Assessing the Consequences of Brood Parasitism and Nest Predation On Seasonal Fecundity in Passerine Birds

Brood parasites and nest predators reduce the seasonal fecundity and, hence, the population growth rates of their victims. However, most field studies do not measure directly how parasites and predators decrease seasonal fecundity, but instead measure the impact of these organisms on individual nesting attempts. Because a female may renest after losing a nest to predation, abandoning a parasitized nest, or successfully fledging a brood, knowing how brood parasites and nest predators reduce the number of offspring fledged from individual nesting attempts is not equivalent to knowing their impact on seasonal fecundity. We address this problem by developing a mathematical model that: estimates several parameters describing the natural history of this system, including the brood-parasitism rate, nest-predation rate, and probability of nest abandonment in response to a parasitism event; and extrapolates to seasonal fecundity from these parameters and others describing the length of the breeding season, the timing of events in the nesting cycle, and the productivity of parasitized and unparasitized nests. We also show how different researchers using different observational methodologies to study exactly the same population likely would arrive at noticeably different conclusions regarding the intensity of brood parasitism, and we provide mathematical formulas for comparing among several of these measures of parasitism. Our procedures extend Mayfield's method for calculating nest-success rates from nest-history data in that we simultaneously estimate parameters describing nest predation and brood parasitism, predict seasonal fecundity from these parameters, and provide confidence intervals on all parameter estimates. The model should make the design and interpretation of logistically difficult empirical studies more efficient. It also can be specialized to species affected by nest predators but not brood parasites. We use the model to analyze prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor) and Black-capped Vireo (Vireo atricapillus) nesting data. We estimate the model's parameters for these species and use the resulting estimates to predict seasonal fecundity. For both species, the predicted seasonal fecundity closely matches the value measured directly.Integrative Biolog

Activation volume of selected liquid crystals in the density scaling regime

In this paper, we demonstrate and thoroughly analyze the activation volumetric properties of selected liquid crystals in the nematic and crystalline E phases in comparison with those reported for glass-forming liquids. In the analysis, we have employed and evaluated two entropic models (based on either total or configurational entropies) to describe the longitudinal relaxation times of the liquid crystals in the density scaling regime. In this study, we have also exploited two equations of state: volumetric and activation volumetric ones. As a result, we have established that the activation volumetric properties of the selected liquid crystals are quite opposite to such typical properties of glass-forming materials, i.e., the activation volume decreases and the isothermal bulk modulus increases when a liquid crystal is isothermally compressed. Using the model based on the configurational entropy, we suggest that the increasing pressure dependences of the activation volume in isothermal conditions and the negative curvature of the pressure dependences of isothermal longitudinal relaxation times can be related to the formation of antiparallel doublets in the examined liquid crystals. A similar pressure effect on relaxation dynamics may be also observed for other material groups in case of systems, the molecules of which form some supramolecular structures

Controversies in the use of nutritional supplements in ophthalmology

Nutritional supplements are widely taken by the general population and several of these products are marketed specifically to improve eye health. The aim of this review is to summarise the evidence for the benefit of supplementation with antioxidant vitamins and other micronutrients for three of the most common eye diseases of the elderly: age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataract and dry eye syndrome (DES). Although the potential importance of diet and nutrition in these conditions is strongly supported by data from observational studies, evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the benefit of nutritional supplementation is generally lacking. However, there is high quality evidence to support the use of an Age-Related Eye-Disease Study (AREDS) supplement containing antioxidants ( -carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E) and zinc to slow progression in those at moderate to high risk of developing advanced AMD. Recent data from the AREDS2 trial provided data to suggest that -carotene could be replaced with lutein and zeaxanthin on the based on improved safety without compromising efficacy. Although there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend the routine use of any of the commercially available supplements in cataract and DES, given the public health importance of these conditions further research into the benefit of dietary modification or nutritional supplementation should be a priority

Migration of intraocular silicone oil to CNS: the role of elevated intraocular pressure and congenital optic nerve abnormalities

We have read with interest the article “Intracranial Migration of Intravitreal Silicone Oil: A Case Report” published by Kim et al. [1]. We would like to congratulate them for the phantom study of silicon oil (SiO) and perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL). We believe, however, that some discussion of this article is needed. In fact, we must clarify that, although both types of intraocular tamponade are used today, SiO is a long-term intraocular tamponade ..

Antithrombotic therapy and invasive procedures [5]

To the Editor: Baron et al. (May 30 issue) make important suggestions in their review article; however, we propose that quantitative assessment of iatrogenic bleeding hazards must be considered as well as thrombosis prevention. Although CHA2DS2–VASc scoring for atrial fibrillation is mentioned, the Hypertension, Abnormal Renal/Liver Function, Stroke, Bleeding History or Predisposition, Labile INR, Elderly, Drugs/Alcohol Concomitantly (HAS-BLED) score for bleeding has also been validated. Both scores calculate estimated annual risks and benefits and hence can guide future therapy..

Self-assembly of like-charged nanoparticles into microscopic crystals

Like-charged nanoparticles, NPs, can assemble in water into large, faceted crystals, each made of several million particles. These NPs are functionalized with mixed monolayers comprising ligands terminating in carboxylic acid group ligands as well as positively charged quaternary ammonium ligands. The latter groups give rise to electrostatic interparticle repulsions which partly offset the hydrogen bonding between the carboxylic acids. It is the balance between these two interactions that ultimately enables self-assembly. Depending on the pH, the particles can crystallize, form aggregates, remain unaggregated or even-in mixtures of two particle types-can choose whether to crystallize with like-charged or oppositely charged particles.open

Self-assembly of like-charged nanoparticles into microscopic crystals

Like-charged nanoparticles, NPs, can assemble in water into large, faceted crystals, each made of several million particles. These NPs are functionalized with mixed monolayers comprising ligands terminating in carboxylic acid group ligands as well as positively charged quaternary ammonium ligands. The latter groups give rise to electrostatic interparticle repulsions which partly offset the hydrogen bonding between the carboxylic acids. It is the balance between these two interactions that ultimately enables self-assembly. Depending on the pH, the particles can crystallize, form aggregates, remain unaggregated or even-in mixtures of two particle types-can choose whether to crystallize with like-charged or oppositely charged particles.open

William John Adie: the man behind the syndrome

William John Adie was an Australian neurologist in the early 20th century responsible for extensively describing the tonically dilated pupil associated with absent deep tendon reflexes – both features of a syndrome that now bears his name. In addition to other neurological syndromes, he was also significant in delineating narcolepsy through his clinical essays and case series. His ophthalmic and neurologic contributions have served the test of time and played an important role in the modern understanding of Adie syndrome and narcolepsy. This report reviews Adie's medical contributions, extensive descriptions of Adie syndrome, and provides a brief biographical account of his life