On the recent occurrence of Brachytrupes megacephalus (Lefebvre, 1827) (Orthoptera – Gryllidae) on Lampedusa

Considering the species’ distribution, it is of particular interest that until four male specimens were recorded during the first half of April 2014, this species was unknown from Lampedusa, as attested by both scientific workers familiar with the Orthoptero-fauna of the islet and local farmers (PRAZZI et al.,2014). The authors note that in the days prior to these discoveries, strong winds were blowing that could have aided dispersal of the individuals from the Tunisian coast some 140 km away or from Lino-sa, some 45 km away; no indication of wind speeds is given in the said short note. The authors however acknowledge that this species is not known to take to the wing and cover such considerable distances. Another manner by which the species may have found itself on Lampedusa, according to the authors, is via passive dispersal, primarily on ferries or even immigrant boats that sailed to Lampedusa from coastal locations where the cricket maintains a population. The authors draw an analogy with the Gregarious Locust (Schistocera gregaria) migration of November 2012, when numerous locusts were observed on Lampedusa, in both rural and urban areas (PRAZZIet al., 2014).peer-reviewe

An evaluation of risk from sea level rise and storm surge on subpopulations of Brachytrupes megacephalus (Lefèbvre, 1827) on the island of Malta

Brachytrupes megacephalus (Lefèbvre, 1827) is a relatively large gryllid with predominant but not exclusive distribution across northern Africa, favouring sandy habitats in coastal and Saharan hyper-arid regions. The crepuscular species is also known to occur in certain areas of Europe’s central Mediterranean littoral. The species’ distribution in the Maltese Islands is restricted to fragmented populations on northern coastal sites in Malta and one site in Gozo. The present contribution focuses on the vulnerability of the species’ habitat due to sea level rise and storm surges and estimates that habitat loss on the basis of three modelled inundation scenarios at 5 m, 10 m and 15 m contour heights would be 28.1%, 49.7% and 65.9% respectively. Furthermore, the models developed serve to provide insights for conservation management, specifically through elucidating the potential for linkages that ensure ecological connectivity for subpopulations on elevated terrain.peer-reviewe

The Differential Effects of 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on the Gap Junctions and Connexins of the Developing Mammalian Lens

AbstractEpithelial cells in primary ovine lens cultures express the gap junction proteins connexin43 (Cx43) and connexin49 (Cx49; a.k.a. MP70), a homologue of mouse connexin50. In contrast, lens cultures of differentiated, fiber-like cells (termed lentoid cells) express Cx49 and connexin46 (Cx46), but not Cx43. To investigate the regulation of lens cell gap junctions by protein kinase C (PKC), differentiating lens cultures were treated with the PKC activator 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (β-TPA). Within 10 min, β-TPA significantly inhibited the transfer of Lucifer Yellow dye between epithelial, but not lentoid, cells. This inhibition was correlated with the phosphorylation of Cx43 and was followed by the gradual disappearance of Cx43 from cell interfaces. The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine prevented Cx43 phosphorylation and the loss of Cx43 from intercellular junctions. Following treatment of cultures with β-TPA for 2–6 hr, Cx49 disappeared from epithelial cell interfaces, and by 24 hr of β-TPA treatment, levels of Cx49 detected on immunoblots of purified epithelial membrane fractions had also diminished significantly. The β-TPA-induced loss of Cx49 both from regions of epithelial cell contact and from isolated membranes was correlated with the disappearance of Cx49 mRNA. In contrast to the epithelial connexins, the lentoid connexins Cx49 and Cx46 were unaffected by even extended β-TPA treatment. In spite of lentoid dye transfer being refractory to β-TPA, significant levels of PKC-α (a β-TPA-sensitive isoform) were detected in the lentoid cell. The response of lens gap junctions to β-TPA depends upon the stage of differentiation and the complement of connexins expressed. The contrasting effects of β-TPA on Cx43 and Cx49 in lens epithelial cells indicate a fundamental difference in the regulation of these connexin proteins in the developing mammalian lens

Investigating the use of UAV systems for photogrammetric applications : a case study of Ramla Bay (Gozo, Malta)

