Rapid differentiation of sexual signals in invasive toads: call variation among populations

Advertisement calls tend to differ among populations, based on morphological and environmental factors, or simply geographic distance, in many taxa. Invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina) were introduced to Australia in 1935 and their distribution has expanded at increasing rates over time. Rapid evolution occurred in morphological and behavioural characters that accelerate dispersal, but the effects of rapid expansion on sexual signals have not been examined. We collected advertisement calls from four populations of different ages since invasion, and analysed the geographic differentiation of seven call parameters. Our comparisons indicate that the calls of R. marina differ among Australian populations. The signal variation was not simply clinal with respect to population age, climate, or morphological differentiation. We suggest that selection on signalling among populations has been idiosyncratic and may reflect local female preferences or adaptation to environmental factors that are not clinal such as energy availability

High Mass Triple Systems: The Classical Cepheid Y Car

We have obtained an HST STIS ultraviolet high dispersion Echelle mode spectrum the binary companion of the double mode classical Cepheid Y Car. The velocity measured for the hot companion from this spectrum is very different from reasonable predictions for binary motion, implying that the companion is itself a short period binary. The measured velocity changed by 7 km/ s during the 4 days between two segments of the observation confirming this interpretation. We summarize "binary" Cepheids which are in fact members of triple system and find at least 44% are triples. The summary of information on Cepheids with orbits makes it likely that the fraction is under-estimated.Comment: accepted by A

AVERT2(a very early rehabilitation trial, a very effective reproductive trigger): retrospective observational analysis of the number of babies born to trial staff

Objective: To report the number of participants needed to recruit per baby born to trial staff during AVERT, a large international trial on acute stroke, and to describe trial management consequences. Design: Retrospective observational analysis. Setting: 56 acute stroke hospitals in eight countries. Participants: 1074 trial physiotherapists, nurses, and other clinicians. Outcome measures: Number of babies born during trial recruitment per trial participant recruited. Results: With 198 site recruitment years and 2104 patients recruited during AVERT, 120 babies were born to trial staff. Births led to an estimated 10% loss in time to achieve recruitment. Parental leave was linked to six trial site closures. The number of participants needed to recruit per baby born was 17.5 (95% confidence interval 14.7 to 21.0); additional trial costs associated with each birth were estimated at 5736 Australian dollars on average. Conclusion: The staff absences registered in AVERT owing to parental leave led to delayed trial recruitment and increased costs, and should be considered by trial investigators when planning research and estimating budgets. However, the celebration of new life became a highlight of the annual AVERT collaborators’ meetings and helped maintain a cohesive collaborative group

Widespread Hydrogenation of the Moons South Polar Cold Traps

The study shows widespread evidence that the Moons permanently shadowed regions (PSR) are enhanced in hydrogen, likely in the form of water ice, as compared to non-permanently shadowed region locations (non-PSRs), to 79deg S. Results are consistent with the original findings of Watson et al, 1961. We use a novel method to aggregate the hydrogen response from all PSR, greater than 2 km wide pixels. Poleward of 79deg S, the PSR have a consistent hydrogen spatial response, which is enhanced in PSR (where the PSRs area density is highest) and diminishes with distance from any PSR (where the PSR area density is lowest). A correlation between the PSRs diameters and their observed hydrogen, is induced by the instrumental blurring of relatively hydrogenated PSR areas. An anomalously enhanced hydrogen concentration observed at Cabeus-1 PSR suggests a second hydrogen budget process at that location. Linear correlations, derived from the PSRs hydrogen observations, from two independent latitude bands, closely predict the hydrogen observation at Shoemaker, the largest area PSR, 1) 75deg to 83deg S, 2) 83deg to 90deg S. Results are consistent with ongoing processes that introduce volatiles to the surface including outgassing, solar wind production with regolith silicates, and mixing from small-scale meteor impacts and diurnal temperature variation. Results are derived from the Collimated Sensor for EpiThermal Neutrons (CSETN), which part of the Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND), onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).Comment: 27 pages, 14 Figure

Immunolocalization and temporal distribution of cytokine expression during the development of vein graft intimal hyperplasia in an experimental model

AbstractPurpose: Vein graft stenosis caused by intimal hyperplasia (IH) accounts for 30% to 50% of late bypass graft failures; however, the biochemical mediators of vein graft IH have been poorly defined. We attempted to evaluate the spatial and temporal distribution of five principal cytokines (interleukin-1 beta [IL-1β], platelet-derived growth factor AA [PDGF-AA], basic fibroblast growth factor [bFGF], interferon gamma [INFγ], and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]) during the development of IH in a rat vein graft model.Methods: Rat epigastric vein interposition grafts in the femoral artery were harvested at 6 hours, 2 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after the grafting procedure and studied with immunohistochemical and standard histologic techniques. The cytokine expression in the endothelium and media/neointima was quantified as the percentage of immunopositive cells per high-power field.Results: Maximal hyperplasia occurred 2 weeks after the grafting procedure. Peak expression of IL-1β and bFGF occurred by 2 days. PDGF-AA expression paralleled the development of IH, peaking at 2 weeks and then declining. TNF-α expression increased at 1 week and remained elevated. INFγ was seen only in control grafts.Conclusions: The coordinated early release of IL-1β and bFGF and the down-regulation of INFγ seem to trigger an inflammatory response, thereby initiating IH. The process then is propagated by the release of PDGF-AA and TNF-α, with concomitant smooth muscle cell proliferation and production of extracellular matrix. It is likely that this complex milieu of local paracrine signaling is required to generate the hyperplastic response seen in failing vein grafts. (J Vasc Surg 1996;24:463-71.

A prospective study to assess the value of MMP-9 in improving the appropriateness of urgent referrals for colorectal cancer

Background Bowel cancer is common and is a major cause of death. Most people with bowel symptoms who meet the criteria for urgent referral to secondary care will not be found to have bowel cancer, and some people who are found to have cancer will have been referred routinely rather than urgently. If general practitioners could better identify people who were likely to have bowel cancer or conditions that may lead to bowel cancer, the pressure on hospital clinics may be reduced, enabling these patients to be seen more quickly. Increased levels of an enzyme called matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) have been found to be associated with such conditions, and this can be measured from a blood sample. This study aims to find out whether measuring MMP-9 levels could improve the appropriateness of urgent referrals for patients with bowel symptoms. Methods People aged 18 years or older referred to a colorectal clinic will be asked to complete a questionnaire about symptoms, recent injuries or chronic illnesses (these can increase the level of matrix metalloproteinases) and family history of bowel cancer. A blood sample will be taken from people who consent to take part to assess MMP-9 levels, and the results of examination at the clinic and/or investigations arising from the clinic visit will be collected from hospital records. The accuracy of MMP-9 will be assessed by comparing the MMP-9 level with the resulting diagnosis. The combination of factors (e.g. symptoms and MMP-9 level) that best predict a diagnosis of malignancy (invasive disease or polyps) will be determined. Discussion Although guidelines are in place to facilitate referrals to colorectal clinics, symptoms alone do not adequately distinguish people with malignancy from people with benign conditions. This study will establish whether MMP-9 could assist this process. If this were the case, measurement of MMP-9 levels could be used by general practitioners to assist in the identification of people who were most likely to have bowel cancer or conditions that may lead to bowel cancer, and who should, therefore, be referred most urgently to secondary car