Improved camouflage through ontogenetic colour change confers reduced detection risk in shore crabs

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Wiley via the DOI in this record.1. Animals from many taxa, from snakes and crabs to caterpillars and lobsters, change appearance with age, but the reasons why this occurs are rarely tested. 2. We show the importance that ontogenetic changes in coloration have on the camouflage of the green shore crabs (Carcinus maenas), known for their remarkable phenotypic variation and plasticity in colour and pattern. 3. In controlled conditions, we reared juvenile crabs of two shades, pale or dark, on two background types simulating different habitats for 10 weeks. 4. In contrast to expectations for reversible colour change, crabs did not tune their background match to specific microhabitats, but instead, and regardless of treatment, all developed a uniform dark green phenotype. This parallels changes in shore crab appearance with age observed in the field. 5. Next, we undertook a citizen science experiment at the Natural History Museum London, where human subjects (‘predators’) searched for crabs representing natural colour variation from different habitats, simulating predator vision. 6. In concert, crabs were not hardest to find against their original habitat, but instead the dark green phenotype was hardest to detect against all backgrounds. 7. The evolution of camouflage can be better understood by acknowledging that the optimal phenotype to hide from predators may change over the life-history of many animals, including the utilisation of a generalist camouflage strategy.Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)Emil Aaltonen FoundationAcademy of Finlan

A role for tumor necrosis factor-alpha in remodeling the splenic marginal zone during Leishmania donovani infection.

The development of secondary lymphoid organs is a highly regulated process, mediated by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family cytokines. In contrast, the mechanisms controlling changes in lymphoid architecture that occur during infectious disease are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that during infection with Leishmania donovani, the marginal zone of mice undergoes extensive remodeling, similar in extent to developmental abnormalities in mice lacking some TNF family cytokines. This process is selective, comprising a dramatic and rapid loss of marginal zone macrophages (MZMs). As a functional consequence, lymphocyte traffic into the white pulp is impaired during chronic leishmaniasis. Significantly, MZMs were preserved in L. donovani-infected B6.TNF-alpha(-/-) mice or mice that received anti-TNF-alpha antibodies, whereas studies in CD8(+) T-cell-deficient mice and in mice lacking functional CD95L, excluded a direct role for either cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity or CD95-mediated apoptosis in this process. Loss of MZMs was independent of parasite burden, yet could be partially prevented by chemotherapy, which in turn reduced endogenous TNF-alpha levels. This is the first report of an infectious agent causing selective and long-lasting changes to the marginal zone via TNF-alpha-mediated mechanisms, and illustrates that those cytokines involved in establishing lymphoid architecture during development, may also play a role in infection-induced lymphoid tissue remodeling

Locally Up-regulated Lymphotoxin α, Not Systemic Tumor Necrosis Factor α, Is the Principle Mediator of Murine Cerebral Malaria

Cerebral malaria (CM) causes death in children and nonimmune adults. TNF-α has been thought to play a key role in the development of CM. In contrast, the role of the related cyto-kine lymphotoxin α (LTα) in CM has been overlooked. Here we show that LTα, not TNFα, is the principal mediator of murine CM. Mice deficient in TNFα (B6.TNFα−/−) were as susceptible to CM caused by Plasmodium berghei (ANKA) as C57BL/6 mice, and died 6 to 8 d after infection after developing neurological signs of CM, associated with perivascular brain hemorrhage. Significantly, the development of CM in B6.TNFα−/− mice was not associated with increased intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 expression on cerebral vasculature and the intraluminal accumulation of complement receptor 3 (CR3)-positive leukocytes was moderate. In contrast, mice deficient in LTα (B6.LTα−/−) were completely resistant to CM and died 11 to 14 d after infection with severe anemia and hyperparasitemia. No difference in blood parasite burden was found between C57BL/6, B6.TNFα−/−, and B6.LTα−/− mice at the onset of CM symptoms in the two susceptible strains. In addition, studies in bone marrow (BM) chimeric mice showed the persistence of cerebral LTα mRNA after irradiation and engraftment of LTα-deficient BM, indicating that LTα originated from a radiation-resistant cell population

DEVELOPMENTS IN ACTIVE AND PASSIVE REFRIGERATED TRANSPORTATION FOR THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY

ABSTRACT There have been many recent improvements to active and passive temperature controlled, transportation. This has been in response to the demands of the market and increasing legislation. This paper discusses the various options available to the pharmaceutical industry in particular and is of interest to all those concerned with passively and actively cooled transportation modes in general. Containers, mini containers, airfreight containers and refrigerated vehicles are covered. Cooling systems and transportation methods employing eutectics, phase-change materials and dry ice are examined and results from trial work referenced. These developments can provide efficient and effective means of temperature regulation and offer cost effective solutions to the increasing requirements of transportation

Predicting the perceived restorative potential of bird sounds through acoustics and aesthetics

Some, but not all, bird sounds are associated with perceptions of restoration from stress and cognitive fatigue. The perceptual properties that might underpin these differences are understudied. In this online study, ratings of perceived restorative potential (PRP) and aesthetic properties of 50 bird sounds were provided by 174 residents of the United Kingdom. These were merged with data on objectively measured acoustic properties of the sounds. Regression analyses demonstrated that sound level, harmonics, and frequency, and perceptions of complexity, familiarity, and pattern, were significant predictors of PRP and cognitive and affective appraisals of bird sounds. These findings shed light on the structural and perceptual properties that may influence restorative potential of acoustic natural stimuli. Finally, through their potential associations with meaning, these findings highlight the importance of further study of semantic or meaning-based properties within the restorative environments literature

