Timing of Arrival and Native Biomass Are Better Proxies of Invasion Suppression in Grassland Communities

A challenge in many restoration projects, in particular when establishing de novo communities, is the arrival and later dominance of invasive alien plants. This could potentially be avoided by designing invasion-resistant native communities. Several studies suggest achieving this by maximizing trait similarity between natives and potential invaders (“limiting similarity”), but evidence supporting this approach is mixed so far. Others pose that the relative time of arrival by native and invasive species (“priority effects”) could play a stronger role, yet this factor and its interaction with trait similarity is not fully understood in the context of ecological restoration. Thus, we hypothesized that multi-trait similarity would increase suppression of invasive species by native communities, and that the effect would be stronger when natives arrive first. We established two distinct communities of native central European grassland species based on native–invasive trait similarity, and then tested the introduction of invasive Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Solidago gigantea separately when arriving in the native communities at two times, i.e., sown either at the same time as the natives or 2 weeks after. For the traits selected, our data did not provide evidence for a limiting similarity effect, but rather supported priority effects. Both native communities more effectively suppressed invaders that arrived after the natives. In addition, the native community that produced the most biomass suppressed both invasive species more than the most ecologically similar community. This effect of biomass revealed that prioritizing native–invader ecological similarity can fail to account for other community characteristics that affect invasion resistance, such as biomass. Instead, native communities could be designed to enhance priority effects through the inclusion of early and fast developing species. We conclude that native community composition plays a significant role in the establishment success by invasive species, and resource pre-emption seems more significant than trait similarity. In terms of grassland restoration, native species should be selected based on plant traits related to fast emergence and early competitiveness

Transcultural, transdiagnostic, and concurrent validity of a revised Metacognitions about Symptom Control Scale

Anxiety and depression add to the burden of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia (FM), and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). Metacognitions play a role in this distress. The Metacognitions about Symptoms Control Scale (MaSCS) measures metacognitive beliefs regarding symptoms but has weaknesses. The current study created a revised MaSCS (MaSCS-R) in English, German, and Arabic versions using CFS, FM, and T1DM samples, and examined the transcultural, transdiagnostic, and concurrent validity of metacognitions about symptom control. This study used data from a total of 563 participants clinically diagnosed with CFS (n = 124; English), FM (n = 348; German), or T1DM (n = 91; Lebanese). CFS and FM data had been used in earlier published studies but were subjected to new analyses. CFS data was used to create the English version of the MaSCS-R, and FM and T1DM data for German and Arabic versions. Metacognitions about worry, anxiety, depression, and symptom severity were measured. The three MaSCS-R versions, consisting of two factors (each with four items), had adequate psychometric properties, possessing configural and metric invariance. Metacognitive factors were associated with distress and symptom severity in all three samples. Metacognitions about symptom control have transcultural, transdiagnostic, and concurrent validity. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Fernie, B.A., Aoun, A., Kollman, J., Spada, M.M., and Nikčević, A.V. (2019). Transcultural, transdiagnostic, and concurrent validity of a revised Metacognitions about Symptoms Control Scale. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, which has been published in final form at 10.1002/cpp.2367 . This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Version

Fundusblutungen bei Malaria tropica

Ein 20jähriger Tourist mit Malaria tropica entwickelte bilaterale prä- und intraretinale Hämor-rhagien einschließlich einer Makulablutung mit reversiblem Visusverlust, der während des Rückfluges von Westafrika auftrat. Die Diagnose wurde durch die zunächst aufgesuchte Universitätsaugenklinik eingeleitet. Mögliche Pathomechanismen, okuläre Manifestationen bei Malaria und die zunehmenden Probleme mit importierter Malaria werden zusammenfassend dargestellt und besprochen.The case is presented of a 20-year-old tourist with mild falciparum malaria and bilateral preretinal and intraretinal hemorrhage, including a macular hemorrhage with reversible visual loss, which developed during his return flight from West Africa. The diagnosis was initiated by the university eye hospital originally consulted. Possible pathogenic mechanisms, ocular findings in malaria, and the increasing problems of imported malaria are summarized and reviewed

Stable crystalline lattices in two-dimensional binary mixtures of dipolar particles

The phase diagram of binary mixtures of particles interacting via a pair potential of parallel dipoles is computed at zero temperature as a function of composition and the ratio of their magnetic susceptibilities. Using lattice sums, a rich variety of different stable crystalline structures is identified including $A_mB_n$ structures. [$A$ $(B)$ particles correspond to large (small) dipolar moments.] Their elementary cells consist of triangular, square, rectangular or rhombic lattices of the $A$ particles with a basis comprising various structures of $A$ and $B$ particles. For small (dipolar) asymmetry there are intermediate $AB_2$ and $A_2B$ crystals besides the pure $A$ and $B$ triangular crystals. These structures are detectable in experiments on granular and colloidal matter.Comment: 6 pages - 2 figs - phase diagram update

