Notes on distribution and behaviour of the Rufous-winged Sunbird Cinnyris rufipennis

Rufous-winged Sunbird Cinnyris rufipennis is known only from Udzungwa Mountains in central Tanzania where it occurs in nine montane forests. Based on field surveys between 2011 and 2014, supplemented by observations made by all authors since the early 1990s, we provide a map showing its distribution and relative abundance. We estimate the size of the core areas where Rufous-winged Sunbird is common to c. 120 km2 and the total range to about 200 km2. We also provide data that suggests that breeding takes place during the rainy season from November to February with the breeding area usually centred on a forest glade or tree-fall gap. Finally, we describe observations of presumed lekking courtship display with up to three males assembling in a clearing and excitedly hopping from branch to branch, singing aggressively at each other with a single female observing

Bird species richness in the montane evergreen forests of the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania

Species richness and relative abundance of montane forest birds in the Udzungwa Mountains are presented for the 11 forests larger than 1 km2. A high positive correlation between the number of montane bird species and the size of the forest is found with the highest species richness recorded in the largest forest. A few small (< 5 km2) forest fragments also support a high richness of forest birds. Their isolation from larger forest tracts is probably relatively recent (within the last 100–200 years) and their high bird species numbers may be partly due to delayed extirpations. Twenty-three restricted range montane forest species were recorded, and many of these were widespread in the Udzungwas. The largest populations of White-winged Apalis Apalis chariessa, Dapple-throat Arcanator orostruthus, Iringa Akalat Sheppardia lowei and Usambara Weaver Ploceus nicolli are most likely in Udzungwa forests. Keywords:  Tanzania, Udzungwa Mountains, montane forest birds, distribution, abundance, extinction deb

Increased glomerular filtration rate after withdrawal of long-term antihypertensive treatment in diabetic nephropathy

Increased glomerular filtration rate after withdrawal of long-term antihypertensive treatment in diabetic nephropathy. Initiation of antihypertensive treatment (AHT) in hypertensive insulin-dependent diabetic (IDDM) patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) induces a faster initial (0 to 6 months) and a slower subsequent (6 months to end of observation) decline in GFR [ΔGFR (ml/min/month) approximately 1.5 vs. 0.35]. Whether this initial phenomenon is reversible (hemodynamic) or irreversible (structural damage) after prolonged AHT is not known. To elucidate these mechanisms we investigated 42 hypertensive IDDM patients (16F/26M, age 40 ± 7 years, mean ± SD) with DN receiving AHT (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition, N = 30) for 6 (2 to 15) years [median (range)]. GFR (ml/min/1.73 m2), arterial blood pressure (BP, mm Hg) and albuminuria (mg/24 hr) were measured the last day on AHT and one month after withdrawal of AHT. The measured variables were all significantly elevated after withdrawal of AHT: GFR [mean(SEM)] from 76(4) to 81(4) (P < 0.0001), BP [mean(SEM)] from 140/82 (2/1) to 151/89 (2/1) (P < 0.0005) and albuminuria [geometric mean(antilog SEM)] from 704 (1.2) to 1122 (1.2) (P < 0.0001). A correlation between relative rise in systolic blood pressure (ΔSys%) and relative change in GFR (ΔGFR%) was found (r = 0.44, P < 0.005). Our results render some support of the hypothesis that the faster initial decline in GFR is due to a functional (hemodynamic) effect of AHT, which does not attenuate over time, while the subsequent slower decline reflects the beneficial effect on progression of diabetic nephropathy

Reply to the comment on "Imaging of the Hydrogen Subsurface Site in Rutile TiO2''

A reply to the Comment by M. Calatayud et al. on "Imaging of the Hydrogen Subsurface Site in Rutile TiO2" (Physical Review Letters, Volume 102, Issue 13). DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.102.136103.Peer reviewe

Imaging of the Hydrogen Subsurface Site in Rutile TiO2

From an interplay between simultaneously recorded noncontact atomic force microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy images and simulations based on density functional theory, we reveal the location of single hydrogen species in the surface and subsurface layers of rutile TiO2. Subsurface hydrogen atoms (Hsub) are found to reside in a stable interstitial site as subsurface OH groups detectable in scanning tunneling microscopy as a characteristic electronic state but imperceptible to atomic force microscopy. The combined atomic force microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and density functional theory study demonstrates a general scheme to reveal near surface defects and interstitials in poorly conducting materials.Peer reviewe

