Expansion and systematics redefinition of the most threatened freshwater mussel family, the Margaritiferidae.

Two Unionida (freshwater mussel) families are present in the Northern Hemisphere; the Margaritiferidae, representing the most threatened of unionid families, and the Unionidae, which include several genera of unresolved taxonomic placement. The recent reassignment of the poorly studied Lamprotula rochechouartii from the Unionidae to the Margaritiferidae motivated a new search for other potential species of margaritiferids from members of Gibbosula and Lamprotula. Based on molecular and morphological analyses conducted on newly collected specimens from Vietnam, we here assign Gibbosula crassa to the Margaritiferidae. Additionally, we reanalyzed all diagnostic characteristics of the Margaritiferidae and examined museum specimens of Lamprotula and Gibbosula. As a result, two additional species are also moved to the Margaritiferidae, i.e. Gibbosula confragosa and Gibbosula polysticta. We performed a robust five marker phylogeny with all available margaritiferid species and discuss the taxonomy within the family. The present phylogeny reveals the division of Margaritiferidae into four ancient clades with distinct morphological, biogeographical and ecological characteristics that justify the division of the Margaritiferidae into two subfamilies (Gibbosulinae and Margaritiferinae) and four genera (Gibbosula, Cumberlandia, Margaritifera, and Pseudunio). The systematics of the Margaritiferidae family is re-defined as well as their distribution, potential origin and main biogeographic patterns

Hubungan antara Homosistein dan Nitrit Oksid pada Hipertensi Esensial di Jawa Tengah, Indonesia

Background: The essential hypertension has been related to endothelium-dependent vasodilatation disorders that result of decreasing of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Decreasing of NO can be caused by increase of homocysteine level.Objective: This study is aimed at finding out the effect of homocysteine level on nitric oxide level in essential hypertension, and relationship between NO and blood pressure and hypertension risk in Central Java.Method: This study was case-control nested, in “Surveillance of Non-Communicable Diseases” in Purworejo, Central Java. The subjects were men with essential hypertension and 20-60 years old that had normal value of urine creatinine, blood glucose, cholesterol and triacylglycerol. They didn\u27t take antihypertension drugs. The methods of Pfeiffer, et al. was used to identify total plasma homocysteine level. NO level was determined by Nitric Oxide Colorimetric Assay Kit (BioVision Cat.K262200).Result: The homocysteine level of the hypertension is higher than that of the non- hypertension (16.15 + 12.69 vs 12.73 + 5.73; P=0.035), whereas the nitric oxide level of the hypertension is lower than that of the non-hypertension (8.22 + 1.88 vs 9.49 + 3.05; P=0.003). Homcysteine level was significantly correlated with nitric oxide level (P=0,016). Negative correlation between nitric oxide level and systolic and diastolic pressures was significant (P=0,005; P=0,045), respectively in subjects of 40-60 years old but not significant (P=0,106; P=0,269), respectively in those younger (20-39 years old). The relationship between nitric oxide and hypertension risk was significant (P=0,005) in subjects of 40-60 years old but not significant (P=0,062) in those younger (20-39years old).Conclusion: The high homocysteine level is a risk factor of hypertension, that reduces the NO bioavailability. The reducing of NO bioavailability was related to increase of blood pressure and hypertension risk, especially it was in the old men

Habitat Use and Migration Patterns of Sandhill Cranes Along the Platte River, 1998 – 2001

During spring migration, sandhill cranes (Crus Canadensis) rely on the central Platte River valley in Nebraska as a staging area to replenish depleted energy and nutrient reserves. From mid-February to mid-April 1998-2001, we conducted ground and aerial surveys of sandhill cranes in the central Platte River valley. Peak numbers of sandhill cranes (121,000-285,000 cranes) detected during ground surveys occurred in mid-March (1998, 2001) or early March (1999, 2000). From 42% to 55% of the cranes occurred in cornfields, 26%-38% in lowland grassland, 7%-13% in alfalfa, and 2%-12% in other habitats (soybean, winter wheat, shrub-grassland, upland grassland). In general, sandhill cranes preferred channel widths\u3e 150 m and avoided channel widths (P \u3c 0.001) than channel widths at unused sites (229 m ± 2.9 S.E. vs. 83 m ± 2.1 S.E.). Our research suggests future management of sandhill cranes in central Nebraska should include protecting and restoring critical habitats, maintaining appropriate stream flows, and providing adequate river channel widths and food resources

Hubungan antara Homosistein dan Nitrit Oksid pada Hipertensi Esensial di Jawa Tengah, Indonesia

Background: The essential hypertension has been related to endothelium-dependent vasodilatation disorders that result of decreasing of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Decreasing of NO can be caused by increase of homocysteine level.Objective: This study is aimed at finding out the effect of homocysteine level on nitric oxide level in essential hypertension, and relationship between NO and blood pressure and hypertension risk in Central Java.Method: This study was case-control nested, in “Surveillance of Non-Communicable Diseases” in Purworejo, Central Java. The subjects were men with essential hypertension and 20-60 years old that had normal value of urine creatinine, blood glucose, cholesterol and triacylglycerol. They didn’t take antihypertension drugs. The methods of Pfeiffer, et al. was used to identify total plasma homocysteine level. NO level was determined by Nitric Oxide Colorimetric Assay Kit (BioVision Cat.K262200).Result: The homocysteine level of the hypertension is higher than that of the non- hypertension (16.15 + 12.69 vs 12.73  + 5.73; P=0.035), whereas the nitric oxide level of the hypertension is lower than that of the non-hypertension (8.22 + 1.88 vs 9.49 + 3.05; P=0.003). Homcysteine level was significantly correlated with nitric oxide level (P=0,016). Negative correlation between nitric oxide level and systolic and diastolic pressures was significant (P=0,005; P=0,045), respectively in subjects of 40-60 years old but not significant (P=0,106; P=0,269), respectively in those younger (20-39 years old). The relationship between nitric oxide and hypertension risk was significant (P=0,005) in subjects of 40-60 years old but not significant (P=0,062) in those younger (20-39years old).Conclusion: The high homocysteine level is a risk factor of  hypertension, that reduces the NO bioavailability. The reducing of NO bioavailability was related to increase of blood pressure and hypertension risk, especially it was in the old men.Keywords: homocysteine, nitric oxide, hypertension, Central Java, Indonesi

