Flat feline faces: is brachycephaly associated with respiratory abnormalities in the domestic cat (Felis catus)?

There has been little research into brachycephalism and associated disorders in cats. A questionnaire aimed at cat owners was used to determine the relationship between feline facial conformation and owner-reported cat management requirements and respiratory abnormalities. Owner-submitted photographs of cats were used to develop novel measures of skull conformation. One thousand valid questionnaires were received. Within these there were 373 valid photographs that allowed measurement of muzzle ratio (M%) and 494 that allowed nose position ratio (NP%). The data included 239 cats for which both measurements were available. Owners reported lifestyle factors (e.g. feeding type, grooming routine, activity level), physical characteristics (e.g. hair length) and other health characteristics of their cat (e.g. tear staining, body condition score). A composite respiratory score (RS) was calculated for each cat using their owner’s assessment of respiratory noise whilst their cat was asleep and then breathing difficulty following activity. Multivariate analyses were carried out using linear models to explore the relationship between RS and facial conformation, and lifestyle risk factors. The results showed that reductions in NP% and M% were significantly associated with RS (P < 0.001 and P = 0.026, respectively) and that the relationship was significantly negatively correlated (r = -0.56, P < 0.001 for both). Respiratory score was also significantly associated with increased presence of tear staining (P < 0.001) and a sedentary lifestyle (P = 0.01). This study improves current knowledge concerning cats with breeding-related alterations in skull confirmation and indicates that brachycephalism may have negative respiratory implications for cat health and welfare, as has been previously shown in dogs

Population Genomics Related to Adaptation in Elite Oat Germplasm

Six hundred thirty five oat ( L.) lines and 4561 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci were used to evaluate population structure, linkage disequilibrium (LD), and genotype–phenotype association with heading date. The first five principal components (PCs) accounted for 25.3% of genetic variation. Neither the eigenvalues of the first 25 PCs nor the cross-validation errors from = 1 to 20 model-based analyses suggested a structured population. However, the PC and = 2 model-based analyses supported clustering of lines on spring oat vs. southern United States origin, accounting for 16% of genetic variation ( < 0.0001). Single-locus -statistic () in the highest 1% of the distribution suggested linkage groups that may be differentiated between the two population subgroups. Population structure and kinship-corrected LD of = 0.10 was observed at an average pairwise distance of 0.44 cM (0.71 and 2.64 cM within spring and southern oat, respectively). On most linkage groups LD decay was slower within southern lines than within the spring lines. A notable exception was found on linkage group Mrg28, where LD decay was substantially slower in the spring subpopulation. It is speculated that this may be caused by a heterogeneous translocation event on this chromosome. Association with heading date was most consistent across location-years on linkage groups Mrg02, Mrg12, Mrg13, and Mrg24

A Comparative Structural Bioinformatics Analysis of the Insulin Receptor Family Ectodomain Based on Phylogenetic Information

The insulin receptor (IR), the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) and the insulin receptor-related receptor (IRR) are covalently-linked homodimers made up of several structural domains. The molecular mechanism of ligand binding to the ectodomain of these receptors and the resulting activation of their tyrosine kinase domain is still not well understood. We have carried out an amino acid residue conservation analysis in order to reconstruct the phylogeny of the IR Family. We have confirmed the location of ligand binding site 1 of the IGF1R and IR. Importantly, we have also predicted the likely location of the insulin binding site 2 on the surface of the fibronectin type III domains of the IR. An evolutionary conserved surface on the second leucine-rich domain that may interact with the ligand could not be detected. We suggest a possible mechanical trigger of the activation of the IR that involves a slight ‘twist’ rotation of the last two fibronectin type III domains in order to face the likely location of insulin. Finally, a strong selective pressure was found amongst the IRR orthologous sequences, suggesting that this orphan receptor has a yet unknown physiological role which may be conserved from amphibians to mammals