In this study, we present the 3D digital model of Ramla Bay (Gozo) obtained by using photograms taken from drones. The high-resolution 3D model of Ramla Bay allowed the construction of a detailed Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Comparison of an earlier LIDAR data derived DEM (ERDF 156 Data, 2013) and the photogrammetric DEM developed in this study allowed to make preliminary observations regarding the potential evolution of the coastal area over the last 5 years. This study serves as a proof of concept to demonstrate that coastal evolution can be quantitatively analysed in terms of changes of the sand dune systems. Furthermore, the technique used in this paper represents a good compromise in terms of cost effectiveness and a valid substitute for laser scanner survey. It is also useful for monitoring the dynamics of the beach-dune system and the characterization of the coast for the mitigation of coastal erosion.peer-reviewe

Factors Influencing Depression and Anxiety among Black Sexual Minority Men

The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationships between depression and anxiety, and ethnic and sexual identity development, and discrimination and harassment (DH) among Black sexual minority men. Additional aims were to determine whether an interaction effect existed between ethnic and sexual identity and whether coping skills level moderated these relationships. Using an observational cross-sectional design, 54 participants recruited through snowball sampling completed self-administered online surveys. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used. Sixty-four percent of the variance in depression scores and 53% of the variance in anxiety scores were explained by DH and internalized homonegativity together. Thirty percent of the sample had scale scores indicating likelihood of depression and anxiety. Experience of DH and internalized homonegativity explained a large portion of the variability in depression and anxiety among Black sexual minority men. The study showed high prevalence of mental distress among this sample

Packed Red Blood Cells Are an Abundant and Proximate Potential Source of Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibition

<div><p>Objective</p><p>We determined, for packed red blood cells (PRBC) and fresh frozen plasma, the maximum content, and ability to release the endogenous nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and monomethylarginine (LNMMA).</p><p>Background</p><p>ADMA and LNMMA are near equipotent NOS inhibitors forming blood’s total NOS inhibitory content. The balance between removal from, and addition to plasma determines their free concentrations. Removal from plasma is by well-characterized specific hydrolases while formation is restricted to posttranslational protein methylation. When released into plasma they can readily enter endothelial cells and inhibit NOS. Fresh rat and human whole blood contain substantial protein incorporated ADMA however; the maximum content of ADMA and LNMMA in PRBC and fresh frozen plasma has not been determined.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We measured total (free and protein incorporated) ADMA and LNMMA content in PRBCs and fresh frozen plasma, as well as their incubation induced release, using HPLC with fluorescence detection. We tested the hypothesis that PRBC and fresh frozen plasma contain substantial inhibitory methylarginines that can be released chemically by complete <i>in vitro</i> acid hydrolysis or physiologically at 37°C by enzymatic blood proteolysis.</p><p>Results</p><p><i>In vitro</i> strong-acid-hydrolysis revealed a large PRBC reservoir of ADMA (54.5 ± 9.7 µM) and LNMMA (58.9 ± 28.9 μM) that persisted over 42-d at 6° or -80°C. <i>In vitro</i> 5h incubation at 37°C nearly doubled free ADMA and LNMMNA concentration from PRBCs while no change was detected in fresh frozen plasma.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>The compelling physiological ramifications are that regardless of storage age, 1) PRBCs can rapidly release pathologically relevant quantities of ADMA and LNMMA when incubated and 2) PRBCs have a protein-incorporated inhibitory methylarginines reservoir 100 times that of normal free inhibitory methylarginines in blood and thus could represent a clinically relevant and proximate risk for iatrogenic NOS inhibition upon transfusion.</p></div

Evaluating risks from sea-level rise on metapopulations of Brachytrupes megacephalus in the island of Malta

Brachytrupes megacephalus (Lefèbvre, 1827) is a relatively large cricket with predominant but not exclusive distribution across northern Africa. It favours sandy habitats in coastal and Saharan hyper-arid regions. The present contribution seeks to evaluate the level of vulnerability of populations of this stenoecious species occurring on Malta to sea-level rise. Following ground-truthing during stridulation activity, drone survey technologies were used to identify and cartographically delineate the spatial extent of sub-populations.peer-reviewe