Heatwaves and Novel Host Consumption Increase Overwinter Mortality of an Imperiled Wetland Butterfly

Disruptive effects of climate change include range shifts, phenological mismatches among consumers and producers, and population declines. While these biological alterations have been widely documented, studies identifying specific mechanisms linking climate change to population declines are scarce. Extreme events, such as heatwaves can have devastating effects on living organisms and are increasing in frequency as Earth warms. Hence, understanding the effects of heatwaves on insects is necessary to inform conservation efforts and to develop predictions of population dynamics under future climate scenarios. Here, we experimentally evaluated the effects of heatwaves on the survival and phenology of the Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton phaeton), a wetland butterfly with imperiled populations that has incorporated a novel host. We performed laboratory manipulations (implementing realistic temperature regimes) to assess the effect of heatwaves during summer and winter on the survival and phenology of E. p. phaeton. In addition, we analyzed historical temperature records to quantify the incidence of heatwaves within E. p. phaeton’s range to assess their potential role in the decline of southeastern populations. We found that winter heatwaves with maximum temperatures of 20◦C can have more devastating effects on survival than summer heatwaves (up to 41◦C). Eggs endured acute heat stress during summer with no significant effects on phenology and survival; similarly, pre-overwintering larvae were robust to heatwave exposure, as only themost intense heatwave treatment reduced their survival (37% reduction compared to control conditions). By contrast, dormant larvae were the most vulnerable stage, as they lost from 2 to 6% of their body mass after a three-day summer heatwave. Furthermore, their exposure to winter heatwaves resulted in 75 to 100% mortality. Feeding on the native host provided higher resilience under thermal stress than feeding on the invasive, recently acquired host. Finally, both heatwave incidence and severity have increased in the southern range of E. p. phaeton in the period from 1894 to 2011. We show that warm winter days induced severe mortality, providing a mechanistic explanation of how climate change can trigger population declines in E. p. phaeton and other insects

Om den alminnelige vurderingen av vesentlige endringer - en analyse av vesentlighetsvurderingen før og etter kontraktinngåelse.

Temaet er vurderingen av adgangen til å gjøre endringer før og etter kontraktinngåelse i offentlige anskaffelser, jf. forskrift 12. august 2016 nr. 974 om offentlige anskaffelser (FOA). Det vurderes om det er forskjeller i innholdet i den alminnelige vesentlighetsvurderingen før og etter kontraktinngåelse. For å belyse dette undersøkes det om uvesentlige endringer foretatt underveis i anskaffelsesprosessen skal tas med inn i den alminnelige vesentlighetsvurderingen etter kontraktinngåelse. Videre undersøker avhandlingen hvilke momenter som inngår i den alminnelige vesentlighetsvurderingen før og etter kontraktraktinngåelse, og hvordan disse eventuelt brukes.MasteroppgaveJUS399MAJURMAJUR-

Significance of progesterone receptors (PR-A and PR-B) expression as predictors for relapse after successful therapy of endometrial hyperplasia: a retrospective cohort study

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Sletten, E.T., Arnes, M., Lyså, L.M., Larsen, M. & Ørbo, A. (2019). Significance of progesterone receptors (PR-A and PR-B) expression as predictors for relapse after successful therapy of endometrial hyperplasia: a retrospective cohort study. BJOG: an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 126(7), 936-943, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.15579. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.Objective - After successful progestin therapy for endometrial hyperplasia (EH), the risk of relapse remains. We aimed to assess if immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of progesterone receptor isoforms, PR‐A and PR‐B, in endometrial glands and stroma in pre‐treatment endometrial biopsies was related to relapse of EH. Design and setting - Biopsy material originated from women with low‐risk and medium‐risk EH recruited to a recent Norwegian multicentre randomised trial. Participants (n = 153) had been treated for 6 months with three different progestin regimens. Population - One hundred and thirty‐five of the 153 women achieved therapy response and underwent follow up for 24 months after therapy withdrawal. Fifty‐five women relapsed during follow up. Pre‐treatment endometrial biopsies from 94 of the 135 responding women were available for IHC staining. Methods - Immunohistochemical staining was performed separately for PR‐A and PR‐B and IHC expression was evaluated in endometrial glands and stroma by a histological score (H‐score) using light microscopy. Main outcome measure - Immunohistochemical expression of PR‐A and PR‐B in endometrial glands and stroma in women with or without relapse of EH. Results - Low PR‐A in endometrial glands (P = 0.013) and stroma (P 1 (19%; P < 0.001). Conclusion - Immunohistochemical expression of PR‐A and PR‐B in pre‐treatment endometrial biopsy proves valuable as a predictor of relapse in EH

Inclusion of Host Quality Data Improves Predictions of Herbivore Phenology

Understanding the correspondence between ambient temperature and insect development is necessary to forecast insect phenology under novel environments. In the face of climate change, both conservation and pest control efforts require accurate phenological predictions. Here, we compare a suite of degree-day models to assess their ability to predict the phenology of a common, oligophagous butterfly, the silver-spotted skipper, Epargyreus clarus (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae). To estimate model parameters, we used development time of eggs and larvae reared in the laboratory at six constant temperatures ranging from 8 to 38 °C and on two host plants of contrasting quality (kudzu and wisteria). We employed three approaches to determine the base temperature to calculate degree days: linear regression, modified reduced major axis regression, and application of a generic base temperature value of 10 °C, which is commonly used in the absence of laboratory data. To calculate the number of degree days required to complete a developmental stage, we used data from caterpillars feeding on high- and low-quality hosts, both in the field and in the laboratory. To test model accuracy, we predicted development time of seven generations of larvae reared in the field on the same host plants across 3 years (2014–2016). To compare performance among models, we regressed predicted vs. observed development time, and found that r2 values were significantly larger when accounting for host plant quality. The accuracy of development time predictions varied across the season, with estimates of the first two generations being more accurate than estimates of the third generation, when ambient temperatures dropped outside the range in which development rate and temperature have a linear relationship. Overall, we show that accounting for variation in host plant quality when calculating development time in the field is more important than the choice of the base temperature for calculating degree days

How Development and Survival Combine to Determine the Thermal Sensitivity of Insects

Thermal performance curves (TPCs) depict variation in vital rates in response to temperature and have been an important tool to understand ecological and evolutionary constraints on the thermal sensitivity of ectotherms. TPCs allow for the calculation of indicators of thermal tolerance, such as minimum, optimum, and maximum temperatures that allow for a given metabolic function. However, these indicators are computed using only responses from surviving individuals, which can lead to underestimation of deleterious effects of thermal stress, particularly at high temperatures. Here, we advocate for an integrative frame- work for assessing thermal sensitivity, which combines both vital rates and survival probabilities, and focuses on the temperature interval that allows for population persistence. Using a collated data set of Lepidopteran development rate and survival measured on the same individuals, we show that development rate is generally limiting at low temperatures, while survival is limiting at high temperatures. We also uncover differences between life stages and across latitudes, with extended survival at lower temperatures in temperate regions. Our combined performance metric demonstrates similar thermal breadth in temperate and tropical individuals, an effect that only emerges from integration of both development and survival trends. We discuss the benefits of using this framework in future predictive and management contexts

Relationship between hypertension and nonobstructive coronary artery disease in chronic coronary syndrome (the NORIC registry)

Background The burden of non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in the society is high, and there is currently limited evidence-based recommendation for risk stratification and treatment. Previous studies have demonstrated an association between increasing extent of non-obstructive CAD and cardiovascular events. Whether hypertension, a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor, is associated with extensive non-obstructive CAD in patients with symptomatic chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) remains unclear. Methods We included 1138 patients (mean age 62±11 years, 48% women) with symptomatic CCS and non-obstructive CAD (1–49% lumen diameter reduction) by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) from the Norwegian Registry for Invasive Cardiology (NORIC). The extent of non-obstructive CAD was assessed as coronary artery segment involvement score (SIS), and extensive non-obstructive CAD was adjudicated when SIS >4. Hypertension was defined as known hypertension or use of antihypertensive medication. Results Hypertension was found in 45% of patients. Hypertensive patients were older, with a higher SIS, calcium score, and prevalence of comorbidities and statin therapy compared to the normotensive (all p<0.05). There was no difference in the prevalence of hypertension between sexes. Univariable analysis revealed a significant association between hypertension and non-obstructive CAD. In multivariable analysis, hypertension remained associated with extensive non-obstructive CAD, independent of sex, age, smoking, diabetes, statin treatment, obesity and calcium score (OR 1.85, 95% CI [1.22–2.80], p = 0.004). Conclusion In symptomatic CCS, hypertension was associated with extensive non-obstructive CAD by CCTA. Whether hypertension may be a new treatment target in symptomatic non-obstructive CAD needs to be explored in future studies.publishedVersio

Evolution of the Chalcone Isomerase Fold from Fatty Acid-Binding to Stereospecific Enzyme

Specialized metabolic enzymes biosynthesize chemicals of ecological importance, often sharing a pedigree with primary metabolic enzymes1. However, the lineage of the enzyme chalcone isomerase (CHI) remained a quandary. In vascular plants, CHI-catalyzed conversion of chalcones to chiral (S)-flavanones is a committed step in the production of plant flavonoids, compounds that contribute to attraction, defense2, and development3. CHI operates near the diffusion limit with stereospecific control4,5. While associated primarily with plants, the CHI-fold occurs in several other eukaryotic lineages and in some bacteria. Here we report crystal structures, ligand-binding properties, and in vivo functional characterization of a non-catalytic CHI-fold family from plants. A. thaliana contains five actively transcribed CHI-fold genes, three of which additionally encode amino-terminal chloroplast-transit sequences (cTP). These three CHI-fold proteins localize to plastids, the site of de novo fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis in plant cells. Furthermore, their expression profiles correlate with those of core FA biosynthetic enzymes, with maximal expression occurring in seeds and coinciding with increased FA storage in the developing embryo. In vitro, these proteins are Fatty Acid-binding Proteins (FAP). FAP knockout A. thaliana plants exhibit elevated alpha-linolenic acid levels and marked reproductive defects, including aberrant seed formation. Notably, the FAP discovery defines the adaptive evolution of a stereospecific and catalytically ‘perfected’ enzyme6 from a non-enzymatic ancestor over a defined period of plant evolution