Reusando Modelos Conceituais : Linguagem e Compilador

TCC(graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro Tecnológico. Ciências da Computação.Este relatório apresenta uma linguagem textual para modelagem con- ceitual (baseada em classes/associações da UML e em restrições da OCL) e um compilador que pode gerar código em qualquer linguagem ou tecnologia através de templates de texto extensíveis. A linguagem e o compilador permitem a especificação da informação gerenciada por sistemas de software cada vez mais distribuídos e em constante mu- dança. A partir de uma única fonte, a geração de código automática mantém as implementações consistentes com sua especificação atra- vés das diferentes plataformas e tecnologias. Além disso, na medida em que o horizonte tecnológico se expande, os templates textuais po- dem ser modificados para adotar novas tecnologias. Diferentemente de outras abordagens, tais como MDA e MPS, espera-se que o suporte fer- ramental acompanhando esta linguagem, juntamente com sua natureza textual, facilite a integração do desenvolvimento de software dirigido por modelos no fluxo de trabalho dos desenvolvedores de software

The Crowdsourced Replication Initiative: Investigating Immigration and Social Policy Preferences. Executive Report.

In an era of mass migration, social scientists, populist parties and social movements raise concerns over the future of immigration-destination societies. What impacts does this have on policy and social solidarity? Comparative cross-national research, relying mostly on secondary data, has findings in different directions. There is a threat of selective model reporting and lack of replicability. The heterogeneity of countries obscures attempts to clearly define data-generating models. P-hacking and HARKing lurk among standard research practices in this area.This project employs crowdsourcing to address these issues. It draws on replication, deliberation, meta-analysis and harnessing the power of many minds at once. The Crowdsourced Replication Initiative carries two main goals, (a) to better investigate the linkage between immigration and social policy preferences across countries, and (b) to develop crowdsourcing as a social science method. The Executive Report provides short reviews of the area of social policy preferences and immigration, and the methods and impetus behind crowdsourcing plus a description of the entire project. Three main areas of findings will appear in three papers, that are registered as PAPs or in process

Genome-wide identification and phenotypic characterization of seizure-associated copy number variations in 741,075 individuals

Copy number variants (CNV) are established risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders with seizures or epilepsy. With the hypothesis that seizure disorders share genetic risk factors, we pooled CNV data from 10,590 individuals with seizure disorders, 16,109 individuals with clinically validated epilepsy, and 492,324 population controls and identified 25 genome-wide significant loci, 22 of which are novel for seizure disorders, such as deletions at 1p36.33, 1q44, 2p21-p16.3, 3q29, 8p23.3-p23.2, 9p24.3, 10q26.3, 15q11.2, 15q12-q13.1, 16p12.2, 17q21.31, duplications at 2q13, 9q34.3, 16p13.3, 17q12, 19p13.3, 20q13.33, and reciprocal CNVs at 16p11.2, and 22q11.21. Using genetic data from additional 248,751 individuals with 23 neuropsychiatric phenotypes, we explored the pleiotropy of these 25 loci. Finally, in a subset of individuals with epilepsy and detailed clinical data available, we performed phenome-wide association analyses between individual CNVs and clinical annotations categorized through the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO). For six CNVs, we identified 19 significant associations with specific HPO terms and generated, for all CNVs, phenotype signatures across 17 clinical categories relevant for epileptologists. This is the most comprehensive investigation of CNVs in epilepsy and related seizure disorders, with potential implications for clinical practice

A STUDY OF MAMMAL DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE IN RURAL, SUBURBAN, AND URBAN TEMPERATE FORESTS LOCATED IN NORTHERN GEORGIA USING MULTIPLE TYPES OF SCENT LURES AND TRAIL CAMERAS**