5′-AMP Activated Protein Kinase is Involved in the Regulation of Myocardial β-Oxidative Capacity in Mice

5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is considered central in regulation of energy status and substrate utilization within cells. In heart failure the energetic state is compromised and substrate metabolism is altered. We hypothesized that this could be linked to changes in AMPK activity and we therefore investigated mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity from the oxidation of long- and medium-chain fatty acids (LCFA and MCFA) in cardiomyocytes from young and old mice expressing a dominant negative AMPKα2 (AMPKα2-KD) construct and their wildtype (WT) littermates. We found a 35–45% (P < 0.05) lower mitochondrial capacity for oxidizing MCFA in AMPKα2-KD of both age-groups, compared to WT. This coincided with marked decreases in protein expression (19/29%, P < 0.05) and activity (14/21%, P < 0.05) of 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase (HAD), in young and old AMPKα2-KD mice, respectively, compared to WT. Maximal LCFA oxidation capacity was similar in AMPKα2-KD and WT mice independently of age implying that LCFA-transport into the mitochondria was unaffected by loss of AMPK activity or progressing age. Expression of regulatory proteins of glycolysis and glycogen breakdown showed equivocal effects of age and genotype. These results illustrate that AMPK is necessary for normal mitochondrial function in the heart and that decreased AMPK activity may lead to an altered energetic state as a consequence of reduced capacity to oxidize MCFA. We did not identify any clear aging effects on mitochondrial function

Systems analysis approach to the design of efficient water pricing policies under the EU Water Framework Directive

Economic theory suggests that water pricing can contribute to efficient management of water scarcity. The European Union (EU) Water Framework Directive (WFD) is a major legislative effort to introduce the use of economic instruments to encourage efficient water use and achieve environmental management objectives. However, the design and implementation of economic instruments for water management, including water pricing, has emerged as a challenging aspect of WFD implementation. This study demonstrates the use of a systems analysis approach to designing and comparing two economic approaches to efficient management of groundwater and surface water given EU WFD ecological flow requirements. Under the first approach, all wholesale water users in a river basin face the same volumetric price for water. This water price does not vary in space or in time, and surface water and groundwater are priced at the same rate. Under the second approach, surface water is priced using a volumetric price, while groundwater use is controlled through adjustments to the price of energy, which is assumed to control the cost of groundwater pumping. For both pricing policies, optimization is used to identify optimal prices, with the objective of maximizing welfare while reducing human water use in order to meet constraints associated with EU WFD ecological and groundwater sustainability objectives. The systems analysis approach demonstrates the successful integration of economic, hydrologic, and environmental components into an integrated framework for the design and testing of water pricing policies. In comparison to the first pricing policy, the second pricing policy, in which the energy price is used as a surrogate for a groundwater price, shifts a portion of costs imposed by higher water prices from low-value crops to high-value crops and from small urban/domestic locations to larger locations. Because growers of low-value crops will suffer the most from water price increases, the use of energy costs to control groundwater use offers the advantage of reducing this burden.The authors would like to thank the Danish Research School of Water Resources (FIVA) for financial support. Three anonymous reviewers made helpful suggestions that were incorporated into the revised version.Riegels, N.; Pulido-Velazquez, M.; Doulgeris, C.; Sturm, V.; Jensen, R.; Moller, F.; Bauer-Gottwein, P. (2013). Systems analysis approach to the design of efficient water pricing policies under the EU Water Framework Directive. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management. 139(5):574-582. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000284S574582139

Virulence Factors for Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, Denmark1

We present an analysis of strain and patient factors associated with the development of bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) among Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) patients registered in Denmark in a 6-year period. Of 343 STEC patients, bloody diarrhea developed in 36.4% and HUS in 6.1%. In a multivariate logistic regression model, risk factors for bloody diarrhea were the eae and stx2 genes, O groups O157 and O103, and increasing age. Risk factors for HUS were presence of the stx2 (odds ratio [OR] 18.9) and eae (OR undefined) genes, being a child, and having bloody diarrhea. O group O157, although associated with HUS in a univariate analysis (OR 4.0), was not associated in the multivariate analysis (OR 1.1). This finding indicates that, rather than O group, the combined presence of the eae and stx2 genes is an important predictor of HUS