At the extremes of exclusion: Deportation, detention and dispersal

Deportation, detention and dispersal have formed an occasional part of Britain's migration regime throughout the twentieth century, though they tended to be used in response to particular events or “crises”. By the end of the twentieth century, however, deportation, detention and, most recently, dispersal have become “normalized”, “essential” instruments in the ongoing attempt to control or manage immigration to Britain. This article outlines the use of detention, deportation and dispersal in the twentieth century exploring how they have evolved and then become an integral part of the migration regime into the twenty-first century. Where appropriate, British practices are compared with those of its European neighbours, where to differing degrees, deportation, detention and dispersal have also become everyday practices. In examining these practices in Britain, we consider the rationale and stated aims of their employment, as well as describing some of the consequences, where known, of detention, deportation and dispersal

A DNA Barcode Library for North American Ephemeroptera: Progress and Prospects

DNA barcoding of aquatic macroinvertebrates holds much promise as a tool for taxonomic research and for providing the reliable identifications needed for water quality assessment programs. A prerequisite for identification using barcodes is a reliable reference library. We gathered 4165 sequences from the barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene representing 264 nominal and 90 provisional species of mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) from Canada, Mexico, and the United States. No species shared barcode sequences and all can be identified with barcodes with the possible exception of some Caenis. Minimum interspecific distances ranged from 0.3–24.7% (mean: 12.5%), while the average intraspecific divergence was 1.97%. The latter value was inflated by the presence of very high divergences in some taxa. In fact, nearly 20% of the species included two or three haplotype clusters showing greater than 5.0% sequence divergence and some values are as high as 26.7%. Many of the species with high divergences are polyphyletic and likely represent species complexes. Indeed, many of these polyphyletic species have numerous synonyms and individuals in some barcode clusters show morphological attributes characteristic of the synonymized species. In light of our findings, it is imperative that type or topotype specimens be sequenced to correctly associate barcode clusters with morphological species concepts and to determine the status of currently synonymized species

Building leaders for the UN Ocean Science Decade : a guide to supporting early career women researchers within academic marine research institutions

Diverse and inclusive marine research is paramount to addressing ocean sustainability challenges in the 21st century, as envisioned by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Despite increasing efforts to diversify ocean science, women continue to face barriers at various stages of their career, which inhibits their progression to leadership within academic institutions. In this perspective, we draw on the collective experiences of thirty-four global women leaders, bolstered by a narrative review, to identify practical strategies and actions that will help empower early career women researchers to become the leaders of tomorrow. We propose five strategies: (i) create a more inclusive culture, (ii) ensure early and equitable career development opportunities for women ECRs, (iii) ensure equitable access to funding for women ECRs, (iv) offer mentoring opportunities and, (v) create flexible, family-friendly environments. Transformational, meaningful, and lasting change will only be achieved through commitment and collaborative action across various scales and by multiple stakeholders.Peer reviewe

Integrating human dimensions in decadal-scale prediction for marine social–ecological systems: lighting the grey zone

The dynamics of marine systems at decadal scales are notoriously hard to predict—hence references to this timescale as the “grey zone” for ocean prediction. Nevertheless, decadal-scale prediction is a rapidly developing field with an increasing number of applications to help guide ocean stewardship and sustainable use of marine environments. Such predictions can provide industry and managers with information more suited to support planning and management over strategic timeframes, as compared to seasonal forecasts or long-term (century-scale) predic- tions. The most significant advances in capability for decadal-scale prediction over recent years have been for ocean physics and biogeochemistry, with some notable advances in ecological prediction skill. In this paper, we argue that the process of “lighting the grey zone” by providing im- proved predictions at decadal scales should also focus on including human dimensions in prediction systems to better meet the needs and priorities of end users. Our paper reviews information needs for decision-making at decadal scales and assesses current capabilities for meeting these needs. We identify key gaps in current capabilities, including the particular challenge of integrating human elements into decadal prediction systems. We then suggest approaches for overcoming these challenges and gaps, highlighting the important role of co-production of tools and scenarios, to build trust and ensure uptake with end users of decadal prediction systems. We also highlight opportunities for combining narratives and quantitative predictions to better incorporate the human dimension in future efforts to light the grey zone of decadal-scale prediction

Combined Point-of-Care Nucleic Acid and Antibody Testing for SARS-CoV-2 following Emergence of D614G Spike Variant

Rapid COVID-19 diagnosis in the hospital is essential, although this is complicated by 30%–50% of nose/throat swabs being negative by SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT). Furthermore, the D614G spike mutant dominates the pandemic and it is unclear how serological tests designed to detect anti-spike antibodies perform against this variant. We assess the diagnostic accuracy of combined rapid antibody point of care (POC) and nucleic acid assays for suspected COVID-19 disease due to either wild-type or the D614G spike mutant SARS-CoV-2. The overall detection rate for COVID-19 is 79.2% (95% CI 57.8–92.9) by rapid NAAT alone. The combined point of care antibody test and rapid NAAT is not affected by D614G and results in very high sensitivity for COVID-19 diagnosis with very high specificity