Behavioral interactions between terrestrial salamanders and spiders: competition or intraguild predation? Behavioral interactions between terrestrial salamanders and spiders: competition or intraguild predation?

Several studies suggest that small terrestrial salamanders are important regulators of leaf litter arthropod communities, and likely contribute to ecosystem processes such as decomposition and nutrient cycling. Despite the recognition that salamanders have the potential to strongly affect ecosystem function through both direct and indirect pathways, little is known regarding the nature of interactions between small vertebrates and the large, predatory arthropods with which they share both microhabitat and prey. Our study was designed to explore interactions between Eastern Red-backed Salamanders, Plethodon cinereus, and spiders in the genus Wadotes in an eastern North American temperate forest ecosystem. We were particularly interested in teasing apart behaviors such as territoriality and intraguild predation in an attempt to determine specifically which interaction is most likely responsible for the observed negative relationship between salamander and spider abundance at our field site. Field data indicate that P. cinereus and large syntopic spiders exhibit negative spatial associations in the microhabitat beneath cover objects, a possible indication of interspecific territoriality. In our laboratory experiments, resident salamanders displayed agonistic postures similarly toward both intruding conspecifics and spiders, suggesting that salamanders may perceive large intruding spiders as competitors. Finally, we observed no injuries to individual P. cinereus or adult spiders even though occasional chases and bites by both were recorded during the behavioral trials. We found no evidence that adults or juveniles of P. cinereus were envenomated by adult Wadotes spp., and there were no instances of intra-guild predation in this study. Multiple lines of evidence from this study, and others, suggest that the primary interaction between individuals of P. cinereus and large spiders is competitive in nature rather than predatory. We suggest that the cost associated with intraguild predation on salamanders with noxious skin secretions may preclude them from being preyed upon by spiders

Gastroprotective and anti Helicobacter pylori activities of propolis

Helicobacter pylori (HP) determines the most common human infection overall. Important gastric diseases are associated with HP with percentage of correlation up to 90% (duodenal ulcer and gastric lymphoma). The complexity of the pathogenetic factors of HP has prompted research to identit/ "phytocomplexes" able to act on different mechanisms of HP pathogenesis [1]. Our group investigated propolis regarding its antibacterial activity and focusing the protection from oxidative stress and massive inflammatory response, key elements of the progression of HP gastric diseases related, scarcely considered in classic antibiotical therapies [21. We studied propolis marketed in ltaly: classic propolis dry extract, hydrodispersible propolis, water-soluble propolis and a new formulation of propolis (75% italian propolis dry extract, 15% green tea catechins, 10% grape seed procyanidins), 50% total polyphenols UV method standardized. The different chemical composition of samples determines different biological activity as evidenced by in vífro and in human cells assays [3,4,51. Propolis water solutions at different concentrations were tested. Results indicated that propolis has high radical scavenging capacity (lCso in DPPH test ranging from 8.2 to 65.4 ?g/mt) and protect cell membranes from oxidative stress. Antioxidant activitvity was directly proportional to the effectiveness against HP: the new propolis formulation MBC and MIC against HPcagt and HPcag is 0.250 mg/ mL Tests on human PBMC stimulated wíth LPS showed that all samples (conc. 200 pg/ml) exhibited anti-inflammatory activity respect to LPS group. This research clearly demonstrated that antioxidant properties of propolis preparatíons and effectively promote gastric protection acfing in different steps of HP pathogenesis. Keyvu,ords: Helicobacter pylori, propolis, anti-infl ammatory, antioxidant, gastroprotective References: [1] Molnar B, Galamb O, Sipos F, Leisztef K, Tulassay (2010) Z Dig Dis 28(4-5):604-608. [2] Calvino-Fernindez M, Pana-Cid T (2010) Rev Esp Enferm Dig 1O2:. 41-5O. [3] Biagi M, Miraldi E, Figura N, ciachetti D (2009) Nat Prod Commun 4(2):255-260. [4] Rapta P, Misík V, Srasko A, Vrébet I (1995) Free Radic Biol Med 18 (5):901-908. [5] Boyanova L, Gergova G, Nikolov R, Derejian S, Lazarova E, Katsarov N, Mitov l, I(rastev Z (2005) J Med Microbiol 54:481-483

