Genetic diversity of the pan-european freshwater mussel Anodonta anatina (bivalvia : unionoida) based on CO1 : new phylogenetic insights and implications for conservation

1. The duck mussel, Anodonta anatina, has been described as abundant and widespread in Europe. However, it is listed as near threatened or threatened in several countries owing to severe declines in abundance and/or spatial distribution. 2. Despite its potential ecological importance and conservation status almost nothing is known regarding its genetic diversity. 3. As a preliminary analysis, variation within the cytochrome oxidase 1 mitochondrial gene was determined from European specimens from Portugal in the south west, to Ukraine in the east, and Sweden in the north. 4. Three major mtDNA clades were retrieved: clade 1 includes all the individuals from Iberia, except those from the Ebro basin; clade 2 includes all the European non-Iberian and non-Italian samples; and clade 3 includes all the individuals from Italy and from the Ebro basin. AMOVA analysis revealed significant genetic differences among the three clades. Within each of the major clades, several geographically related haplogroups were also retrieved, especially in Iberia, where four genetically distinct groups (North-West, South-Central, South-West and Ebro) were revealed. 5. Given the evidence of regional declines of A. anatina in Europe, the confirmation of geographically distinct genotypes indicates a need for the development of management strategies directed towards the conservation of localized populationsThis work was supported financially by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) project PTDC/AAC-AMB/117688/2010, and partly by the European Regional Development Fund through COMPETE, under the project PEst-C/MAR/LA0015/2011. We would like to thank our collaborators who kindly provided us with tissue samples: Erika Bodis, Karel Douda, Oksana Stolyar, Arpad Benko-Kiss, Nicoletta Riccardi. Marianna Soroka and Larissa Yanovich gave us the exact locations of their previously sequenced animals. We thank Jose Maria Irurita, Jose Miguel Barea Azcon, Keiko Nakamura, Pablo Redin and Esther Penin for all their help during the Spanish field campaigns. Official capture and sampling licences were issued by Junta de Castilla y Leon (Consejeria de Fomento y Medio Ambiente EP/CYL/331/2012, de 17 de Abril de 2012); Junta de Andalucia (Consejeria de Medio Ambiente- SGYB/FOA/AFR/SFS, de 17 de Julio de 2012); Xunta de Galicia (Conselleria de Medio Ambiente- 539/2012 de 15 de Setembro de 2012); Gobierno de Aragon (Direccion General de Conservacion del Medio Natural- 136.071/2012 de 12 de Julio de 2012)

Challenges to immunization: the experiences of homeless youth

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Homelessness is a critical social issue, both a product of, and contributing to, poor mental and physical health. Over 150,000 young Canadians live on the streets. Homeless youth experience a high incidence of infectious diseases, many of which are vaccine preventable. Early departure from school and limited access to public health services makes them a particularly vulnerable high-risk group. This study explores challenges to obtaining essential vaccines experienced by homeless youth.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A qualitative research study to explore knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and experiences surrounding immunization of hard-to-reach homeless youth was designed. Participants were recruited for focus groups from Phoenix House and Shelter, a non-profit, community-based organization assisting homeless youth in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. An experienced facilitator guided the recorded discussions. Transcripts of audiotapes were analyzed using a constant comparative method until data revealed a set of exemplars and themes that best captured participants’ knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and experiences surrounding immunization and infectious diseases.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Important themes emerged from our analysis. Considerable variability in knowledge about immunization and vaccine preventable diseases was found. The homeless youth in the study had limited awareness of meningitis in contrast to a greater knowledge about sexually transmitted infections and influenza, gained during the H1N1/09 public health campaign. They recognized their poverty as a risk for contracting infectious diseases, along with their inability to always employ known strategies to prevent infectious diseases, due to circumstances. They showed considerable insight into the detrimental effects of poor hygiene, sleeping locations and risk behaviour. Interviewed homeless youth regarded themselves as good compliers of health professional advice and offered valuable suggestions to improve immunization in their population.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>To provide effective public health interventions, it is necessary to consider the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and experiences of hard to reach, high risk groups. Our study shows that homeless youth are interested and capable in discussing immunization. Active targeting of homeless youth for public health immunization programs is needed. Working collaboratively with non-profit organizations that assist homeless youth provides an opportunity to increase their knowledge of infectious risks and to improve immunization strategies in this vulnerable group.</p