Innovation Management Practices, Strategic Adaptation, and Business Results: Evidence from the Electronics Industry

This research contributes to the understanding of how different practices of innovation management are related to mid- and long-term growth and profitability. Governments and regional development agencies invest relevant budgets to foster innovation in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and improve their innovation management practices to make them more competitive. Nevertheless, it is not clear what impact these practices have on a company's performance over a long period of time. We propose a model to audit and classify innovation practices and empirically test the impact of innovation practices on the firms’ long–term financial performance, using a broad sample of companies in the electronics sector. Our empirical results show that, within a regional context, companies that are similar in terms of size, position in the value chain, and ownership structure follow similar innovative practices. Furthermore, the use of a systematic approach for innovation leads to revenue growth but does not necessarily increase profit or productivity

Coenzyme Q Metabolism Is Disturbed in High Fat Diet-Induced Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Rats

Oxidative stress is believed to be a major contributory factor in the development of non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common liver disorder worldwide. In this study, the effects of high fat diet-induced NAFLD on Coenzyme Q (CoQ) metabolism and plasma oxidative stress markers in rats were investigated. Rats were fed a standard low fat diet (control) or a high fat diet (57% metabolizable energy as fat) for 18 weeks. The concentrations of total (reduced + oxidized) CoQ9 were increased by >2 fold in the plasma of animals fed the high fat diet, while those of total CoQ10 were unchanged. Reduced CoQ levels were raised, but oxidized CoQ levels were not, thus the proportion in the reduced form was increased by about 75%. A higher percentage of plasma CoQ9 as compared to CoQ10 was in the reduced form in both control and high fat fed rats. Plasma protein thiol (SH) levels were decreased in the high fat-fed rats as compared to the control group, but concentrations of lipid hydroperoxides and low density lipoprotein (LDL) conjugated dienes were unchanged. These results indicate that high fat diet-induced NAFLD in rats is associated with altered CoQ metabolism and increased protein, but not lipid, oxidative stress

The interplay between functioning problems and symptoms in first episode of psychosis: an approach from network analysis

The relationship between psychotic symptoms and global measures of functioning has been widely studied. No previous study has assessed so far the interplay between specific clinical symptoms and particular areas of functioning in first-episode psychosis (FEP) using network analysis methods. A total of 191 patients with FEP (age 24.45 ± 6.28 years, 64.9% male) participating in an observational and longitudinal study (AGES-CM) comprised the study sample. Functioning problems were assessed with the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS), whereas the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to assess symptom severity. Network analysis were conducted with the aim of analysing the patterns of relationships between the different dimensions of functioning and PANSS symptoms and factors at baseline. According to our results, the most important nodes were “conceptual disorganization”, “emotional withdrawal”, “lack of spontaneity and flow of conversation”, “delusions”, “unusual thought content”, “dealing with strangers” and “poor rapport”. Our findings suggest that these symptoms and functioning dimensions should be prioritized in the clinical assessment and management of patients with FEP. These areas may also become targets of future early intervention strategies, so as to improve quality of life in this populationThis work was supported by the Madrid Regional Government (R&D activities in Biomedicine (grant number S2017/BMD-3740 - AGES-CM 2-CM)) and Structural Funds of the European Union. Ana Izquierdo’s work is supported by the PFIS predoctoral program (FI17/00138) from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain) and co-funded by the European Union (ERDF/ESF, "A way to make Europe”/ “Investing in your future”) and The Biomedical Research Foundation of La Princesa University Hospital. Angela Ib´a˜nez thanks the support of CIBERSAM and of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI16/00834 and PI19/01295) co-financed by ERDF Funds from the European Commission. Covadonga M. Díaz-Caneja holds a Juan Rod´es Grant from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (JR19/00024). Celso Arango was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. Instituto de Salud Carlos III (SAM16PE07CP1, PI16/02012, PI19/ 024), co-financed by ERDF Funds from the European Commission, “A way of making Europe”, CIBERSAM. Madrid Regional Government (B2017/BMD-3740 AGES-CM-2), European Union Structural Funds. European Union Seventh Framework Program under grant agreements FP7-4-HEALTH-2009-2.2.1-2-241909 (Project EU-GEI), FP7- HEALTH- 2013-2.2.1-2-603196 (Project PSYSCAN) and FP7- HEALTH-2013- 2.2.1-2-602478 (Project METSY); and European Union H2020 Program under the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking (grant agreement No 115916, Project PRISM, and grant agreement No 777394, Project AIMS-2-TRIALS), Fundaci´on Familia Alonso, Fundaci´on Alicia Koplowitz and Fundaci´on Mutua Madrile˜n