Cathepsin B p.Gly284Val variant in Parkinsons disease pathogenesis

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is generally considered a sporadic disorder, but a strong genetic background is often found. The aim of this study was to identify the underlying genetic cause of PD in two affected siblings and to subsequently assess the role of mutations in Cathepsin B (CTSB) in susceptibility to PD. A typical PD family was identified and whole-exome sequencing was performed in two affected siblings. Variants of interest were validated using Sanger sequencing. CTSB p.Gly284Val was genotyped in 2077 PD patients and 615 unrelated healthy controls from the Czech Republic, Ireland, Poland, Ukraine, and the USA. The gene burden analysis was conducted for the CTSB gene in an additional 769 PD probands from Mayo Clinic Florida familial PD cohort. CTSB expression and activity in patient-derived fibroblasts and controls were evaluated by qRT-PCR, western blot, immunocytochemistry, and enzymatic assay. The CTSB p.Gly284Val candidate variant was only identified in affected family members. Functional analysis of CTSB patient-derived fibroblasts under basal conditions did not reveal overt changes in endogenous expression, subcellular localization, or enzymatic activity in the heterozygous carrier of the CTSB variant. The identification of the CTSB p.Gly284Val may support the hypothesis that the CTSB locus harbors variants with differing penetrance that can determine the disease risk

Physiological Responses in Relation to Performance during Competition in Elite Synchronized Swimmers

PURPOSE: We aimed to characterize the cardiovascular, lactate and perceived exertion responses in relation to performance during competition in junior and senior elite synchronized swimmers. METHODS: 34 high level senior (21.4±3.6 years) and junior (15.9±1.0) synchronized swimmers were monitored while performing a total of 96 routines during an official national championship in the technical and free solo, duet and team competitive programs. Heart rate was continuously monitored. Peak blood lactate was obtained from serial capillary samples during recovery. Post-exercise rate of perceived exertion was assessed using the Borg CR-10 scale. Total competition scores were obtained from official records. RESULTS: Data collection was complete in 54 cases. Pre-exercise mean heart rate (beats·min(−1)) was 129.1±13.1, and quickly increased during the exercise to attain mean peak values of 191.7±8.7, with interspersed bradycardic events down to 88.8±28.5. Mean peak blood lactate (mmol·L(−1)) was highest in the free solo (8.5±1.8) and free duet (7.6±1.8) and lowest at the free team (6.2±1.9). Mean RPE (0–10+) was higher in juniors (7.8±0.9) than in seniors (7.1±1.4). Multivariate analysis revealed that heart rate before and minimum heart rate during the routine predicted 26% of variability in final total score. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular responses during competition are characterized by intense anticipatory pre-activation and rapidly developing tachycardia up to maximal levels with interspersed periods of marked bradycardia during the exercise bouts performed in apnea. Moderate blood lactate accumulation suggests an adaptive metabolic response as a result of the specific training adaptations attributed to influence of the diving response in synchronized swimmers. Competitive routines are perceived as very to extremely intense, particularly in the free solo and duets. The magnitude of anticipatory heart rate activation and bradycardic response appear to be related to performance variability

Search for intermediate-mass black hole binaries in the third observing run of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo

International audienceIntermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) span the approximate mass range 100−105 M⊙, between black holes (BHs) that formed by stellar collapse and the supermassive BHs at the centers of galaxies. Mergers of IMBH binaries are the most energetic gravitational-wave sources accessible by the terrestrial detector network. Searches of the first two observing runs of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo did not yield any significant IMBH binary signals. In the third observing run (O3), the increased network sensitivity enabled the detection of GW190521, a signal consistent with a binary merger of mass ∼150 M⊙ providing direct evidence of IMBH formation. Here, we report on a dedicated search of O3 data for further IMBH binary mergers, combining both modeled (matched filter) and model-independent search methods. We find some marginal candidates, but none are sufficiently significant to indicate detection of further IMBH mergers. We quantify the sensitivity of the individual search methods and of the combined search using a suite of IMBH binary signals obtained via numerical relativity, including the effects of spins misaligned with the binary orbital axis, and present the resulting upper limits on astrophysical merger rates. Our most stringent limit is for equal mass and aligned spin BH binary of total mass 200 M⊙ and effective aligned spin 0.8 at 0.056 Gpc−3 yr−1 (90% confidence), a factor of 3.5 more constraining than previous LIGO-Virgo limits. We also update the estimated rate of mergers similar to GW190521 to 0.08 Gpc−3 yr−1.Key words: gravitational waves / stars: black holes / black hole physicsCorresponding author: W. Del Pozzo, e-mail: [email protected]† Deceased, August 2020

Analysis of Outcomes in Ischemic vs Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation A Report From the GARFIELD-AF Registry

IMPORTANCE Congestive heart failure (CHF) is commonly associated with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF), and their combination may affect treatment strategies and outcomes