Temperature but not nutrient addition affects abundance and assemblage structure of colonizing aquatic insects

Abiotic conditions are important considerations in the species sorting process, which ultimately determines the distribution and abundance of species. Freshwater ecosystems will be impacted by ongoing temperature rise and other anthropogenically induced changes, such as nutrient enrichment and eutrophication. Changing characteristics of freshwater habitats will likely impact organisms in numerous ways, including through effects on colonization dynamics. Species are expected to colonize habitat patches where fitness will be the highest for themselves and their offspring, and how habitat selection interacts with changing environments remains an important question. We conducted a warming experiment to test the habitat selection preferences of aquatic beetles and hemipterans between habitat patches (mesocosms) of varying temperatures (via heaters), nutrient addition, and their interaction. Overall, insect abundance and richness were higher in unheated patches, with taxon-specific variation in response to heating. Although nutrients had limited effects on environmental conditions in mesocosms, their addition had no significant effects on insects. Insect assemblages had unique structures across heating treatments, with lower beta diversity and higher effective numbers of species in the warmest mesocosms. Our data support the importance of spatial variation in abiotic factors during the habitat selection process, and in determining species distributions and abundances as shallow lentic ecosystems are impacted by rising global temperatures

Foundations in Wisconsin: A Directory [35th ed. 2016]

The 2016 release of Foundations in Wisconsin marks the 35th edition of the print directory and the 16th edition of the online version. The directory is designed as a research tool for grantseekers interested in locating information on private, corporate, and community foundations registered in Wisconsin. Each entry in this new edition has been updated or reviewed to provide the most current information available. Most of the data was drawn from IRS 990-PF tax returns filed by the foundations. Additional information was obtained from surveys, foundation websites, and annual reports. This edition paints a very positive picture of financial growth for Wisconsin foundations. Both grant and asset totals have risen to all-time highs. Of particular note, total grants broke the $600 million barrier, increasing by 8$623 million. Additionally, 58 new foundations have been identified this year. (See page 269 for the complete list.) The following table illustrates the 10-year financial pattern as documented in Foundations in Wisconsin.https://epublications.marquette.edu/lib_fiw/1014/thumbnail.jp

Noticing Future Me: Reducing Egocentrism Through Mental Imagery.

People drastically overestimate how often others attend to them or notice their unusual features, a phenomenon termed the spotlight effect Despite the prevalence of this egocentric bias, little is known about how to reduce the tendency to see oneself as the object of others' attention. Here, we tested the hypothesis that a basic property of mental imagery-the visual perspective from which an event is viewed-may alleviate a future-oriented variant of the spotlight effect. The results of three experiments supported this prediction. Experiment 1 revealed a reduction in egocentric spotlighting when participants imagined an event in the far compared with near future. Experiments 2 and 3 demonstrated reduced spotlighting and feelings of embarrassment when participants viewed an impending event from a third-person (vs. first-person) vantage point. Simple changes in one's visual perspective may be sufficient to diminish the illusion of personal salience

Centrifuge modelling of screw piles for offshore wind energy foundations

Screw piles (helical piles) can provide a viable, cost-effective and low-noise installation alternative to increasing the size of existing foundation solutions (e.g. monopiles) to meet the demand for the advancement of offshore wind energy into deeper water. Significant upscaling of widely used onshore screw pile geometries will be required to meet the loading conditions of a jacket supported offshore wind turbine. This increase in size will lead to greater installation force and torque. This paper presents preliminary results from centrifuge tests investigating the requirements to install screw piles designed for an offshore wind energy application using specially developed equipment. Results indicate that the equipment is suitable to investigate these screw pile requirements and that significant force is required for such upscaled screw piles, with 19 MN vertical force and 7 MNm torque for the standard design. Optimisation of the screw pile geometry, reduced these forces by 29 and 11% for the vertical and rotational forces respectively