Galectin-3 is upregulated in frontotemporal dementia patients with subtype specificity

INTRODUCTIONNeuroinflammation is a major contributor to the progression of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a microglial activation regulator, holds promise as a therapeutic target and potential biomarker. Our study aimed to investigate Gal-3 levels in patients with FTD and assess its diagnostic potential.METHODSWe examined Gal-3 levels in brain, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of patients with FTD and controls. Multiple linear regressions between Gal-3 levels and other FTD markers were explored.RESULTSGal-3 levels were increased significantly in patients with FTD, mainly across brain tissue and CSF, compared to controls. Remarkably, Gal-3 levels were higher in cases with tau pathology than TAR-DNA Binding Protein 43 (TDP-43) pathology. Only MAPT mutation carriers displayed increased Gal-3 levels in CSF samples, which correlated with total tau and 14-3-3.DISCUSSIONOur findings underscore the potential of Gal-3 as a diagnostic marker for FTD, particularly in MAPT cases, and highlights the relation of Gal-3 with neuronal injury markers

State of the sector report on Philippine housewares, 2006

The Philippines is endowed with natural resources. Being a developing country, it has resorted to the utilization of such in the production of goods and in the provision of services. Given the fact that the country is labor-abundant, ranking in the Top 20 in the world\u27s most populated countries; it is organic to resort to the manufacture of labor-intensive goods. In the Philippine houseware industry, manufacturers would purchase resources and supplies that are relatively indigenous to them as raw materials and incorporate these in their production process. While procuring such, certain issues may rise in terms of logistics-both inbound and outbound. On the other hand, producing these housewares could also trigger quality control issues. Along the production process, value is created and added to the finished product. Marketing comes into play after production. A piece of houseware itself is a product, and a product is something that satisfies a need or a want. One should also consider the different factors that make a potential customer eventually become an actual customer. Perhaps, customers are also looking at the concept of after-sales service aside from quality. The different products lines of the Philippine houseware sector are very diverse. They range from baskets to shellcrafts and from stoneware to glassware. Most of these items serve aesthetic purposes. Firms belonging to this industry are situated in the National Capital Region, specifically Metro Manila, and its adjacent regions. Not to be missed are firms located in the Bicol region and in the Visayas. From last year\u27s state of the sector report, it was noted that the Department of Trade and Industry was able to pinpoint an estimated employment of 40,000 people in the houseware industry. Despite the strong promise shown by statistics, it was also noted that the Philippine houseware industry is suffering a decline over the recent years. Moreover, it is also given that these firms are engaged in selling their products to buyers from other countries. The reason for such is that in past studies, most housewares are sold to foreign markets and seldom for the domestic market. Lastly, there is also a growing need for business support 1roups that will make the houseware industry more competitive in the international market. This goal is envisioned to be achieved through processing the data and finding in this state of the sector report and making them available for the firms’ perusal

Teaching business calculus: Methodologies, techniques, issues, and prospects

Calculus, as a subject matter, is an area in mathematics that deals with limits, rates of change, derivatives and integrals. University education often incorporates calculus in the curriculum with emphasis given to its applications in real-life situations. It is a common notion that calculus, as a course or subject, is intricate and complex. However, treating business calculus in the most elementary manner and making abstract concepts more concrete can prove to be effective teaching strategies inside the classroom. This study attempts to review certain literature so as to equip instructors of business calculus with the necessary teaching pedagogy intended to eventually help their students perform better in class. Aside from these objectives, this study also draws on the researcher\u27s seven years of teaching business and mathematics, both in the secondary and tertiary levels