Genetic Differentiation, Structure, and a Transition Zone among Populations of the Pitcher Plant Moth Exyra semicrocea: Implications for Conservation

Pitcher plant bogs, or carnivorous plant wetlands, have experienced extensive habitat loss and fragmentation throughout the southeastern United States Coastal Plain, resulting in an estimated reduction to <3% of their former range. This situation has lead to increased management attention of these habitats and their carnivorous plant species. However, conservation priorities focus primarily on the plants since little information currently exists on other community members, such as their endemic arthropod biota. Here, we investigated the population structure of one of these, the obligate pitcher plant moth Exyra semicrocea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences. Examination of 221 individuals from 11 populations across eight southeastern US states identified 51 unique haplotypes. These haplotypes belonged to one of two divergent (∼1.9–3.0%) lineages separated by the Mississippi alluvial plain. Populations of the West Gulf Coastal Plain exhibited significant genetic structure, contrasting with similarly distanced populations east of the Mississippi alluvial plain. In the eastern portion of the Coastal Plain, an apparent transition zone exists between two regionally distinct population groups, with a well-established genetic discontinuity for other organisms coinciding with this zone. The structure of E. semicrocea appears to have been influenced by patchy pitcher plant bog habitats in the West Gulf Coastal Plain as well as impacts of Pleistocene interglacials on the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin. These findings, along with potential extirpation of E. semicrocea at four visited, but isolated, sites highlight the need to consider other endemic or associated community members when managing and restoring pitcher plant bog habitats

Découverte et composition de services dans des réseaux ambiants

Cette thèse s'inscrit dans le domaine de l'informatique ubiquitaire. Elle étudie la gestion d'un espace personnel virtuel entourant l'utilisateur. À l'intérieur, celui-ci retrouve toujours les mêmes services - des abstractions de fonctionnalités et de données - tels qu'il les ait spécifié dans ses préférences. Cependant, bien que l'interface avec l'utilisateur reste la même, l'implémentation de services offerts change en fonction de modifications du contexte causées, entre autres, par la mobilité. L'équilibre dynamique qui se crée ainsi entre les préférences de l'utilisateur et le contexte est maintenu grâce à trois outils de base : la découverte de service en tant qu'instrument de la construction d'images du contexte, la composition de services par des flots typés de donnés permettant notamment l'adaptation aux changements et l'auto-configuration qui assure une intervention minimale de l'utilisateur. Plus particulièrement, nous traitons l'ajout des caractéristiques telles que le contrôle du domaine de visibilité et le contrôle d'accès à un protocole de découverte de services, la réalisation de compositions sans spécification préalable en utilisant les seuls services découverts et la configuration de services hétérogènes à l'aide d'outils externes de configuration.GRENOBLE1-BU Sciences (384212103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Is it safe and efficacious for women with lymphedema secondary to breast cancer to lift heavy weights during exercise: a randomised controlled trial

Purpose: Resistance exercise has great potential to aid in the management of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL); however, little is known regarding optimal exercise prescription. The pervasive view is that resistance exercise with heavy loads may be contraindicated, disregarding the dose-response relationship that exists between the load utilised in resistance exercise and the magnitude of structural and functional improvements. No previous research has examined various resistance exercise prescriptions for the management of BCRL. This study compared the effects of high load and low load resistance exercise on the extent of swelling, severity of symptoms, physical function and quality of life in women with BCRL. Methods: Sixty-two women with a clinical diagnosis of BCRL (\u3e5 % inter-limb discrepancy) were randomly assigned to a high-load resistance exercise (n = 22), low-load resistance exercise (n = 21) or usual care (n = 19) group. Participants in the experimental groups completed a 3-month moderate- to high-intensity resistance exercise program in which the load of the exercises was manipulated from 10-6 repetition maximum (75-85 % of one repetition maximum [1RM]) for the high-load group or from 20-15 repetition maximum (55-65 % 1RM) for the low-load group. Outcome measures included the extent of swelling in the affected arm, symptom severity, physical function and quality of life. Results: There were no differences between groups in the extent of affected arm swelling or severity of symptoms. The change in muscle strength, muscle endurance and quality of life-physical functioning was significantly greater in both high-load and low-load groups compared with the control group (p \u3c 0.040). Change in quality of life-physical function was significantly associated with the change in symptom severity and muscle strength. No lymphedema exacerbations or other adverse events occurred during this trial. Conclusion: Women with BCRL can safely lift heavy weights during upper body resistance exercise without fear of lymphedema exacerbation or increased symptom severity. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Women with breast cancer-related lymphedema can be informed that appropriately prescribed and supervised upper body resistance exercise is safe and can aid in the management of lymphedema through improvements in physical function and quality of life