Ovartorsion nach In-vitro-Fertilisation

Zusammenfassung: Das Risiko für das Auftreten einer Adnextorsion nach einer IVF-Behandlung wird auf ca. 0,1% geschätzt. Aufgrund der Seltenheit und des initial oft unauffälligen sonographischen Befundes wird eine Adnextorsion oft fehldiagnostiziert und die Behandlung verzögert. Die einzige effektive Therapie ist eine sofortige Laparoskopie, Retorsion und Verkleinerung des Ovar

Nuevo registro de Begonia inermis (Begoniaceae) para la Flora Argentina y un nuevo sinónimo de B. fischeri

Background and Aims: The floristic richness of the province of Misiones (Argentina) has been increased in recent years, since new species have been cited and described for the region. The aims of this study were to revalidate and record Begonia inermis Imrsch. (Begoniaceae) for the first time to the Argentinian flora and propose a new synonym, B. hassleri C. DC. for B. fischeri Schrank. M&M: The new material collected and the new synonym were compared with the protologues and original materials of each species (except the original material of B. fischeri that could not be located), and additional specimens were also studied. The morphology was examined using optical microscopy. In addition, floras, taxonomic treatments and updated bibliography for the genus were reviewed. Results & Conclusions: The description of the new record is presented, a map with its geographical distribution is added, and field photographs and a key to identify the species of Begonia L. that inhabit Misiones are provided. The number of Begonia species cited for the Argentinian Flora was not modified, since B. inermis is revalidate and also we treat B. hassleri as a synonym of B. fischeri. The ring of trichomes at the apex of the petiole of B. inermis differentiates this species from the other species of Begonia that inhabit in Argentina.  Introducción y Objetivo: La riqueza florística de la provincia de Misiones se ha visto incrementada en los últimos años ya que se han citado y descripto nuevas especies para la región. El objetivo de este trabajo fue revalidar y registrar a Begonia inermis Imrsch. (Begoniaceae) para la flora de Argentina (Misiones). Además, se sinonimiza a B. hassleri C. DC. bajo B. fischeri Schrank. M&M: El nuevo material coleccionado y el nuevo sinónimo fueron comparados con los correspondientes protólogos y materiales originales de cada una de las especies (excepto el material original de B. fischeri que no ha podido ser localizado), y, además, se estudiaron ejemplares adicionales. La morfología fue examinada utilizando microscopía óptica. Se revisaron floras, tratamientos taxonómicos y bibliografía actualizada para este género. Resultados y Conclusión: Se presenta la descripción del nuevo registro, se agrega un mapa con su distribución geográfica actualizada, se proveen fotografías de campo y una clave para identificar las especies de Begonia L. que ocurren en Misiones. El número de especies de Begonia citadas para la Flora Argentina no se vio modificada, ya que se restituye y se cita a B. inermis y se sinonimiza a B. hassleri bajo B. fischeri. El anillo de tricomas en el ápice del pecíolo de B. inermis, diferencia a esta especie de las otras de Begonia que habitan en la Argentina

Superstructure-Dependent Loading of DNA Origami Nanostructures with a Groove-Binding Drug

Peer reviewe

Energy Demands of Early Life Drive a Disease Tolerant Phenotype and Dictate Outcome in Neonatal Bacterial Sepsis

Bacterial sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in newborns. In the face of growing antibiotic resistance, it is crucial to understand the pathology behind the disease in order to develop effective interventions. Neonatal susceptibility to sepsis can no longer be attributed to simple immune immaturity in the face of mounting evidence that the neonatal immune system is tightly regulated and well controlled. The neonatal immune response is consistent with a “disease tolerance” defense strategy (minimizing harm from immunopathology) whereas adults tend toward a “disease resistance” strategy (minimizing harm from pathogens). One major advantage of disease tolerance is that is less energetically demanding than disease resistance, consistent with the energetic limitations of early life. Immune effector cells enacting disease resistance responses switch to aerobic glycolysis upon TLR stimulation and require steady glycolytic flux to maintain the inflammatory phenotype. Rapid and intense upregulation of glucose uptake by immune cells necessitates an increased reliance on fatty acid metabolism to (a) fuel vital tissue function and (b) produce immunoregulatory intermediates which help control the magnitude of inflammation. Increasing disease resistance requires more energy: while adults have fat and protein stores to catabolize, neonates must reallocate resources away from critical growth and development. This understanding of sepsis pathology helps to explain many of the differences between neonatal and adult immune responses. Taking into account the central role of metabolism in the host response to infection and the severe metabolic demands of early life, it emerges that the striking clinical susceptibility to bacterial infection of the newborn is at its core a problem of metabolism. The evidence supporting this novel hypothesis, which has profound implications for interventions, is presented in this review