Bembidion (Peryphanes) italicum DE MONTE 1943 : Erstnachweis nördlich der Schweizer Alpen (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

Aufgrund von Genitaluntersuchungen grösserer Serien der Gattung Bembidion aus dem Gebiet des Goldauer Bergsturzes (Kanton Schwyz) konnte Bembidion (Peryphanes) italicum De Monte 1943 erstmals nördlich der Schweizer Alpen nachgewiesen werden. Die Art besiedelt in der Schweiz eher feuchte, mergelig-tonige Pionierstandorte meist in Gewässernähe. Ab einem Gesamtdeckungsgrad der Vegetationsschicht von mehr als 35% wurden die Lebensräume im Projektgebiet nicht mehr besiedelt. – Bembidion (Peryphanes) italicum De Monte, 1943 – First record north of the Swiss Alps (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Due to genital examination of larger series of species of the genus Bembidion Latreille, 1802 in the area of the Goldauer landslide (canton of Schwyz), Bembidion (Peryphanes) italicum De Monte, 1943 was detected for the first time north of the Swiss Alps. In Switzerland this species colonizes rather humid, marly-clay pioneer locations in proximity of bodies of water. Habitats exceeding 35% coverage of the vegetation layer were not populated within the project area

Quantifying dimensions of physical behavior in chronic pain conditions.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain, defined as persistent or recurrent pain lasting longer than 3 months, is a frequent condition affecting an important percent of population worldwide. Pain chronicity can be caused by many different factors and is a frequent component of many neurological disorders. An important aspect for clinical assessment and design of effective treatment and/or rehabilitation strategies is to better understand the impact of pain on domains of functioning in everyday life. The aim of this study was to identify the objectively quantifiable features of physical functioning in daily life and to evaluate their effectiveness to differentiate behavior among subjects with different pain conditions. METHOD: Body worn sensors were used to record movement data during five consecutive days in 92 subjects. Sensor data were processed to characterize the physical behavior in terms of type, intensity, duration and temporal pattern of activities, postures and movements performed by subjects in daily life. Metrics quantifying these features were subsequently used to devise composite scores using a factor analysis approach. The severity of clinical condition was assessed using a rating of usual pain intensity on a 10-cm visual analog scale. The relationship between pain intensity and the estimated metrics/composite scores was assessed using multiple regression and discriminant analysis. RESULTS: According to the factor analysis solution, two composite scores were identified, one integrating the metrics quantifying the amount and duration of activity periods, and the other the metrics quantifying complexity of temporal patterns, i.e., the diversity of body movements and activities, and the manner in which they are organized throughout time. All estimated metrics and composite scores were significantly different between groups of subjects with clinically different pain levels. Moreover, analysis revealed that pain intensity seemed to have a more significant impact on the overall physical behavior, as it was quantified by a global composite score, whereas the type of chronic pain appeared to influence mostly the complexity of the temporal pattern. CONCLUSION: The methodology described could be informative for the design of objective outcome measures in chronic pain management/rehabilitation programs

Impact of Treatment with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Protease Inhibitors on Hepatitis C Viremia in Patients Coinfected with HIV

The impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors on hepatitis C (HCV) viremia was assessed in 19 patients infected with both HIV and HCV. HIV and HCV RNA levels were measured before and during treatment with protease inhibitors. before treatment, mean levels of HCV RNA were 5.3 log for HCV RNA and 5.0 log for HIV RNA. CD4 lymphocyte counts were 63/mm3. after 6 weeks of treatment, a mean reduction of 2.1 log10 in HIV RNA (P < .001) and a mean (±SE) increase of 73 (±21) CD4 and 296 (±70) CD8 cells were observed (P < .05). In contrast, both HCV viremia (+0.4 log ± 0.1) and alanine aminotransferase increased (P < .04). HCV RNA levels returned to baseline after 17 and 32 weeks of treatment. Thus, potent anti-HIV regimens with protease inhibitors may temporarily worsen HCV status despite improvement of HIV parameter

Trap efficiency of reservoirs on the Nile River

River morphodynamics and sediment transportSedimentation in reservoir

Determination of environmental flows in rivers using an integrated hydrological-hydrodynamic-habitat modelling approach

