Thermodynamic Investigation into the Binding Properties of Cardiac Troponin (Human and Bovine)

Troponin is an integral protein in the mechanism of muscle contraction. In order to induce cardiac muscle contraction, Ca[superscript]2[superscript]+ must bind to the TnC subunit (calcium binding subunit) of troponin to begin a conformational change in the protein. The ATPase rate of myosin with actin present is cooperatively activated by Ca[superscript]2[superscript]+ and Myosin. Ca[superscript]2[superscript]+ greatly increases the rate of ATPase activity (18-fold) and decreases the concentration of actin needed for muscle contraction activity. Ca[superscript]2[superscript]+ binding to troponin induces a conformational change that leads to a process of muscle contraction [8].  The focus of our research has been to investigate thermodynamic binding properties of various divalent metals to the Troponin C subunit of the cardiac muscle protein using isothermal titration calorimetry. We have been able to successfully observe Ca[superscript]2[superscript]+ binding to the apo form of Bovine Cardiac TnC (BVCTnC) as well as the apo form of Human Cardiac TnC (HCTnC).   Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, FHCM, is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder. FHCM causes an abnormal cardiac muscle contraction response in patients afflicted with the genetic mutations that result in the disorder. About 1 in 500 people, 0.2%, are afflicted with this disorder. There are many ways to approach treatment for this disease. A treatment that we have considered uses calcium sensitizing drugs. Calcium sensitizing drugs allow troponin to be more sensitive to the presence of calcium which induces cardiac muscle contraction [31].  Another focus of our research is to determine thermodynamic binding properties of calcium sensitizing drugs to troponin using isothermal titration calorimetry. Understanding the thermodynamic properties of drug-protein interaction can help reveal the mechanism of action by which the drug operates. These studies will lead to a better understanding of how calcium sensitizing drugs interact with troponin and determine their practicality in drug design for patients afflicted with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathies.  M.S

Spatial ecology of Carcharias taurus in the northwestern Mid-Atlantic coastal ocean

The sand tiger shark Carcharias taurus is a highly migratory coastal species with declining populations worldwide. This species exhibits many behaviors that make coastal sharks difficult to manage, including aggregatory behavior, sexual segregation, and large-scale migrations through shallow coastal waters with many opportunities for human interactions. Sand tigers from the Western North Atlantic subpopulation are known to seasonally inhabit Delaware Bay and surrounding coastal waters. This region has been recommended as a habitat area of particular concern for the Western North Atlantic sand tiger population, and increased understanding of their movements and habitat requirements will facilitate management efforts. We developed models to predict sand tiger occupancy using spatially dynamic environmental predictors. Our models predicted sand tiger (juveniles, adult males, adult females, and all sharks combined) occurrences in 2 study regions, the Delaware Bay and the western Mid-Atlantic coastal ocean. Sea surface temperature, day of year, water depth, and remote sensing reflectance at 555 nm were the most important environmental predictors of occurrence, and correctly predicted 80-89% of sand tiger acoustic telemetry records in the 2 study regions. Our models predicted differences in the timing and location of occurrences among juveniles and adults, as well as areas where these life history stages overlap in the Mid-Atlantic coastal ocean. Our hope is that a daily forecast of sand tiger occurrence from our modeling efforts could be useful for conservation and management efforts in this important region, as well as for studying the spatial and behavioral ecology of this important top predator

Habitat Selection of a Coastal Shark Species Estimated from an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

Quantifying habitat selection in marine organisms is challenging because it is difficult to obtain species location information with multiple corresponding habitat measurements. In the ocean, habitat conditions vary on many spatiotemporal scales, which have important consequences for habitat selection. While macroscale biotic and abiotic features influence seasonal movements (spatial scales of 100-1000 km), selectivity of conditions on mesoscales (1-100 km) reflects an animal’s response to the local environment. In this study, we examined habitat selectivity by pairing acoustic telemetry with environmental habitat parameters measured by an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), and demonstrate that migrating sand tiger sharks Carcharias taurus along the East Coast of the USA did not randomly use the coastal environment. Of the variables examined, we found evidence to suggest that sand tigers were selecting their habitat based on distance to shore, salinity, and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM). Notably, temperature was not predictive of habitat use in our study. We posit that during their coastal migration, sand tigers select for specific mesoscale coastal habitats that may inform navigation or feeding behaviors. To our knowledge, this is the first empirical measure of mesoscale habitat selection by a coastal marine organism using an AUV. The applications of this method extend beyond the habitat selectivity of sand tigers, and will prove useful for future studies combining in situ observations of marine habitats and animal observations

Concepções de saúde e doença mental na perspectiva de jovens brasileiros

O estudo investiga a perspectiva de adolescentes e jovens acerca de suas concepções de saúde e doença mental. Compreende-se que o processo de construção da saúde-doença é influenciado pela perspectiva individual, familiar e sociocultural. Participaram do estudo 1163 jovens de ambos os sexos, com idade média de 15,84 anos. Utilizou-se como instrumento um questionário autoaplicável, formulado em estudo anterior com jovens suíços de língua portuguesa. Investigaram-se as concepções de saúde e doença mental, dentre outros aspectos do tema. Nos resultados, observaram-se aspectos da visão holística e do modelo tradicional de saúde mental. A doença mental foi caracterizada como uma desordem emocional, revelando a influência das experiências internas e relacionais na concepção de adoecimento mental. Diferenças de nível socioeconômico foram observadas nas concepções de saúde e doença mental.Brazilian young people perceptions of mental health and illness. The study investigates young people conceptions of health and mental illness. The theoretical approach understands that the process of construction of health and disease is influenced by individual, family and sociocultural factors. Participants were 1163 young people of both sexes with a mean age of 15.84 years. A Self-administered questionnaire was formulated in a previous study with young Portuguese-speaking Switzerland. Mental health and illness concepts were investigated and also others issues about it. In the results, we found aspects of holist and traditional concepts of mental health. Mental illness was characterized as an emotional disorder, revealing the influence of internal and relational experiences in the design of mental illness. Socioeconomic differences were observed in this concept

Priorities for synthesis research in ecology and environmental science

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We thank the National Science Foundation grant #1940692 for financial support for this workshop, and the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) and its staff for logistical support.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Priorities for synthesis research in ecology and environmental science

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We thank the National Science Foundation grant #1940692 for financial support for this workshop, and the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) and its staff for logistical support.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

From sea monsters to charismatic megafauna: changes in perception and use of large marine animals

Marine megafauna has always elicited contrasting feelings. In the past, large marine animals were often depicted as fantastic mythological creatures and dangerous monsters, while also arousing human curiosity. Marine megafauna has been a valuable resource to exploit, leading to the collapse of populations and local extinctions. In addition, some species have been perceived as competitors of fishers for marine resources and were often actively culled. Since the 1970s, there has been a change in the perception and use of megafauna. The growth of marine tourism, increasingly oriented towards the observation of wildlife, has driven a shift from extractive to non-extractive use, supporting the conservation of at least some species of marine megafauna. In this paper, we review and compare the changes in the perception and use of three megafaunal groups, cetaceans, elasmobranchs and groupers, with a special focus on European cultures. We highlight the main drivers and the timing of these changes, compare different taxonomic groups and species, and highlight the implications for management and conservation. One of the main drivers of the shift in perception, shared by all the three groups of megafauna, has been a general increase in curiosity towards wildlife, stimulated inter alia by documentaries (from the early 1970s onwards), and also promoted by easy access to scuba diving. At the same time, environmental campaigns have been developed to raise public awareness regarding marine wildlife, especially cetaceans, a process greatly facilitated by the rise of Internet and the World Wide Web. Currently, all the three groups (cetaceans, elasmobranchs and groupers) may represent valuable resources for ecotourism. Strikingly, the economic value of live specimens may exceed their value for human consumption. A further change in perception involving all the three groups is related to a growing understanding and appreciation of their key ecological role. The shift from extractive to non-extractive use has the potential for promoting species conservation and local economic growth. However, the change in use may not benefit the original stakeholders (e.g. fishers or whalers) and there may therefore be a case for providing compensation for disadvantaged stakeholders. Moreover, it is increasingly clear that even non-extractive use may have a negative impact on marine megafauna, therefore regulations are needed.SFRH/BPD/102494/2014, UID/MAR/04292/2019, IS1403info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Priorities for synthesis research in ecology and environmental science

Synthesis research in ecology and environmental science improves understanding, advances theory, identifies research priorities, and supports management strategies by linking data, ideas, and tools. Accelerating environmental challenges increases the need to focus synthesis science on the most pressing questions. To leverage input from the broader research community, we convened a virtual workshop with participants from many countries and disciplines to examine how and where synthesis can address key questions and themes in ecology and environmental science in the coming decade. Seven priority research topics emerged: (1) diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ), (2) human and natural systems, (3) actionable and use-inspired science, (4) scale, (5) generality, (6) complexity and resilience, and (7) predictability. Additionally, two issues regarding the general practice of synthesis emerged: the need for increased participant diversity and inclusive research practices; and increased and improved data flow, access, and skill-building. These topics and practices provide a strategic vision for future synthesis in ecology and environmental science

Spatial and behavioral ecology of the sand tiger shark Carcharias taurus in the Northwestern Atlantic 

Oliver, Matthew J.Quantifying the biogeography of coastal marine species is difficult and requires innovative study designs. These challenges are the motivation behind this dissertation. The Sand Tiger shark (Carcharias taurus) is an important apex predator in the coastal oceans along the Eastern Coast of the United States. I conducted a study in the Delaware Bay and Mid-Atlantic coastal Ocean, which used historical species location records from acoustic telemetry matched to static and satellite-measured dynamic environmental predictor variables, to create a near-real time predictive species distribution model. Notably we found Sand Tigers were predicted by water temperature, water depth, day length and ocean color absorption in the near-infrared, which likely relates to turbidity in the coastal ocean. In this study I identified the timing and location of migratory corridors used by Sand Tigers, as well as how the timing and location of migration differed between juvenile, mature male and mature female Sand Tigers. ☐ In my second study, I investigated the timing and migration of Sand Tigers along the Delmarva Peninsula on much smaller spatiotemporal scales during their fall migration south, a time during which Sand Tigers are susceptible to anthropogenic threats. For the first time, I used an autonomous underwater vehicle to concurrently detect Sand Tigers carrying acoustic tags, and measure fine scale environmental properties of the sub-surface ocean to determine habitat selectivity. I found that Sand Tigers migrated rapidly and en masse through the coastal ocean off the Delmarva Peninsula and were selecting for waters near-shore, lower in salinity, and higher in color dissolved organic matter. These results support the larger scale patterns in environmental predictors I found in my first study, as well as prove that using autonomous underwater vehicles is an effective method for extending our capabilities of detecting acoustically tagged marine species. ☐ Finally, I developed a novel tagging method that implanted an archival acoustic receiver into the body cavity of Sand Tigers, which were released alive and continued to conduct their annual migration before they were recaptured and the tags were removed. This tagging method allowed me to record associations between Sand Tigers and other acoustically tagged species for one year of the Sand Tigers life. Analysis of that dataset revealed potential fission-fusion behavior, or the change in size and composition of groups, in the Sand Tiger population depending on where the Sand Tigers were along the East Coast, and what they were likely doing during that time (i.e. feeding, searching for mates, migrating, etc.). I observed Sand Tiger aggregations change from mixed groups of male and female juveniles and adults, to groups of only adult males, to solitary phases where Sand Tigers were completely dispersed for weeks at a time. This study is important because it suggests the potential for social behavior in a shark species, but also identifies the possibility of anthropogenic impacts disproportionally impacting one sector of the Sand Tiger population as the composition of their aggregations changes in time and space. This dissertation uses advances in remote sensing and animal tagging methods to provide insights into the species distribution, habitat selection, and the migratory and grouping behavior of a coastal shark species under threat of population decline due to anthropogenic impacts along the East Coast of the United States and provides insights into the ecology and biogeography of this species that will assist managers and researchers in future conservation efforts for this and other imperiled species.University of Delaware, School of Marine Science and PolicyPh.D

Thermodynamic Investigation into the Binding Properties of Cardiac Troponin (Human and Bovine)

Troponin is an integral protein in the mechanism of muscle contraction. In order to induce cardiac muscle contraction, Ca2+ must bind to the TnC subunit (calcium binding subunit) of troponin to begin a conformational change in the protein. The ATPase rate of myosin with actin present is cooperatively activated by Ca2+ and Myosin. Ca2+ greatly increases the rate of ATPase activity (18-fold) and decreases the concentration of actin needed for muscle contraction activity. Ca2+ binding to troponin induces a conformational change that leads to a process of muscle contraction [8].  The focus of our research has been to investigate thermodynamic binding properties of various divalent metals to the Troponin C subunit of the cardiac muscle protein using isothermal titration calorimetry. We have been able to successfully observe Ca2+ binding to the apo form of Bovine Cardiac TnC (BVCTnC) as well as the apo form of Human Cardiac TnC (HCTnC).   Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, FHCM, is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder. FHCM causes an abnormal cardiac muscle contraction response in patients afflicted with the genetic mutations that result in the disorder. About 1 in 500 people, 0.2%, are afflicted with this disorder. There are many ways to approach treatment for this disease. A treatment that we have considered uses calcium sensitizing drugs. Calcium sensitizing drugs allow troponin to be more sensitive to the presence of calcium which induces cardiac muscle contraction [31].  Another focus of our research is to determine thermodynamic binding properties of calcium sensitizing drugs to troponin using isothermal titration calorimetry. Understanding the thermodynamic properties of drug-protein interaction can help reveal the mechanism of action by which the drug operates. These studies will lead to a better understanding of how calcium sensitizing drugs interact with troponin and determine their practicality in drug design for patients afflicted with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathies.