Nest entry shape change may cause nest abandonment in urban cavity-nesting species: a case study of the Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

The threat of predation is the main cause of bird nest abandonment, with such behaviour imposing considerable energetic costs on breeding birds. However, for several species, nest abandonment can be a less costly alternative to complete brood failure. In this study, we examined nest abandonment among Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) by surveying 71 Tree Sparrow nests with various types of entry holes and conducted artificially manipulating some of the entrance shapes. We found that nest abandonment was caused by changes to the nest entry shape in seven cases and by human interference in two cases. Nest abandonments occurred throughout the breeding season, and breeding pairs attempted to breed again immediately after nest abandonment. The results of the artificial nest entry shape manipulation experiment showed that nine of twelve nests (75.0%) were abandoned where the nest entrance holes were widened, and six of eleven nests (54.5%) were abandoned where the nest entrance holes were narrowed. However, none of the nests were abandoned where the entry shape was unchanged. Thus, nest abandonment by Tree Sparrows is correlated with nest entry shape manipulation and is more likely to occur when the energy cost of breeding again is less than that of abandoning the nest

Genome analysis of Yucatan miniature pigs to assess their potential as biomedical model animals

Objective Pigs share many physiological, anatomical and genomic similarities with humans, which make them suitable models for biomedical researches. Understanding the genetic status of Yucatan miniature pigs (YMPs) and their association with human diseases will help to assess their potential as biomedical model animals. This study was performed to identify non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) in selective sweep regions of the genome of YMPs and present the genetic nsSNP distributions that are potentially associated with disease occurrence in humans. Methods nsSNPs in whole genome resequencing data from 12 YMPs were identified and annotated to predict their possible effects on protein function. Sorting intolerant from tolerant (SIFT) and polymorphism phenotyping v2 analyses were used, and gene ontology (GO) network and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were performed. Results The results showed that 8,462 genes, encompassing 72,067 nsSNPs were identified, and 118 nsSNPs in 46 genes were predicted as deleterious. GO network analysis classified 13 genes into 5 GO terms (p<0.05) that were associated with kidney development and metabolic processes. Seven genes encompassing nsSNPs were classified into the term associated with Alzheimer’s disease by referencing the genetic association database. The KEGG pathway analysis identified only one significantly enriched pathway (p<0.05), hsa04080: Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, among the transcripts. Conclusion The number of deleterious nsSNPs in YMPs was identified and then these variants-containing genes in YMPs data were adopted as the putative human diseases-related genes. The results revealed that many genes encompassing nsSNPs in YMPs were related to the various human genes which are potentially associated with kidney development and metabolic processes as well as human disease occurrence

Aminooxy acetic acid suppresses Th17-mediated psoriasis-like skin inflammation by inhibiting serine metabolism

Background: Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by an external red rash that is caused by abnormal proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes and immune T cells. This study aimed to elucidate the role of aminooxy acetic acid (AOA) in alleviating psoriasis from the perspective of immunology and metabolomics. Therefore, contributing to the development of new drugs as candidates for psoriasis treatment.Methods: To investigate the symptom-alleviating effects and the related mechanisms of AOA on the treatment of psoriasis, we used a 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced psoriasis-like skin mouse model and interleukin (IL)-17-stimulated human keratinocytes.Results: The results showed that AOA ameliorated psoriasis-related symptoms and decreased inflammation-associated antimicrobial peptides and T-helper 17 (Th17)-associated cytokines in a mouse model of psoriasis. Furthermore, AOA inhibited the activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) by suppressing serine metabolism-related genes. Importantly, mTOR inhibition ameliorated psoriatic disease by affecting the differentiation of various T cells and normalizing the Th17/regulatory T (Treg) cell balance. In addition, IL-17-stimulated human keratinocytes showed the same results as in the in vivo experiments.Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that targeting the serine metabolism pathway in the treatment of psoriasis is a novel strategy, and that AOA could be utilized as a novel biologic to treat psoriasis

INVESTIGATION ON EFFECTS OF ENLARGED PIPE RUPTURE SIZE AND AIR PENETRATION TIMING IN REALSCALE EXPERIMENT OF SIPHON BREAKER

To ensure the safety of research reactors, the water level must be maintained above the required height. When a pipe ruptures, the siphon phenomenon causes continuous loss of coolant until the hydraulic head is removed. To protect the reactor core from this kind of accident, a siphon breaker has been suggested as a passive safety device. This study mainly focused on two variables: the size of the pipe rupture and the timing of air entrainment. In this study, the size of the pipe rupture was increased to the guillotine break case. There was a region in which a larger pipe rupture did not need a larger siphon breaker, and the water flow rate was related to the size of the pipe rupture and affected the residual water quantity. The timing of air entrainment was predicted to influence residual water level. However, the residual water level was not affected by the timing of air entrainment. The experimental cases, which showed the characteristic of partical sweep-out mode in the separation of siphon breaking phenomenon [2], showed almost same trend of physical properties.ungraded1111Ysciescopu

Prognosis according to the timing of percutaneous coronary intervention in non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, based on the Korean Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR)

Background: Patients with acute coronary syndrome without ST-segment elevation (ACS- -NSTE) are at risk for adverse cardiac events. Based on data in the Korean Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR), we analyzed the prognosis according to the timing of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with NSTEMI in Korea. Methods and results: 2,455 patients with NSTEMI in KAMIR were classified according to the time interval from the onset of cardiac symptoms to PCI. Patients in Group I underwent PCI within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms; in Group II between 24 and 48 hours; and in Group III after 48 hours. Major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) are defined as cardiac death, non-cardiac death, myocardial infarction, revascularization and coronary-artery bypass graft surgery. The MACEs were compared between groups. Of the 2,455 patients, 743 (30.2%) were assigned to Group I, 583 (23.7%) to Group II, and 1,129 (45.9%) to Group III. The total incidence of MACEs was higher in Group I than Group III, and similar between Groups I and II (Group I: 15.1%, Group II: 14.4%, Group III: 11.6%, p = 0.053). The incidence of MACEs in the intermediate TIMI risk score group had decreased as the intervention time was delayed. Conclusions: The prognosis according to the timing of PCI in patients with NSTEMI was similar based on the data in KAMIR. TIMI risk score was related to a high incidence of MACEs. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 4: 421&#8211;429

Outer membrane protein a of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium activates dendritic cells and enhances Th1 polarization

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Typhoid, which is caused by <it>Salmonella enterica </it>serovar Typhimurium, remains a major health concern worldwide. Multidrug-resistant strains of <it>Salmonella </it>have emerged which exhibit increased survivability and virulence, thus leading to increased morbidity. However, little is known about the protective immune response against this microorganism. The outer membrane protein (Omp)A of bacteria plays an important role in pathogenesis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We purified OmpA from <it>S. enterica </it>serovar Typhimurium (OmpA-sal) and characterized the role of OmpA-sal in promoting adaptive and innate immune responses. OmpA-sal functionally activated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells by augmenting expression of CD80, CD86, and major histocompatibility complex classes I and II. Interestingly, OmpA-sal induced production of interferon-γ from T cells in mixed lymphocyte reactions, thus indicating Th1-polarizing capacity. The expression of surface markers and cytokine production in dendritic cells was mediated by the TLR4 signaling pathway in a TLR4 Knock-out system.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings suggest that OmpA-sal modulates the adaptive immune responses to <it>S. enterica </it>serovar Typhimurium by activating dendritic cells and driving Th1 polarization, which are important properties to consider in the development of effective <it>S. enterica </it>serovar Typhimurium vaccines and immunotherapy adjuvant.</p