[EN] We propose the novel integrated modelling procedure 3H-EMC for the determination of the environmental flow in rivers and streams; 3H-EMC combines Hydrological, Hydrodynamic and Habitat modelling with the use of the Environmental Management Classes (EMCs) that are defined by the Global Environmental Flow Calculator. We apply 3H-EMC in the Sperchios River in Central Greece, in which water abstractions for irrigation cause significant environmental impacts. Calculations of the hydrodynamic-habitat model, in which the large and the small chub are the main fish species, suggest discharge values that range from 1.0 m3/s to 4.0 m3/s. However, hydrological modelling indicates that it is practically difficult to achieve discharges that are higher than approximately 1.0-1.5 m3/s. Furthermore, legislation suggests significantly lower values (0.4-0.5 m3/s) that are unacceptable from the ecological point of view. This behaviour shows that a non-integrated approach, which is based only on hydrodynamic-habitat modelling does not necessarily result in realistic environmental flows, and thus an integrated approach is required. We propose the value of 1.0 m3/s as the "optimum" environmental flow for Sperchios River, because (a) it satisfies the habitat requirements, as expressed by the values of weighted useable area that are equal to 2180 and 1964 m2 for the large and small chub, respectively, and correspond to 82 and 95% of their respective maximum values, (b) it is consistent with the requirements of Environmental Classes A and B, whose percentiles are higher than 75% for discharge (77.2%) and for habitat availability (>83.5% for the large chub and >85.0% for the small chub), (c) it is practically achievable from the hydrological point of view, and (d) it is higher than the value proposed by the Greek legislation. The proposed modelling approach can be applied to any river or stream using the same or similar modelling tools, which should be linked via suitable coupling algorithms.Hydraulic field measurements were performed within the framework of a research project by the Hellenic Centre of Marine Research (HCMR) entitled KRIPIS “Development of an integrated management system for river basin, coastal and marine zones” (http://imbriw.hcmr.gr/en/). Fish habitat data were collected within the framework of the ECOFLOW research project (www. ecoflow.gr). A part of the modelling work has been performed, while the first author was a visiting professor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM); thanks are due to the Bavarian State Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).Stamou, A.; Polydera, A.; Papadonikolaki, G.; Martinez-Capel, F.; Muñoz Mas, R.; Papadaki, C.; Zogaris, S.... (2018). Determination of environmental flows in rivers using an integrated hydrological-hydrodynamic-habitat modelling approach. Journal of Environmental Management. 209:273-285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.12.038S27328520

Jinx, an MCMV susceptibility phenotype caused by disruption of Unc13d: a mouse model of type 3 familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) susceptibility often results from defects of natural killer (NK) cell function. Here we describe Jinx, an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea–induced MCMV susceptibility mutation that permits unchecked proliferation of the virus, causing death. In Jinx homozygotes, activated NK cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) fail to degranulate, although they retain the ability to produce cytokines, and cytokine levels are markedly elevated in the blood of infected mutant mice. Jinx was mapped to mouse chromosome 11 on a total of 246 meioses and confined to a 4.60–million basepair critical region encompassing 122 annotated genes. The phenotype was ascribed to the creation of a novel donor splice site in Unc13d, the mouse orthologue of human MUNC13-4, in which mutations cause type 3 familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL3), a fatal disease marked by massive hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Jinx mice do not spontaneously develop clinical features of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), but do so when infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, exhibiting hyperactivation of CTLs and antigen-presenting cells, and inadequate restriction of viral proliferation. In contrast, neither Listeria monocytogenes nor MCMV induces the syndrome. In mice, the HLH phenotype is conditional, which suggests the existence of a specific infectious trigger of FHL3 in humans

Event-related fMRI responses in the human frontal eye fields in a randomized pro- and antisaccade task

We examined whether the frontal eye fields (FEF) are involved in the suppression of reflexive saccades. Simultaneous recording of horizontal eye movements and functional magnetic resonance imaging enabled us to perform a randomized pro- and antisaccade task and to sort blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) time series on the basis of task performance. Saccadic reaction time distributions were comparable across tasks indicating a similar effort in preprocessing of the saccades. Furthermore, we found similar BOLD activation in FEF during both correctly performed pro- and antisaccades. Frontal eye field activation started prior to target presentation and saccade generation. While we observed only few erroneous antisaccades, these were associated with a decrease in BOLD activity prior to target presentation, and increased BOLD activity after target presentation relative to correctly performed antisaccades. These findings are consistent with a role of the FEF in the suppression of reflexive saccades. The increase in activity after target presentation for antisaccade errors can only be indirectly linked to such a role but may also reflect activity related to the generation of a correction saccade. Frontal eye field BOLD activity may further represent general arousal, preparatory set, shortterm memory, or salience-map related activity

