Impact of clinical phenotypes on management and outcomes in European atrial fibrillation patients: a report from the ESC-EHRA EURObservational Research Programme in AF (EORP-AF) General Long-Term Registry

Background: Epidemiological studies in atrial fibrillation (AF) illustrate that clinical complexity increase the risk of major adverse outcomes. We aimed to describe European AF patients\u2019 clinical phenotypes and analyse the differential clinical course. Methods: We performed a hierarchical cluster analysis based on Ward\u2019s Method and Squared Euclidean Distance using 22 clinical binary variables, identifying the optimal number of clusters. We investigated differences in clinical management, use of healthcare resources and outcomes in a cohort of European AF patients from a Europe-wide observational registry. Results: A total of 9363 were available for this analysis. We identified three clusters: Cluster 1 (n = 3634; 38.8%) characterized by older patients and prevalent non-cardiac comorbidities; Cluster 2 (n = 2774; 29.6%) characterized by younger patients with low prevalence of comorbidities; Cluster 3 (n = 2955;31.6%) characterized by patients\u2019 prevalent cardiovascular risk factors/comorbidities. Over a mean follow-up of 22.5 months, Cluster 3 had the highest rate of cardiovascular events, all-cause death, and the composite outcome (combining the previous two) compared to Cluster 1 and Cluster 2 (all P <.001). An adjusted Cox regression showed that compared to Cluster 2, Cluster 3 (hazard ratio (HR) 2.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.27\u20133.62; HR 3.42, 95%CI 2.72\u20134.31; HR 2.79, 95%CI 2.32\u20133.35), and Cluster 1 (HR 1.88, 95%CI 1.48\u20132.38; HR 2.50, 95%CI 1.98\u20133.15; HR 2.09, 95%CI 1.74\u20132.51) reported a higher risk for the three outcomes respectively. Conclusions: In European AF patients, three main clusters were identified, differentiated by differential presence of comorbidities. Both non-cardiac and cardiac comorbidities clusters were found to be associated with an increased risk of major adverse outcomes

Lek Behavior As The Mating Strategy Of Setellia Sp. (diptera: Richardiidae)