Human settlements and man-made structures have depleted the native wildlife habitat in Georgia, leaving limited forested habitat available for the state’s wildlife. The objective of this study was to investigate and measure mammal diversity and abundance among wildlife found in forests located within urban, suburban, and rural state and county parks or private reserves. Nine locations (3 rural, 3 suburban, and 3 rural) were selected for the study. At each site, we placed nine “DLC Convert II” digital, infra-red trail cameras and nine lures, and we pointed each camera toward a separate lure. The nine lures placed each held one of three different lure types (three replicates of each lure type at each site). A variety of species were captured on film by the cameras including: whitetail deer, opossum, squirrel, rabbit, grey and red fox, raccoon, coyote, bear, and bobcat. The urban and suburban sites had greater mammalian abundance and diversity than rural sites. This could be for two reasons. One reason: the urban and suburban sites were more size restricted due to human encroachment, perhaps inadvertently causing more incident to occur in front of the camera. The other reason: an easier meal can often be had in places where there is human activity. This study illustrates that both urban and rural forested areas and suburban parks are a valuable resource in conserving wild mammal diversity and abundance and should be protected from development

PREY PREFERENCES OF THE PREDATORY LARVA OF THE ANTLION (FAMILY MYRMELEONTIDAE) **

Antlions are a group of about 2,000 species of insects in the Family Myrmeleontidae and are known for the fiercely predatory habits of their larvae which dig pits to trap passing ants or other prey. They are found around the world in mainly dry and sandy habitats, although a few of the species are also found in temperate locations such as Europe. Their main food source is ants and other small prey that fall into the antlion pits. The main goal of the project is to determine the prey preferences of antlions. It was hypothesized that antlions prefer eating ants over other food sources.  Both laboratory and field experiments were performed to determine the feeding preferences of antlions.  In the laboratory, the common, pit-constructing antlion, Myrmeleon immaculatus, was used, and in the field, pit-making antlions in the genus Myrmeleon were observed. In the lab experiments, forty antlions that varied in size were exposed ot different prey items, house ants, fire ants, fruit flies, bean beetles, and flour beetles. Data was recorded for (1) time to capture prey, (2) numbers of attempts required to catch prey, and (3) antlion behavior after catpure (fed on prey item, thre prey item out of the pit, or something else). Laboratory experiment data indicate a preference for soft-bodied prey. This experiment was also performed at field sites with 40 antlions. Additional information on prey in the field was provided by yellow sticky traps placed near antion pits and by examining discarded prey carcasses. Preliminary field results also suggest that antlions prefer soft-bodied prey items, such as ants and fruit flies, compared to hard-bodied beetles. Furthermore, it appears that house ants are preffered over fire ants. Field studies of carcasses found near antlion fit indicate a variety of prey items, including milipede. Using data from the laboratory and field experiments, it appears that antlions prefer soft-bodied prey

VARIABILITY IN PREDATION SUCCESS IN ANTLIONS (FAMILY MYRMELEONTIDAE) IN DIFFERENT HABITAT TYPES **

Antlions are predatory insects known as doodle bugs. They are often found in sandy habitats that have some shielding from rainfall. They have a worldwide distribution and are relatively common in Georgia. Antlion larvae are ambush predators that create pits in the sand to capture their prey. Their main food sources are small insects that fall into their pits. Preliminary data from other experiments indicate that antlions show a strong preference for fine sand habitats. Are antlions able to construct the most successful pits only in these environments? Can anlions successfully survive and hunt in less ideal habitats? In the following study, predation success and pit trap dimensions were measured in the common, pit-making antlion species, Myrmeleon immaculatus, in several types of habitats. Antlion success was compared in the optimal habitat (fine sand) and in four suboptimal habitats (course sand, sand with small pebbles, sand with 25% clay, and sand with 50% clay). Forty antlions were placed into seperate containers with each soil type for 1 week. They were given 2 days to make their pits and then supplied with 2 ants a day to measure both predation success, predation effort (mandible strikes), and time to preay capture. Preliminary results indicate that antlions capture success is greater in dry, fine-sand environments. Prey have the most difficulty escaping pits constructed in the fine sinad since the pit walls often collapse as they attempt to climp out of the pit. The more times the prey falls to the bottom of the pit, the more chances the antlion has to impale it with its mandibles and capture the prey. Antlions are able to capture prey in suboptimal habitats; however, greater soil moisture and larger soil grane size provide escape advantages for the prey