Predictors and Implications of Early Clinical Stability in Patients Hospitalized for Moderately Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

Assessment of early response to treatment is crucial for the management of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). To describe the predictors and the outcomes of early clinical stability. We did a secondary analysis of a multicentre randomized controlled trial on CAP treatment in which 580 patients hospitalized for moderately severe CAP were included. The association between demographic, clinical and biological variables available at inclusion and early clinical stability (stabilization of vital signs within 72 hours with predetermined cut-offs) was assessed by multivariate logistic regression. The association between early clinical stability and mortality, severe adverse events, and length of stay was also tested. Younger age (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96-0.99), lower platelet count (OR per 10 G/L increment 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.98), lower respiratory rate (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.90-0.97), absence of hypoxemia (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.40-0.85), lower numbers of co-morbid conditions (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.69-0.98) and signs or symptoms (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.68-0.90) were significantly associated with early clinical stability. Patients with early clinical stability had lower 90-days mortality (3.4% vs. 11.9%, p&lt;0.001), fewer admissions to the intensive care unit (2.7% vs. 8.0%, p = 0.005) and a shorter length of stay (6.0 days, IQR 4.0-10.0 vs. 10.0 days, IQR 7.0-15.0, p&lt;0.001). Patients with younger age, less co-morbidity, fewer signs or symptoms, less respiratory compromise, and a lower platelet count are more likely to reach early clinical stability. Patients without early clinical stability have a worse prognosis and warrant close scrutiny

Can threatened species adapt in restored habitat? No expected evolutionary response in lay date for the New Zealand hihi

Many bird species have been observed shifting their laying date to earlier in the year in response to climate change. However, the vast majority of these studies were performed on non‐threatened species, less impacted by reduced genetic diversity (which is expected to limit evolutionary response) as a consequence of genetic bottlenecks, drift and population isolation. Here, we study the relationship between lay date and fitness, as well as its genetic basis, to understand the evolutionary constraints on phenology faced by threatened species using a recently reintroduced population of the endangered New Zealand passerine, the hihi (Notiomystis cincta). A large discrepancy between the optimal laying date and the mode of laying date creates a strong selection differential of −11.24. The impact of this discrepancy on fitness is principally mediated through survival of offspring from hatchling to fledgling. This discrepancy does not seem to arise from a difference in female quality or a trade‐off with lifetime breeding success. We find that start of breeding season depends on female age and average temperature prior to the breeding season. Laying date is not found to be significantly heritable. Overall, our research suggests that this discrepancy is a burden on hihi fitness, which will not be resolved through evolution or phenotypic plasticity. More generally, these results show that threatened species introduced to restored habitats might lack adaptive potential and plasticity to adjust their phenology to their new environment. This constraint is also likely to limit their ability to face future challenges, including climate change

Inverse Vulcanization of Norbornenylsilanes: Soluble Polymers with Controllable Molecular Properties via Siloxane Bonds

The inverse vulcanization produces high sulfur content polymers from alkenes and elemental sulfur. Control over properties such as the molar mass or the solubility of polymers is not well established, and existing strategies lack predictability or require large variations of the composition. Systematic design principles are sought to allow for a targeted design of materials. Herein, we report on the inverse vulcanization of norbornenylsilanes (NBS), with a different number of hydrolysable groups at the silicon atom. Inverse vulcanization of mixtures of NBS followed by polycondensation yielded soluble high sulfur content copolymers (50 wt % S) with controllable weight average molar mass (M$_{W}$), polydispersity (Đ), glass transition temperature (TG), or zero-shear viscosity (η$_{0}$). Polycondensation was conducted in the melt with HCl as a catalyst, abolishing the need for a solvent. Purification by precipitation afforded polymers with a greatly reduced amount of low molar mass species