveyed dragonfly adults and larvae, forest quality and stream environmental conditions across 16 streams in Sabah, Malaysia. Habitat surrounding the streams included pristine forest, selectively logged forest, oil palm with forested riparian buffer strips and oil palm without buffers. $\textbf{4.}$ Overall abundance and species richness of adult dragonflies stayed constant with habitat disturbance, but larval abundance and richness decreased with higher habitat disturbance, and larvae were largely absent from oil palm streams. There was also a clear shift in community composition of both adult and larval dragonflies. Anisoptera adults were more species rich and abundant, but Zygoptera adults were less species rich in more disturbed sites. $\textbf{5.}$ The presence of riparian buffers in oil palm plantations offered some protection for forest-associated dragonfly species, and streams with wider riparian buffers supported adult assemblages more similar to those found in logged forest. However, oil palm streams with riparian buffers still contained a depauperate larval assemblage compared to logged forest areas, and dragonfly assemblages in narrow riparian buffer streams were similar to those found in streams surrounded by continuous oil palm. $\textbf{6.}$ Our results provide clear evidence of the effect of land-use change on dragonflies. Conservation efforts to conserve forest communities should target the preservation of existing forest areas, but management within oil palm plantation landscapes to preserve riparian buffers can still have a marked beneficial effect on dragonfly communities.SHL was funded by a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) studentship (1122589), Proforest, the Varley Gradwell Travelling Fellowship, Tim Whitmore Fund, Panton Trust and the Cambridge University Commonwealth Fund during this work. We have no conflicts of interest to declare

Odonata from the BEFTA Project area, Riau Province, Sumatra, Indonesia

The Odonata found during work on the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in Tropical Agriculture (BEFTA) Project in Riau Province, Sumatra, Indonesia are reported. Prior to the BEFTA project we are only aware of published records of 37 species of Odonata from Riau Province (these are listed in an appendix). Seventy five species have been recorded during the BEFTA project, including five that have not (Archibasis incisura, Archibasis rebeccae and Pseudagrion williamsoni), or not definitely (Argiocnemis species and Mortonagrion species cf aborense), been recorded in Sumatra before. Macromia dione is recorded for the first time since its description. The number of species now known from Riau Province is 88; 51 of these are reported from the province for the first time here.Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology Research Institute (donation) and Isaac Newton Trust, Cambridg

Effects of Cyclin Dependent Kinase 9 inhibition on zebrafish larvae

CDK9 is a known regulator of cellular transcription, growth and proliferation. Small molecule inhibitors are currently being developed and assessed in clinical trials as anti-cancer drugs. The zebrafish embryo provides an ideal model to explore the effects of CDK9 inhibition in-vivo. This has not been adequately explored previously at the level of a whole organism. We have compared and contrasted the effects of pharmacological and molecular inhibition of CDK9 on somatic growth, apoptosis and cellular proliferation in zebrafish larvae between 0 to 120 hours post fertilisation (hpf) using flavopiridol, a selective CDK9 antagonist, and CDK9-targeting morpholino. We demonstrate that the inhibition of CDK9 diminishes cellular proliferation and increases apoptosis. Subsequently, it affects somatic growth and development of a number of key embryonic structures including the brain, heart, eye and blood vessels. For the first time, we have localized CDK9 at a subcellular level in whole-mounted larvae. This works shows, at a high-throughput level, that CDK9 clearly plays a fundamental role in early cellular growth and proliferation

Complexity within an oil palm monoculture: The effects of habitat variability and rainfall on adult dragonfly (Odonata) communities

Recent expansion of oil palm agriculture has resulted in loss of forest habitat and forest-dependent species. However, large numbers of species – particularly insects – can persist within plantations. This study focuses on Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies): a charismatic indicator taxon, and a potentially valuable pest control agent. We surveyed adult Odonata populations biannually over three years within an industrial oil palm plantation in Sumatra, Indonesia. We assessed the effects of rainfall (including an El Niño Southern Oscillation-associated drought), the role of roadside ditches, and the importance of understory vegetation on Odonata populations. To assess the impacts of vegetation we took advantage of a long-term vegetation management experiment that is part of the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in Tropical Agriculture (BEFTA) Programme. We found 41 Odonata species, and communities varied between plantation core and roadside edge microhabitats, and between seasons. Abundance was significantly related to rainfall levels four months before surveys, probably indicating the importance of high water levels in roadside ditches for successful larval development. We found no significant effect of the BEFTA understory vegetation treatments on Odonata abundance, and only limited effects on community composition, suggesting that local understory vegetation structure plays a relatively unimportant role in determining communities. Our findings highlight that there are large numbers of Odonata species present within oil palm plantations, and suggest that their abundance could potentially be increased by maintaining or establishing waterbodies. As Odonata are predators, this could bring pest control benefits, in addition to enhancing biodiversity within intensive agricultural landscapes.This work was funded by The Isaac Newton Trust Cambridge, Golden Agri Resources, and the Natural Environment Research Council [grant number NE/P00458X/1]