Experimental analysis of soft-tissue fossilization: opening the black box

Taphonomic experiments provide important insights into fossils that preserve the remains of decay-prone soft tissues, tissues that are usually degraded and lost prior to fossilization. These fossils are among the most scientifically valuable evidence of ancient life on Earth, giving us a view into the past that is much less biased and incomplete than the picture provided by skeletal remains alone. Although the value of taphonomic experiments is beyond doubt, a lack of clarity regarding their purpose and limitations, and ambiguity in the use of terminology, are hampering progress. Here we distinguish between processes that promote information retention and those that promote information loss, in order to clarify the distinction between fossilization and preservation. Recognizing distinct processes of decay, mineralization and maturation, the sequence in which they act, and the potential for interactions, has important consequences for analysis of fossils, and for the design of taphonomic experiments. The purpose of well-designed taphonomic experiments is generally to understand decay, maturation and preservation individually, thus limiting the number of variables involved. Much work remains to be done, but these methodologically reductionist foundations will allow researchers to build towards more complex taphonomic experiments and a more holistic understanding and analysis of the interactions between decay, maturation and preservation in the fossilization of non-biomineralized remains. Our focus must remain on the key issue of understanding what exceptionally preserved fossils reveal about the history of biodiversity and evolution, rather than on debating the scope and value of an experimental approach

MVA-NP+M1 vaccine activates mucosal M1-specific T cell immunity and tissue-resident memory T cells in human nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue.

Increasing evidences support a critical role of CD8+ T cell immunity against influenza. Activation of mucosal CD8+T cells, particularly tissue-resident memory T(TRM) cells recognizing conserved epitopes would mediate rapid and broad protection. Matrix protein 1(M1) is a well-conserved internal protein. We studied the capacity of Modified Vaccinia Ankara-vectored vaccine expressing nucleoprotein(NP) and M1(MVA-NP+M1) to activate M1-specific CD8+ T cell response including TRM cells in nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue(NALT) from children and adults. Following MVA-NP+M1 stimulation, M1 was abundantly expressed in adenotonsillar epithelial cells and B cells. MVA-NP+M1 activated marked IFN-γ-secreting T cell response to M1 peptides. Using tetramer staining, we showed the vaccine activated a marked increase in M158-66-specific CD8+ T cells in tonsillar mononuclear cells (MNC) of HLA-matched individuals. We also demonstrated MVA-NP+M1 activated a substantial increase in TRM cells exhibiting effector memory T cell phenotype. Upon recall antigen recognition, M1-specific T cells rapidly undergo cytotoxic degranulation, release granzyme B and pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to target cell killing. Conclusion: MVA-NP+M1 elicits a substantial M1-specific T cell response including TRM cells in NALT, demonstrating its strong capacity to expand memory T cell pool exhibiting effector memory T cell phenotype, therefore offering great potential for rapid and broad protection against influenza reinfection

Modified Vaccinia Ankara–Vectored Vaccine Expressing Nucleoprotein and Matrix Protein 1 (M1) Activates Mucosal M1-Specific T-Cell Immunity and Tissue-Resident Memory T Cells in Human Nasopharynx-Associated Lymphoid Tissue

Background Increasing evidence supports a critical role of CD8+ T-cell immunity against influenza. Activation of mucosal CD8+ T cells, particularly tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells recognizing conserved epitopes would mediate rapid and broad protection. Matrix protein 1 (M1) is a well-conserved internal protein. Methods We studied the capacity of modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA)–vectored vaccine expressing nucleoprotein (NP) and M1 (MVA-NP+M1) to activate M1-specific CD8+ T-cell response, including TRM cells, in nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue from children and adults. Results After MVA-NP+M1 stimulation, M1 was abundantly expressed in adenotonsillar epithelial cells and B cells. MVA-NP+M1 activated a marked interferon γ–secreting T-cell response to M1 peptides. Using tetramer staining, we showed the vaccine activated a marked increase in M158–66 peptide-specific CD8+ T cells in tonsillar mononuclear cells of HLA-matched individuals. We also demonstrated MVA-NP+M1 activated a substantial increase in TRM cells exhibiting effector memory T-cell phenotype. On recall antigen recognition, M1-specific T cells rapidly undergo cytotoxic degranulation, release granzyme B and proinflammatory cytokines, leading to target cell killing. Conclusions MVA-NP+M1 elicits a substantial M1-specific T-cell response, including TRM cells, in nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue, demonstrating its strong capacity to expand memory T-cell pool exhibiting effector memory T-cell phenotype, therefore offering great potential for rapid and broad protection against influenza reinfection

