Long-term and persistent vocal plasticity in adult bats.

Bats exhibit a diverse and complex vocabulary of social communication calls some of which are believed to be learned during development. This ability to produce learned, species-specific vocalizations - a rare trait in the animal kingdom - requires a high-degree of vocal plasticity. Bats live extremely long lives in highly complex and dynamic social environments, which suggests that they might also retain a high degree of vocal plasticity in adulthood, much as humans do. Here, we report persistent vocal plasticity in adult bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) following exposure to broad-band, acoustic perturbation. Our results show that adult bats can not only modify distinct parameters of their vocalizations, but that these changes persist even after noise cessation - in some cases lasting several weeks or months. Combined, these findings underscore the potential importance of bats as a model organism for studies of vocal plasticity, including in adulthood

C/EBPalpha downregualtes c-jun expression

The transcription factor C/EBPa is crucial for the differentiation of granulocytes. Conditional expression of C/EBPa triggers neutrophilic differentiation and C/EBPa can block TPA induced monocytic differentiation of bipotential myeloid cells. In C/EBPa knockout mice, no mature granulocytes are present. A dramatic increase of c-jun mRNA in C/EBPa knockout mice fetal liver was observed. c-jun, a component of the AP-1 transcription factor complex and a co-activator of the transcription factor PU.1, is important for monocytic differentiation. Here we report that C/EBPa downregulates c-jun expression to drive granulocytic differentiation. Ectopic increase of C/EBPa expression decreases c-jun mRNA level, and the human c-jun promoter activity is downregulated 8 fold in presence of C/EBPa. C/EBPa and c-jun interact through their leucine zipper domains and this interaction prevents c-jun from binding to DNA. This results in downregulation of c-jun’s capacity to autoregulate its own promoter through the proximal AP-1 site. Overexpression of c-jun prevents C/EBPa induced granulocytic differentiation. c-jun expression was higher in AML M2 patients with dominant negative C/EBPa mutations in comparison to AML M2 patients without C/EBPa mutations. Thus, we propose a model in which C/EBPa needs to downregulate c-jun expression and transactivation capacity for promoting granulocytic differentiation.Der Transkriptionsfaktor C/EBPa ist essentiell für die Differenzierung von Granulozyten. Die konditionelle Expression von C/EBPa induziert die neutrophile Differenzierung. Überdies kann C/EBPa die TPA-induzierte Differenzierung von myeloiden Vorläuferzellen zu Monozyten blockieren. In C/EBPa knockout Mäusen gibt es keine reifen Granulozyten. In der fötalen Leber von C/EBPa knockout Mäusen konnte eine stark erhöhte Expression der c-jun mRNA beobachtet werden. c-jun ist eine Komponente des AP-1 Transkriptionsfaktorkomplexes, ein Koaktivator des Transkriptionsfaktors PU.1 und ist wichtig für die Differenzierung von Monozyten. In dieser Arbeit zeigen wir, dass C/EBPa die c-jun Expression herunterreguliert und somit die Differenzierung von Granulozyten induziert. Die Überexpression von C/EBPa reduzierte die c-jun mRNA Menge und die Aktivität des humanen c-jun Promotors war in der Gegenwart von C/EBPa 8-fach herunterreguliert. C/EBPa und c-jun interagieren über ihre Leucin-Zipper Domänen und diese Interaktion verhindert die DNA-Bindung von c-jun. Dies resultiert in einer verminderten Kapazität von c-jun, den eigenen Promotor über die proximale AP-1 Stelle zu regulieren. Die Überexpression von c-jun blockiert die durch C/EBPa induzierte granulozytäre Differenzierung. Die c-jun Expression war in AML-M2 Patienten mit dominant-negativen Mutationen in C/EBPa im Vergleich zu AML-M2 Patienten ohne Mutationen in C/EBPa erhöht. Aufgrund dieser Daten schlagen wir ein Modell vor, in dem C/EBPa die Expression und Transaktivierungskapazität von c-jun herunterregulieren muß, um die granulozytäre Differenzierung zu induzieren

The Abuse of Foreign Income Tax Credit

This analytical study examines the abuse of foreign income tax credit with the provided data from 1996 – 2011. There are various ways to categorize the foreign tax credit, yet this study examines the foreign tax credit taken in various geographic regions. Additionally, it also analyzes the individual foreign tax credit claimed and corporate tax credit claimed to conclude on which unit abuses the credit utmost

Integration of environmental planning into communal grazing systems in the Free State

ThesisThis study evaluated the integration of environmental planning into communal grazing systems in the Free State. The study focused particularly on communal grazing systems in Qwaqwa, Thaba-Nchu and Botshabelo, as well as certain areas in the Free State where communal grazing systems are run by small-scale farmers. Currently the Free State province is divided into 5 district areas and 20 local municipal areas, which include 78 towns. There are communal grazing areas near each town, assigned specifically for livestock production in the province. To date, few formal assessments of the condition of these lands have been made. ~tratified random sampling was employed throughout the survey to select the respondents. Questionnaires were completed with 70 furmers. In this study the needs and aspirations of the farmers are related to the integration of environmental planning into communal grazing systems in the Free State, as :-veil as security of tenure, working capital, knowledge, adequate extension services, training and water supply, timely veld fires, and co-operation amongst farmers. The needs and aspirations oflivestock owners in the communal rangelands of the Free State are constrained by small farm size, population pressure, land tenure problems, distance from markets, poor transport and infrastructure. Facilities such as marketing, processing and quality control are not promoted on communal grazing areas. In the Free State the basic entitlement of every rural household to three types of land ownership or use, has acted as an essential safety net for the poor and a valuable resource for the more entrepreneuria1. The three types of land ownership are residential land for building purposes, fields for crop production and access to commonage land for grazing purposes. It was found that sustainable grazing management is not based on grazing potential and stocking rates. The formalisation of grazing rights and increased responsibility for communal grazing management are still absent or lacking in most communal grazing areas. In most communal grazing areas livestock numbers exceed the grazing capacity. Selection and breeding on communal grazing areas affect the herd quality. The nutrition status of livestock is not improved, due to lack of access to feed resources and supplementary feeding. Better animal health due to improved disease prevention and animal health care services, is still lacking in most communal grazing areas. The training oflivestock owners in communal grazing areas regarding grazing management is crucial. Cattle owners and communal grazing committees are not participating adequately in the planning and decision-making regarding livestock development on communal land. The roles and effectiveness of existing institutions is crucial with regard to communal grazing areas and the formulation and implementation oflivestock management policy. In this study, it was recognised that cattle farmers on communal grazing areas are involved in farming, but mostly for their own domestic consumption, and that they are relatively dependent on agriculture and the exploitation of natural resources. However, the communal grazing areas are inadequately managed with a view to sustainable development and production. There are major resource management problems on communal grazing areas, which is widely acknowledged by cattle farmers, but in varying degrees. These problems can be overcome by following a multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary approach, while aspects such as investment, education and training and the adoption of more appropriate technologies should also receive attention. Although policies on natural resource management are currently in place, they are still fragmented among the different sectors, with little integration or co-ordination at ground level. Environmental protection is not incorporated as an integral part oflivestock production in communal areas. The study found that the integration of environmental planning into communal grazing systems in the Free State is essential for obtaining the best cattle performance and optimal use of land resources