Vocal Communications and the Maintenance of Population Specific Songs in a Contact Zone

Bird song has been hypothesized to play a role in several important aspects of the biology of songbirds, including the generation of taxonomic diversity by speciation; however, the role that song plays in speciation within this group may be dependent upon the ability of populations to maintain population specific songs or calls in the face of gene flow and external cultural influences. Here, in an exploratory study, we construct a spatially explicit model of population movement to examine the consequences of secondary contact of populations singing distinct songs. We concentrate on two broad questions: 1) will population specific songs be maintained in a contact zone or will they be replaced by shared song, and 2) what spatial patterns in the distribution of songs may result from contact? We examine the effects of multiple factors including song-based mating preferences and movement probabilities, oblique versus paternal learning of song, and both cultural and genetic mutations. We find a variety of conditions under which population specific songs can be maintained, particularly when females have preferences for their population specific songs, and we document many distinct patterns of song distribution within the contact zone, including clines, banding, and mosaics

Equilibrium and dynamical properties of two dimensional self-gravitating systems

A system of N classical particles in a 2D periodic cell interacting via long-range attractive potential is studied. For low energy density $U$ a collapsed phase is identified, while in the high energy limit the particles are homogeneously distributed. A phase transition from the collapsed to the homogeneous state occurs at critical energy U_c. A theoretical analysis within the canonical ensemble identifies such a transition as first order. But microcanonical simulations reveal a negative specific heat regime near $U_c$. The dynamical behaviour of the system is affected by this transition : below U_c anomalous diffusion is observed, while for U > U_c the motion of the particles is almost ballistic. In the collapsed phase, finite $N$-effects act like a noise source of variance O(1/N), that restores normal diffusion on a time scale diverging with N. As a consequence, the asymptotic diffusion coefficient will also diverge algebraically with N and superdiffusion will be observable at any time in the limit N \to \infty. A Lyapunov analysis reveals that for U > U_c the maximal exponent \lambda decreases proportionally to N^{-1/3} and vanishes in the mean-field limit. For sufficiently small energy, in spite of a clear non ergodicity of the system, a common scaling law \lambda \propto U^{1/2} is observed for any initial conditions.Comment: 17 pages, Revtex - 15 PS Figs - Subimitted to Physical Review E - Two column version with included figures : less paper waste

Assessing the performance of maternity care in Europe: A critical exploration of tools and indicators

Background: This paper critically reviews published tools and indicators currently used to measure maternity care performance within Europe, focusing particularly on whether and how current approaches enable systematic appraisal of processes of minimal (or non-) intervention in support of physiological or "normal birth". The work formed part of COST Actions IS0907: "Childbirth Cultures, Concerns, and Consequences: Creating a dynamic EU framework for optimal maternity care" (2011-2014) and IS1405: Building Intrapartum Research Through Health - an interdisciplinary whole system approach to understanding and contextualising physiological labour and birth (BIRTH) (2014-). The Actions included the sharing of country experiences with the aim of promoting salutogenic approaches to maternity care. Methods: A structured literature search was conducted of material published between 2005 and 2013, incorporating research databases, published documents in english in peer-reviewed international journals and indicator databases which measured aspects of health care at a national and pan-national level. Given its emergence from two COST Actions the work, inevitably, focused on Europe, but findings may be relevant to other countries and regions. Results: A total of 388 indicators were identified, as well as seven tools specifically designed for capturing aspects of maternity care. Intrapartum care was the most frequently measured feature, through the application of process and outcome indicators. Postnatal and neonatal care of mother and baby were the least appraised areas. An over-riding focus on the quantification of technical intervention and adverse or undesirable outcomes was identified. Vaginal birth (no instruments) was occasionally cited as an indicator; besides this measurement few of the 388 indicators were found to be assessing non-intervention or "good" or positive outcomes more generally. Conclusions: The tools and indicators identified largely enable measurement of technical interventions and undesirable health (or pathological medical) outcomes. A physiological birth generally necessitates few, or no, interventions, yet most of the indicators presently applied fail to capture (a) this phenomenon, and (b) the relationship between different forms and processes of care, mode of birth and good or positive outcomes. A need was identified for indicators which capture non-intervention, reflecting the reality that most births are low-risk, requiring few, if any, technical medical procedures

Clinical delineation, sex differences, and genotype-phenotype correlation in pathogenic KDM6A variants causing X-linked Kabuki syndrome type 2.

