Defining end user requirements for a field-based molecular detection system for wildlife forensic investigations

The increasing use of non-laboratory-based DNA and protein detection methods promise to provide rapid investigative intelligence and support sample prioritisation. Primarily developed for human forensic or medical applications, current systems may also show utility in the field of wildlife forensic science. However, it is currently unknown whether the requirements of the wildlife forensic community can be met by current non-laboratory based tools. Given the diverse array of stakeholders and sample types commonly encountered, it is necessary to first identify the needs of the community and then try and map their needs to current instrumentation. By using a market research style questionnaire, this study identified key requirements for a non-laboratory-based system following feedback from the wildlife forensic community. Data showed that there is strong support for field-based detection methods while highlighting concerns including contamination risks and reduced quality assurance associated with non-laboratory testing. Key species and applications were identified alongside hurdles to implementation and adoption. Broadly, the requirements align with many of the developmental drivers that have led to the rise of in-field portable detection instrumentation, specifically rapid detection within one hour, ease-of-use, and ≥95% accuracy. Several existing platforms exist that met some of the identified requirements but not all. With further collaboration between industry partners and the wildlife forensic community it is possible that new field-based systems can be developed and applied routinely

The Influence of Fuel Hydrogen Content Upon Soot Formation in a Model Gas Turbine Combustor,"

Introduction Recent work utilizing a number of experimental configurations, including well-stirred reactors [1], model combustors In particular, the effect on combustion performance of increasing the concentration of naphthalenes and tetralins in aviation turbine fuels, as compared to fuels containing only single-ring aromatics, has been studied

LSD1-mediated enhancer silencing attenuates retinoic acid signalling during pancreatic endocrine cell development.

Developmental progression depends on temporally defined changes in gene expression mediated by transient exposure of lineage intermediates to signals in the progenitor niche. To determine whether cell-intrinsic epigenetic mechanisms contribute to signal-induced transcriptional responses, here we manipulate the signalling environment and activity of the histone demethylase LSD1 during differentiation of hESC-gut tube intermediates into pancreatic endocrine cells. We identify a transient requirement for LSD1 in endocrine cell differentiation spanning a short time-window early in pancreas development, a phenotype we reproduced in mice. Examination of enhancer and transcriptome landscapes revealed that LSD1 silences transiently active retinoic acid (RA)-induced enhancers and their target genes. Furthermore, prolonged RA exposure phenocopies LSD1 inhibition, suggesting that LSD1 regulates endocrine cell differentiation by limiting the duration of RA signalling. Our findings identify LSD1-mediated enhancer silencing as a cell-intrinsic epigenetic feedback mechanism by which the duration of the transcriptional response to a developmental signal is limited

Pancreatic progenitor epigenome maps prioritize type 2 diabetes risk genes with roles in development

Genetic variants associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk affect gene regulation in metabolically relevant tissues, such as pancreatic islets. Here, we investigated contributions of regulatory programs active during pancreatic development to T2D risk. Generation of chromatin maps from developmental precursors throughout pancreatic differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) identifies enrichment of T2D variants in pancreatic progenitor-specific stretch enhancers that are not active in islets. Genes associated with progenitor-specific stretch enhancers are predicted to regulate developmental processes, most notably tissue morphogenesis. Through gene editing in hESCs, we demonstrate that progenitor-specific enhancers harboring T2D-associated variants regulate cell polarity genes (LAMA1) and (CRB2). Knockdown of (lama1) or (crb2) in zebrafish embryos causes a defect in pancreas morphogenesis and impairs islet cell development. Together, our findings reveal that a subset of T2D risk variants specifically affects pancreatic developmental programs, suggesting that dysregulation of developmental processes can predispose to T2D

DER PARTISANENSPUR DURCH VORGEBIRGE NACHGEHEND

Autor opisuje razvoj partizanskog pokreta (od kraja 1941. i početka 1942. do siječnja 1945.) i borbene akcije partizanskih jedinica koje su poduzele tijekom Drugoga svjetskog rata u Podgorju.Ende 1941 und Anfang 1942 viele fortschrittliche Bewohner des Senjer Gebirges — von Jurjevo bis Karlobag — wurden die Mitarbeiter der Volksbefreiungsbewegung. Ende 1942 und Anfang 1943 wurde die Partisanenabteilung errichtet. Sie gab einen grossen Beitrag zum Aufstand und zum Volksbefreiuneskrieg auf dem Gebiet des Kroatischen Kustenlandes. Eine Reihe von Kampfleistungen wurde von den Kämpfern aus dieser Abteilung ausgefuhrt, die Mitarbeit des Volkes wurde ausgebreitet und die italienische Kapitulation wurde bereit erwartet. Diese Abteilung gewann grosse Verdienste bei der italienischen Kapitulation auf den Inseln Rab und Pag. Dort half sie den geformten Kampfgruppen in der Abrüstung des Feindes. Auf diesem ganze befreiten Gebiet wurde die Volksbehörde herrgestellt, aber Anfang 1944 drangen in Senj und in das Vorgebirge starke deutsche Kräfte ein, und Senj wurde wieder okkupiert. Das erneuerte Terror verursachte eine Unsicherheit bei dem Volk. Die einheimischen Aktivisten stellten mit Hilfe des See- und Küstensektors (POS) eine andere Militäreinheit — eine neue Abteilung her. Sie stellte sich dem Feinde gegeniiber und gewann — dank dem Waffenkampf — das Zutrauen des Volkes

LSD1-mediated enhancer silencing attenuates retinoic acid signalling during pancreatic endocrine cell development

Developmental progression depends on temporally defined changes in gene expression mediated by transient exposure of lineage intermediates to signals in the progenitor niche. To determine whether cell-intrinsic epigenetic mechanisms contribute to signal-induced transcriptional responses, here we manipulate the signalling environment and activity of the histone demethylase LSD1 during differentiation of hESC-gut tube intermediates into pancreatic endocrine cells. We identify a transient requirement for LSD1 in endocrine cell differentiation spanning a short time-window early in pancreas development, a phenotype we reproduced in mice. Examination of enhancer and transcriptome landscapes revealed that LSD1 silences transiently active retinoic acid (RA)-induced enhancers and their target genes. