Helminth species richness in wild wood mice, Apodemus sylvaticus, is enhanced by the presence of the intestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus

We analysed 3 independently collected datasets of fully censused helminth burdens in wood mice, Apodemus sylvaticus, testing the a priori hypothesis of Behnke et al. (2005) that the presence of the intestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus predisposes wood mice to carrying other species of helminths. In Portugal, mice carrying H. polygyrus showed a higher prevalence of other helminths but the magnitude of the effect was seasonal. In Egham, mice with H. polygyrus showed a higher prevalence of other helminth species, not confounded by other factors. In Malham Tarn, mice carrying H. polygyrus were more likely to be infected with other species, but only among older mice. Allowing for other factors, heavy residual H. polygyrus infections carried more species of other helminths in both the Portugal and Egham data; species richness in Malham was too low to conduct a similar analysis, but as H. polygyrus worm burdens increased, so the prevalence of other helminths also increased. Our results support those of Behnke et al. (2005), providing firm evidence that at the level of species richness a highly predictable element of co-infections in wood mice has now been defined: infection with H. polygyrus has detectable consequences for the susceptibility of wood mice to other intestinal helminth species

Engaging in coparenting changes in couple therapy: Two contrasting cases

Following the task analysis method, this study aimed to confirm the relevance of our model of resolving coparenting dissatisfaction to differentiate between two contrasting couples undergoing couple therapy. The model under study described the steps through which couples resolve coparenting issues in couple therapy for parents. Two contrasting couples were selected from a sample of parents undergoing systemic couple therapy. We analyzed videotaped discussions about the couple's coparenting relationship to select one couple whose interaction quality improved after therapy and one couple who worsened. Records of therapy sessions were rated by two independent coders to verify whether the model of coparenting change was present. Results showed that the couple that improved after therapy presented almost all the steps of the model whereas the couple that worsened after therapy presented only two steps. This study supported the relevance of the model and its various components to discriminate between two contrasting cases.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

IVY trace visualiser

No contexto do projecto IVY, tem vindo a ser desenvolvida uma ferramenta de modelação e análise de sistemas interactivos, tendo em vista a detecção de potenciais problemas de usabilidade no início do desenvolvimento de um qualquer sistema interactivo. Quando uma dada propriedade em análise não se verifica, a ferramenta procura indicar um contra-exemplo: um comportamento do modelo que demonstre a falsidade da propriedade em questão. Estes contra-exemplos, no entanto, podem atingir tamanhos consideráveis, dependendo da complexidade do mode- lo, o que dificulta a sua análise. De forma a facilitar essa análise, a arquitectura da ferramenta IVY prevê um componente de suporte à análise. Este componente visa, através de representações visuais e de mecanismos de análise, facilitar a compreensão dos contra exemplos, de forma a tornar mais claro qual o problema que está a ser apontado e possíveis soluções para o mesmo. Este artigo apresenta o componente de análise da ferramenta IVY. São apresentadas a arquitectura do componente, as representações implementadas e os mecanismos de análise disponibilizados.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

A spatially explicit approach for estimating space use and density of common genet