A field study revealed that the mating system of the richardiid Setellia sp. meets even the most stringent definition of lek behavior. Males remain on the upper surface of the leaves of Saranthe aff. klotzchiana (Maranthaceae), where they perform ritualized displays related to courtship and territorial behavior. Correlational data support the existence of reproductive dominance hierarchies, which are based on both male vs. male and female vs. female agonistic interactions. Curiously, the behavioral acts performed by Setellia sp. show remarkable similarities to other nonrelated dipteran lekkers. Aspects of evolution and convergence of these behaviors in the Acalyptratae are considered.116823832Alcock, J., Pyle, D.W., The complex courtship behavior of Physiphora demandata (F.) (Diptera: Otitidae) (1979) Z. Tierpsychol, 49, pp. 352-362Boake, C.R.B., A method for testing adaptive hypothesis of mate choice (1986) Am. Nat., 127, pp. 654-666Borror, D.J., Triplehorn, C.A., Johnson, M.F., (1991) An Introduction to the Study of Insects, , Saunders College, ChicagoBradbury, J.W., Contrasts between insects and vertebrates in the evolution of male display, female choice and lek mating (1985) Fort. Zool., 31, pp. 273-289Burk, T., Signaling and sex in acalyptratae flies (1981) Fla. Entomol., 64, pp. 30-43Burla, H., Lek behavior in the hypercephalic Zygothrica dispar Wiedemann (Diptera, Drosophilidae) (1990) Z. Zool. Syst. Evolut.-forsch., 28, pp. 69-77Dodson, G., Lek mating system and large male aggressive advantage in a gall-forming tephritid fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) (1986) Ethology, 72, pp. 99-108Höglund, J., Alatalo, R., (1995) Leks, , Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJHoikkala, A., Welbergen, P., Signals of females and males in successful and unsuccessful courtships of three Hawaiian lek-mating Drosophila species (1995) Anim. Behav., 50, pp. 177-190McAlpine, D.K., Agonistic behavior in Achias australis (Diptera: Platystomatidae) and the significance of eyestalks (1979) Sexual Selection and Reproductive Competition in Insects, , Blum, M. S., and Blum, N. A. (eds.), Academic Press, New YorkOldroyd, H., (1964) The Natural History of Flies, , W. W. Norton, New YorkParsons, P.A., Lek behavior in Drosophila (Hirtodrosophila) polypori Malloch - An Australian rainforest species (1977) Evolution, 31, pp. 223-225Peixoto, A.L., Gentry, A., Diversidade and Composição Florística de Mata de Tabuleiro na Reserva Florestal de Linhares (Espírito Santo, Brasil) (1990) Rev. Brasil. Bot., 13, pp. 19-25Shelly, T.E., Lek behavior of a Hawaiian Drosophila: Male spacing, aggression and female visitation (1987) Anim. Behav., 35, pp. 1394-1404Shelly, T.E., Lek behavior of Drosophila cnecopleura in Hawaii (1988) Ecol. Entomol., 13, pp. 51-55Spieth, T.H., Courtship behavior in Drosophila (1974) Annu. Rev. Entomol., 19, pp. 385-405Spieth, H.T., Drosophila heteroneura and Drosophila silvestris: Head shapes, behavior and evolution (1981) Evolution, 35, pp. 921-930Steyskal, G.C., Richardiidae (1987) Manual of Neartic Diptera, , McAlpine, J. F. (ed.), Research Branch, Agriculture CanadaThornhill, R., Alcock, J., (1983) The Evolution of Insect Mating Systems, , Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MATrivers, R.L., Parental investment and sexual selection (1972) Sexual Selection and the Descent of Man, pp. 1871-1971. , Campbell, B. (ed.) Aldine, ChicagoTrivers, R.L., Willard, D.E., Natural selection of parental ability to vary sex ratio of offspring (1973) Science, 179, pp. 90-92Whittier, T.S., Kaneshiro, K.Y., Intersexual selection in the mediterranean fruit fly: Does female choice enhance fitness? (1995) Evolution, 49, pp. 990-996Zwolfer, H., Innerartliche Kommunikationssysteme bei Bohrfliegen (1974) Biol. Unser. Zeit, 4, pp. 147-15

Mandibular morphology, task specialization, and bite mechanics in<i>Pheidole</i>ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

AbstractThe remarkable ecological and evolutionary success of ants was associated with the evolution of reproductive division of labor, in which sterile workers perform most colony tasks whereas reproductives become specialized in reproduction. In some lineages, the worker force became further subdivided into morphologically distinct subcastes (e.g. minor vs. major workers), allowing for the differential performance of particular roles in the colony. However, the functional and ecological significance of morphological differences between subcastes is not well understood. Here, we applied Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to explore the functional differences between major and minor ant worker mandibles. Analyses were carried out on mandibles of twoPheidolespecies, a dimorphic ant genus. In particular, we test whether major mandibles evolved to minimize stress when compared to minors using combinations of tooth and masticatory margin bites under strike and pressure conditions. Majors performed better in pressure conditions yet, contrary to our expectations, minors performed better in strike bite scenarios. Moreover, we demonstrate that even small morphological differences in ant mandibles might lead to substantial differences in biomechanical responses to bite loading. These results also underscore the potential of FEA to uncover biomechanical consequences of morphological differences within and between ant worker castes.</jats:p

Simple does not mean poor: grasslands and forests harbor similar ant species richness and distinct composition in highlands of southern Brazil