Many quality measurements, but few quality measures assessing the quality of breast cancer care in women: A systematic review

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer in women is increasingly frequent, and care is complex, onerous and expensive, all of which lend urgency to improvements in care. Quality measurement is essential to monitor effectiveness and to guide improvements in healthcare. METHODS: Ten databases, including Medline, were searched electronically to identify measures assessing the quality of breast cancer care in women (diagnosis, treatment, followup, documentation of care). Eligible studies measured adherence to standards of breast cancer care in women diagnosed with, or in treatment for, any histological type of adenocarcinoma of the breast. Reference lists of studies, review articles, web sites, and files of experts were searched manually. Evidence appraisal entailed dual independent assessments of data (e.g., indicators used in quality measurement). The extent of each quality indicator's scientific validation as a measure was assessed. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) was asked to contribute quality measures under development. RESULTS: Sixty relevant reports identified 58 studies with 143 indicators assessing adherence to quality breast cancer care. A paucity of validated indicators (n = 12), most of which assessed quality of life, only permitted a qualitative data synthesis. Most quality indicators evaluated processes of care. CONCLUSION: While some studies revealed patterns of under-use of care, all adherence data require confirmation using validated quality measures. ASCO's current development of a set of quality measures relating to breast cancer care may hold the key to conducting definitive studies

Renal histomorphology in dogs with pyometra and control dogs, and long term clinical outcome with respect to signs of kidney disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Age-related changes in renal histomorphology are described, while the presence of glomerulonephritis in dogs with pyometra is controversial in current literature.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Dogs with pyometra were examined retrospectively for evidence of secondary renal damage and persisting renal disease through two retrospective studies. In Study 1, light microscopic lesions of renal tissue were graded and compared in nineteen dogs with pyometra and thirteen age-matched control bitches. In Study 2, forty-one owners of dogs with pyometra were interviewed approximately 8 years after surgery for evidence ofclinical signs of renal failure in order to document causes of death/euthanasia.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Interstitial inflammation and tubular atrophy were more pronounced in dogs with pyometra than in the control animals. Glomerular lesions classified as glomerular sclerosis were present in both groups. No unequivocal light microscopic features of glomerulonephritis were observed in bitches in any of the groups.</p> <p>Two bitches severely proteinuric at the time of surgery had developed end stage renal disease within 3 years. In five of the bitches polyuria persisted after surgery. Most bitches did not show signs of kidney disease at the time of death/euthanasia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Tubulointerstitial inflammation was observed, but glomerular damage beyond age-related changes could not be demonstrated by light microscopy in the dogs with pyometra. However, severe proteinuria after surgery may predispose to development of renal failure.</p

Limited redundancy in genes regulated by Cyclin T2 and Cyclin T1

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The elongation phase, like other steps of transcription by RNA Polymerase II, is subject to regulation. The positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) complex allows for the transition of mRNA synthesis to the productive elongation phase. P-TEFb contains Cdk9 (Cyclin-dependent kinase 9) as its catalytic subunit and is regulated by its Cyclin partners, Cyclin T1 and Cyclin T2. The HIV-1 Tat transactivator protein enhances viral gene expression by exclusively recruiting the Cdk9-Cyclin T1 P-TEFb complex to a RNA element in nascent viral transcripts called TAR. The expression patterns of Cyclin T1 and Cyclin T2 in primary monocytes and CD4⁺T cells suggests that Cyclin T2 may be generally involved in expression of constitutively expressed genes in quiescent cells, while Cyclin T1 may be involved in expression of genes up-regulated during macrophage differentiation, T cell activation, and conditions of increased metabolic activity To investigate this issue, we wished to identify the sets of genes whose levels are regulated by either Cyclin T2 or Cyclin T1.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>We used shRNA lentiviral vectors to stably deplete either Cyclin T2 or Cyclin T1 in HeLa cells. Total RNA extracted from these cells was subjected to cDNA microarray analysis. We found that 292 genes were down- regulated by depletion of Cyclin T2 and 631 genes were down-regulated by depletion of Cyclin T1 compared to cells transduced with a control lentivirus. Expression of 100 genes was commonly reduced in either knockdown. Additionally, 111 and 287 genes were up-regulated when either Cyclin T2 or Cyclin T1 was depleted, respectively, with 45 genes in common.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results suggest that there is limited redundancy in genes regulated by Cyclin T1 or Cyclin T2.</p