Un método espacialmente explícito para estimar el uso del espacio y la densidad de la jineta común Muchas especies que se presentan en bajas densidades no se estiman con precisión utilizando métodos de captura y recaptura, puesto que tales técnicas suponen que las poblaciones están bien definidas en el espacio. Para resolver este sesgo, recientemente se han elaborado modelos de captura y recaptura espacialmente explícitos (SECR). Estos modelos incorporan el movimiento y pueden determinar las zonas en la que es más probable que los individuos concentren su actividad. En el presente estudio, utilizamos datos obtenidos con cámaras de trampeo en estudios sobre la jineta común (Genetta genetta) en Serra da Malcata (Portugal) concebidos para comparar las estimaciones de abundancia producidas por los modelos de SECR y los modelos tradicionales de captura para una población cerrada. Utilizando los modelos de SECR, observamos la existencia de heterogeneidad espacial en la distribución de la jineta y las estimaciones de la densidad fueron aproximadamente dos veces inferiores a las obtenidas en los modelos para poblaciones cerradas. Las estimaciones del modelo no espacial se limitaron al tamaño de la cuadrícula de muestreo y probablemente infravaloraron los movimientos, lo que conllevaría que se sobreestimara la densidad. Los estudios futuros deberían sopesar la incorporación de modelos de carga–distancia que puedan incluir hipótesis explícitas sobre la forma en que las variables medioambientales influyen en la métrica de la distancia.Un método espacialmente explícito para estimar el uso del espacio y la densidad de la jineta común Muchas especies que se presentan en bajas densidades no se estiman con precisión utilizando métodos de captura y recaptura, puesto que tales técnicas suponen que las poblaciones están bien definidas en el espacio. Para resolver este sesgo, recientemente se han elaborado modelos de captura y recaptura espacialmente explícitos (SECR). Estos modelos incorporan el movimiento y pueden determinar las zonas en la que es más probable que los individuos concentren su actividad. En el presente estudio, utilizamos datos obtenidos con cámaras de trampeo en estudios sobre la jineta común (Genetta genetta) en Serra da Malcata (Portugal) concebidos para comparar las estimaciones de abundancia producidas por los modelos de SECR y los modelos tradicionales de captura para una población cerrada. Utilizando los modelos de SECR, observamos la existencia de heterogeneidad espacial en la distribución de la jineta y las estimaciones de la densidad fueron aproximadamente dos veces inferiores a las obtenidas en los modelos para poblaciones cerradas. Las estimaciones del modelo no espacial se limitaron al tamaño de la cuadrícula de muestreo y probablemente infravaloraron los movimientos, lo que conllevaría que se sobreestimara la densidad. Los estudios futuros deberían sopesar la incorporación de modelos de carga–distancia que puedan incluir hipótesis explícitas sobre la forma en que las variables medioambientales influyen en la métrica de la distancia.Many species that occur at low densities are not accurately estimated using capture–recapture methods as such techniques assume that populations are well–defined in space. To solve this bias, spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) models have recently been developed. These models incorporate movement and can identify areas where it is more likely for individuals to concentrate their activity. In this study, we used data from camera–trap surveys of common genets (Genetta genetta) in Serra da Malcata (Portugal), designed to compare abundance estimates produced by SECR models with traditional closed–capture models. Using the SECR models, we observed spatial heterogeneity in genet distribution and density estimates were approximately two times lower than those obtained from the closed population models. The non–spatial model estimates were constrained to sampling grid size and likely underestimated movements, thereby overestimating density. Future research should consider the incorporation of cost–weighed models that can include explicit hypothesis on how environmental variables influence the distance metric

Does colon cancer ever metastasize to bone first? a temporal analysis of colorectal cancer progression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is well recognized that colorectal cancer does not frequently metastasize to bone. The aim of this retrospective study was to establish whether colorectal cancer ever bypasses other organs and metastasizes directly to bone and whether the presence of lung lesions is superior to liver as a better predictor of the likelihood and timing of bone metastasis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed a retrospective analysis on patients with a clinical diagnosis of colon cancer referred for staging using whole-body ¹⁸F-FDG PET and CT or PET/CT. We combined PET and CT reports from 252 individuals with information concerning patient history, other imaging modalities, and treatments to analyze disease progression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No patient had isolated osseous metastasis at the time of diagnosis, and none developed isolated bone metastasis without other organ involvement during our survey period. It took significantly longer for colorectal cancer patients to develop metastasis to the lungs (23.3 months) or to bone (21.2 months) than to the liver (9.8 months). Conclusion: Metastasis only to bone without other organ involvement in colorectal cancer patients is extremely rare, perhaps more rare than we previously thought. Our findings suggest that resistant metastasis to the lungs predicts potential disease progression to bone in the colorectal cancer population better than liver metastasis does.</p

Generation and Characterization of iPS Cells Derived from APECED Patients for Gene Correction

APECED (Autoimmune-Polyendocrinopathy-Candidiasis-Ectodermal-Dystrophy) is a severe and incurable multiorgan autoimmune disease caused by mutations in the AIRE (autoimmune regulator) gene. Without functional AIRE, the development of central and peripheral immune tolerance is severely impaired allowing the accumulation of autoreactive immune cells in the periphery. This leads to multiple endocrine and non-endocrine autoimmune disorders and mucocutaneous candidiasis in APECED patients. Recent studies have suggested that AIRE also has novel functions in stem cells and contributes to the regulatory network of pluripotency. In preparation of therapeutic gene correction, we generated and assessed patient blood cell-derived iPSCs, potentially suitable for cell therapy in APECED. Here, we describe APECED-patient derived iPSCs's properties, expression of AIRE as well as classical stem cell markers by qPCR and immunocytochemistry. We further generated self-aggregated EBs of the iPSCs. We show that APECED patient-derived iPSCs and EBs do not have any major proliferative or apoptotic defects and that they express all the classical pluripotency markers similarly to healthy person iPSCs. The results suggest that the common AIRE R257X truncation mutation does not affect stem cell properties and that APECED iPSCs can be propagated in vitro and used for subsequent gene-correction. This first study on APECED patient-derived iPSCs validates their pluripotency and confirms their ability for differentiation and potential therapeutic use.Peer reviewe

The Relationship between Maternal Overprotection, Adolescent Internalizing and Externalizing Problems, and Psychological Need Frustration: A Multi-Informant Study Using Response Surface Analysis

Parents and adolescents may hold discrepant views about parents’ behaviors, which may be related to adolescent maladjustment. The goal of the present investigation was to examine associations between overprotective parenting and adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing problems and the frustration of their psychological needs (for autonomy, relatedness and competence), thereby considering both congruence and incongruence in adolescents’ and mothers’ reports of overprotective parenting. Our sample consisted of 402 mother-adolescent dyads (M adolescent age = 16.8 years, 63% female), who reported upon the mothers’ overprotective parenting. In addition, adolescents filled out questionnaires assessing their internalizing and externalizing problems and psychological need frustration. Data were analyzed using polynomial regressions with response surface analysis. Results showed evidence for a linear, additive relationship between adolescents’ and mothers’ reports of overprotective parenting, and adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing symptoms and relatedness and competence frustration. That is, higher scores in adolescents’ and mothers’ ratings of overprotective parenting were associated with more maladjustment and more need frustration. Moreover, results indicated that incongruence between adolescents’ and mothers’ reports related to more externalizing problems and more autonomy and relatedness frustration, and this was especially the case when adolescents perceived higher levels of overprotection than what was reported by mothers. These results underscore the importance of considering multiple perspectives when studying the dynamics involved in overprotective parenting

Transthyretin Promotes Axon Growth via Regulation of Microtubule Dynamics and Tubulin Acetylation

Transthyretin (TTR), a plasma and cerebrospinal fluid protein, increases axon growth and organelle transport in sensory neurons. While neurons extend their axons, the microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton is crucial for the segregation of functional compartments and axonal outgrowth. Herein, we investigated whether TTR promotes axon elongation by modulating MT dynamics. We found that TTR KO mice have an intrinsic increase in dynamic MTs and reduced levels of acetylated α-tubulin in peripheral axons. In addition, they failed to modulate MT dynamics in response to sciatic nerve injury, leading to decreased regenerative capacity. Importantly, restoring acetylated α-tubulin levels of TTR KO dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons using an HDAC6 inhibitor is sufficient to completely revert defective MT dynamics and neurite outgrowth. In summary, our results reveal a new role for TTR in the modulation of MT dynamics by regulating α-tubulin acetylation via modulation of the acetylase ATAT1, and suggest that this activity underlies TTR neuritogenic function

Scaling of interfaces in brittle fracture and perfect plasticity

The roughness properties of two-dimensional fracture surfaces as created by the slow failure of random fuse networks are considered and compared to yield surfaces of perfect plasticity with similar disorder. By studying systems up to a linear size L=350 it is found that in the cases studied the fracture surfaces exhibit self-affine scaling with a roughness exponent close to 2/3, which is asymptotically exactly true for plasticity though finite-size effects are evident for both. The overlap of yield or minimum energy and fracture surfaces with exactly the same disorder configuration is shown to be a decreasing function of the system size and to be of a rather large magnitude for all cases studied. The typical ``overlap cluster'' length between pairs of such interfaces converges to a constant with $L$ increasing.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.