PURPOSE: The variant spectrum and the phenotype of X-linked Kabuki syndrome type 2 (KS2) are poorly understood. METHODS: Genetic and clinical details of new and published individuals with pathogenic KDM6A variants were compiled and analyzed. RESULTS: Sixty-one distinct pathogenic KDM6A variants (50 truncating, 11 missense) from 80 patients (34 males, 46 females) were identified. Missense variants clustered in the TRP 2, 3, 7 and Jmj-C domains. Truncating variants were significantly more likely to be de novo. Thirteen individuals had maternally inherited variants and one had a paternally inherited variant. Neonatal feeding difficulties, hypoglycemia, postnatal growth retardation, poor weight gain, motor delay, intellectual disability (ID), microcephaly, congenital heart anomalies, palate defects, renal malformations, strabismus, hearing loss, recurrent infections, hyperinsulinism, seizures, joint hypermobility, and gastroesophageal reflux were frequent clinical findings. Facial features of over a third of patients were not typical for KS. Males were significantly more likely to be born prematurely, have shorter stature, and severe developmental delay/ID. CONCLUSION: We expand the KDM6A variant spectrum and delineate the KS2 phenotype. We demonstrate that the variability of the KS2 phenotypic depends on sex and the variant type. We also highlight the overlaps and differences between the phenotypes of KS2 and KS1

Fish Intelligence, Sentience and Ethics

Fish are one of the most highly utilised vertebrate taxa by humans; they are harvested from wild stocks as part of global fishing industries, grown under intensive aquaculture conditions, are the most common pet and are widely used for scientific research. But fish are seldom afforded the same level of compassion or welfare as warm-blooded vertebrates. Part of the problem is the large gap between people’s perception of fish intelligence and the scientific reality. This is an important issue because public perception guides government policy. The perception of an animal’s intelligence often drives our decision whether or not to include them in our moral circle. From a welfare perspective, most researchers would suggest that if an animal is sentient, then it can most likely suffer and should therefore be offered some form of formal protection. There has been a debate about fish welfare for decades which centres on the question of whether they are sentient or conscious. The implications for affording the same level of protection to fish as other vertebrates are great, not least because of fishing-related industries. Here, I review the current state of knowledge of fish cognition starting with their sensory perception and moving on to cognition. The review reveals that fish perception and cognitive abilities often match or exceed other vertebrates. A review of the evidence for pain perception strongly suggests that fish experience pain in a manner similar to the rest of the vertebrates. Although scientists cannot provide a definitive answer on the level of consciousness for any nonhuman vertebrate, the extensive evidence of fish behavioural and cognitive sophistication and pain perception suggests that best practice would be to lend fish the same level of protection as any other vertebrate

Human subcortical brain asymmetries in 15,847 people worldwide reveal effects of age and sex

The two hemispheres of the human brain differ functionally and structurally. Despite over a century of research, the extent to which brain asymmetry is influenced by sex, handedness, age, and genetic factors is still controversial. Here we present the largest ever analysis of subcortical brain asymmetries, in a harmonized multi-site study using meta-analysis methods. Volumetric asymmetry of seven subcortical structures was assessed in 15,847 MRI scans from 52 datasets worldwide. There were sex differences in the asymmetry of the globus pallidus and putamen. Heritability estimates, derived from 1170 subjects belonging to 71 extended pedigrees, revealed that additive genetic factors influenced the asymmetry of these two structures and that of the hippocampus and thalamus. Handedness had no detectable effect on subcortical asymmetries, even in this unprecedented sample size, but the asymmetry of the putamen varied with age. Genetic drivers of asymmetry in the hippocampus, thalamus and basal ganglia may affect variability in human cognition, including susceptibility to psychiatric disorders

Serelaxin as a potential treatment for renal dysfunction in cirrhosis: Preclinical evaluation and results of a randomized phase 2 trial

<div><p>Background</p><p>Chronic liver scarring from any cause leads to cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and a progressive decline in renal blood flow and renal function. Extreme renal vasoconstriction characterizes hepatorenal syndrome, a functional and potentially reversible form of acute kidney injury in patients with advanced cirrhosis, but current therapy with systemic vasoconstrictors is ineffective in a substantial proportion of patients and is limited by ischemic adverse events. Serelaxin (recombinant human relaxin-2) is a peptide molecule with anti-fibrotic and vasoprotective properties that binds to relaxin family peptide receptor-1 (RXFP1) and has been shown to increase renal perfusion in healthy human volunteers. We hypothesized that serelaxin could ameliorate renal vasoconstriction and renal dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension.</p><p>Methods and findings</p><p>To establish preclinical proof of concept, we developed two independent rat models of cirrhosis that were characterized by progressive reduction in renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate and showed evidence of renal endothelial dysfunction. We then set out to further explore and validate our hypothesis in a phase 2 randomized open-label parallel-group study in male and female patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Forty patients were randomized 1:1 to treatment with serelaxin intravenous (i.v.) infusion (for 60 min at 80 μg/kg/d and then 60 min at 30 μg/kg/d) or terlipressin (single 2-mg i.v. bolus), and the regional hemodynamic effects were quantified by phase contrast magnetic resonance angiography at baseline and after 120 min. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline in total renal artery blood flow.</p><p>Therapeutic targeting of renal vasoconstriction with serelaxin in the rat models increased kidney perfusion, oxygenation, and function through reduction in renal vascular resistance, reversal of endothelial dysfunction, and increased activation of the AKT/eNOS/NO signaling pathway in the kidney. In the randomized clinical study, infusion of serelaxin for 120 min increased total renal arterial blood flow by 65% (95% CI 40%, 95%; <i>p <</i> 0.001) from baseline. Administration of serelaxin was safe and well tolerated, with no detrimental effect on systemic blood pressure or hepatic perfusion. The clinical study’s main limitations were the relatively small sample size and stable, well-compensated population.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Our mechanistic findings in rat models and exploratory study in human cirrhosis suggest the therapeutic potential of selective renal vasodilation using serelaxin as a new treatment for renal dysfunction in cirrhosis, although further validation in patients with more advanced cirrhosis and renal dysfunction is required.</p><p>Trial registration</p><p>ClinicalTrials.gov <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01640964" target="_blank">NCT01640964</a></p></div

Hygrophorineae Dentinger & Gaya & O'Brien & Suz & Lachlan & Diaz-Valderrama & Koch & Aime 2016, subord. nov.

&lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Hygrophorineae&lt;/b&gt; Aime, Dentinger &amp; Gaya &lt;i&gt;subord. nov.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Name registration&lt;/i&gt;: IF551135&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Type family&lt;/i&gt;: Hygrophoraceae Lotsy, Vortr. bot. Stammesgesch: 706 (1907).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Basidiomata primarily clavarioid or agaricoid, often pigmented with carotenoids and waxy. Hyphae monomitic, usually with clamp connections, nonamyloid. Cystidia normally absent; basidia normally 2&ndash;4 spored; basidiospores hyaline.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Representative families&lt;/i&gt;: Clavariaceae Chevall., Hygrophoraceae.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Notes&lt;/i&gt;: This suborder is equivalent to Hygrophoraceae and Clavariaceae &lt;i&gt;sensu&lt;/i&gt; Matheny &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; (2006) and Hygrophoroid clade plus Clavariaceae &lt;i&gt;fide&lt;/i&gt; Bin- der &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; (2010). Ryberg &amp; Matheny (2011) also recovered a statistically support monophyletic group of Hygrophoraceae and Clavariaceae. There is growing evidence that the preponderance of species may be biotrophic and many members form associations with grasses, mosses, and bryophytes (Seitzman &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt;, 2011; Birkebak &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt;, 2013; Halbwachs &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt;, 2013; Lodge &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt;, 2014). Development of carotenoid pigments is also especially diverse in this suborder.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Dentinger, BTM, Gaya, E, O'Brien, H, Suz, LM, Lachlan, R, Diaz-Valderrama, JR, Koch, RA &amp; Aime, MC, 2016, Tales from the crypt: genome mining from fungarium specimens improves resolution of the mushroom tree of life, pp. 11-32 in Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 117&lt;/i&gt; on page 26, DOI: 10.1111/bij.12553, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/7848603"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/7848603&lt;/a&gt

Tricholomatineae Dentinger & Gaya & O'Brien & Suz & Lachlan & Diaz-Valderrama & Koch & Aime 2016, subord. nov.

&lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Tricholomatineae&lt;/b&gt; Aime, Dentinger &amp; Gaya &lt;i&gt;subord. nov.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Name registration&lt;/i&gt;: IF551139&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Type family&lt;/i&gt;: Tricholomataceae R. Heim ex Pouzar, Ceska Mykol. 37: 175 (1983).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Basidiomata predominantly agaricoid, often robust in stature. Hyphae monomitic; clamp connections present or absent; pigments often encrusting. Basidia mostly four spored; basidiospores hyaline or with pink pigmentation and then often angular in at least one plane. Spores smooth or verrucose, amyloid or inamyloid, thin-walled. Pileipellis typically a cutis or trichoderm.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Representative families&lt;/i&gt;: Entolomataceae Kotl. &amp; Pouzar, Lyophyllaceae J ulich &euro;, Macrocystidiaceae K uhner &euro;, Tricholomataceae.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Notes&lt;/i&gt;: Tricholomatineae contains fungi with a wide array of ecological roles, including several ectomycorrhizal lineages, necrotrophism (&lt;i&gt;Collybia&lt;/i&gt;), and fungal and animal symbionts such as mycoparasites (&lt;i&gt;Entoloma&lt;/i&gt;), and the obligate termite symbiont genus &lt;i&gt;Termitomyces&lt;/i&gt;. This suborder corresponds well to the Tricholomatoid clade of Matheny &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; (2006), except for the exclusion of Mycenaceae and inclusion of &lt;i&gt;C. gibba&lt;/i&gt;, and the Tricholomatoid clade of Binder &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; (2010). At least 30 genera can be assigned to this suborder following a recent revision of the Tricholomataceae (Sanchez-Garc&imath;a &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt;, 2014).&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Dentinger, BTM, Gaya, E, O'Brien, H, Suz, LM, Lachlan, R, Diaz-Valderrama, JR, Koch, RA &amp; Aime, MC, 2016, Tales from the crypt: genome mining from fungarium specimens improves resolution of the mushroom tree of life, pp. 11-32 in Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 117&lt;/i&gt; on page 27, DOI: 10.1111/bij.12553, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/7848603"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/7848603&lt;/a&gt