Several studies addressed ant communities in the dense Atlantic Forest that runs along the Brazilian coast. However, comparatively little is known about the mixed forests and grasslands that occur in the southern range of the Atlantic Forest domain. In this study we performed the first standardized assessment of ants in the forest- grassland mosaic found in the highlands of the state of Santa Catarina. We aimed to investigate and compare ant richness and composition between mixed forests and grasslands in the main mountain range of south Brazil. Ants were collected in two years with ground pitfalls, tree pitfalls and litter samples. Sixty ant species were recorded, resulting in 22 new records for “Planalto Serrano” region and three for the state of Santa Catarina: Eurhopalothrix depressa , Pheidole radoszkowskii and Wasmannia williamsoni . There was significant dissimilarity in ant species composition between grasslands and forests, but no difference in ant species richness, even considering the higher number of strata in mixed forests. Similar richness and low number of arboreal species suggest that this ant community is structured similarly to temperate ones. Both habitats presented a large proportion of exclusive species. The fact that species composition between grassland and forest areas differed, coupled with the similarity in species richness between habitats and the record of new ant species for the region, calls for strong conservation efforts in grasslands of southern Brazil, which still are little protected by conservation areas

Systematics And Origin Of Moths In The Subfamily Arctiinae (lepidoptera, Erebidae) In The Neotropical Region

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)The availability of standard protocols to obtain DNA sequences has allowed the inference of phylogenetic Hypotheses for many taxa, including moths. We here have inferred a phylogeny using maximum-Likelihood and Bayesian approaches for a species-rich group of moths (Erebidae, Arctiinae), with strong emphasis on Neotropical genera collected in different field campaigns in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, eastern Amazon and southern Ecuador. A total of 277 species belonging to 246 genera were included in the analysis. Our main objectives were to shed light on the relationships between suprageneric groups, especially subtribes, and hypothesize colonization events in and out of the Neotropics. The monophyly of Arctiinae and its four tribes (Lithosiini, Amerilini, Syntomini and Arctiini) was recovered in the ML and Bayesian trees. Three Lithosiini subtribes previously found and two additional species groups were recovered monophyletic in both phylogenetic estimation methods. In Arctiini, the monophyly of Spilosomina and Arctiina was highly supported in the ML and Bayesian trees, but the monophyly of Ctenuchina and Echromiina was weakly supported in the ML tree and absent in the Bayesian tree; the remaining subtribes were paraphyletic and, in the case of Phageopterina, formed several species groups. The mapping of species occurrence in our ML tree suggests that Arctiinae have an Old World origin and that the Neotropical region was colonized at least six times independently. Our analysis also suggests that a number of species that occur in Neotropical and other zoogeographic regions may have originated in the Neotropics, although further taxon sampling is required to support this hypothesis. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a highly speciose group of tropical moths is well covered in a phylogeny, and it seems plausible that the results reported here may be extendable to other species-rich tropical undersampled moth taxa. © 2016 Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences4633483622013/09647-7, FAPESP, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo2014/06646-2, FAPESP, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São PauloDEB-1256742, NSF, National Science FoundationFi 547 10-2, DFG, Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftSuomen AkatemiaFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Environmental isolation of black yeast-like fungi involved in human infection

AbstractThe present study focuses on potential agents of chromoblastomycosis and other endemic diseases in the state of Paraná, Southern Brazil. Using a highly selective protocol for chaetothyrialean black yeasts and relatives, environmental samples from the living area of symptomatic patients were analysed. Additional strains were isolated from creosote-treated wood and hydrocarbon-polluted environments, as such polluted sites have been supposed to enhance black yeast prevalence. Isolates showed morphologies compatible with the traditional etiological agents of chromoblastomycosis, e.g. Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Phialophora verrucosa, and of agents of subcutaneous or systemic infections like Cladophialophora bantiana and Exophiala jeanselmei. Some agents of mild disease were indeed encountered. However, molecular analysis proved that most environmental strains differed from known etiologic agents of pronounced disease syndromes: they belonged to the same order, but mostly were undescribed species. Agents of chromoblastomycosis and systemic disease thus far are prevalent on the human host. The hydrocarbon-polluted environments yielded yet another spectrum of chaetothyrialean fungi. These observations are of great relevance because they allow us to distinguish between categories of opportunists, indicating possible differences in pathogenicity and virulence