Remote control of neuronal activity in transgenic mice expressing evolved G protein-coupled receptors

Examining the behavioral consequences of selective CNS neuronal activation is a powerful tool for elucidating mammalian brain function in health and disease. Newly developed genetic, pharmacological, and optical tools allow activation of neurons with exquisite spatiotemporal resolution; however, the inaccessibility to light of widely distributed neuronal populations and the invasiveness required for activation by light or infused ligands limit the utility of these methods. To overcome these barriers, we created transgenic mice expressing an evolved G protein-coupled receptor (hM3Dq) selectively activated by the pharmacologically inert, orally bioavailable drug clozapine-N-oxide (CNO). Here, we expressed hM3Dq in forebrain principal neurons. Local field potential and single-neuron recordings revealed that peripheral administration of CNO activated hippocampal neurons selectively in hM3Dq-expressing mice. Behavioral correlates of neuronal activation included increased locomotion, stereotypy, and limbic seizures. These results demonstrate a powerful chemical-genetic tool for remotely controlling the activity of discrete populations of neurons in vivo

Australian and New Zealand Pulmonary Rehabilitation Guidelines

Background and objective: The aim of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Guidelines (Guidelines) is to provide evidence-based recommendations for the practice of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) specific to Australian and New Zealand healthcare contexts. Methods: The Guideline methodology adhered to the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II criteria. Nine key questions were constructed in accordance with the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome) format and reviewed by a COPD consumer group for appropriateness. Systematic reviews were undertaken for each question and recommendations made with the strength of each recommendation based on the GRADE (Gradings of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) criteria. The Guidelines were externally reviewed by a panel of experts. Results: The Guideline panel recommended that patients with mild-to-severe COPD should undergo PR to improve quality of life and exercise capacity and to reduce hospital admissions; that PR could be offered in hospital gyms, community centres or at home and could be provided irrespective of the availability of a structured education programme; that PR should be offered to patients with bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary hypertension, with the latter in specialized centres. The Guideline panel was unable to make recommendations relating to PR programme length beyond 8 weeks, the optimal model for maintenance after PR, or the use of supplemental oxygen during exercise training. The strength of each recommendation and the quality of the evidence are presented in the summary. Conclusion: The Australian and New Zealand Pulmonary Rehabilitation Guidelines present an evaluation of the evidence for nine PICO questions, with recommendations to provide guidance for clinicians and policymakers

Short-term stability in refractive status despite large fluctuations in glucose levels in diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2

Purpose: This work investigates how short-term changes in blood glucose concentration affect the refractive components of the diabetic eye in patients with long-term Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Methods: Blood glucose concentration, refractive error components (mean spherical equivalent MSE, J0, J45), central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), crystalline lens thickness (LT), axial length (AL) and ocular aberrations were monitored at two-hourly intervals over a 12-hour period in: 20 T1DM patients (mean age ± SD) 38±14 years, baseline HbA1c 8.6±1.9%; 21 T2DM patients (mean age ± SD) 56±11 years, HbA1c 7.5±1.8%; and in 20 control subjects (mean age ± SD) 49±23 years, HbA1c 5.5±0.5%. The refractive and biometric results were compared with the corresponding changes in blood glucose concentration. Results: Blood glucose concentration at different times was found to vary significantly within (p0.05). Minor changes of marginal statistical or optical significance were observed in some biometric parameters. Similarly there were some marginally significant differences between the baseline biometric parameters of well-controlled and poorly-controlled diabetic subjects. Conclusion: This work suggests that normal, short-term fluctuations (of up to about 6 mM/l on a timescale of a few hours) in the blood glucose levels of diabetics are not usually associated with acute changes in refractive error or ocular wavefront aberrations. It is therefore possible that factors other than refractive error fluctuations are sometimes responsible for the transient visual problems often reported by diabetic patients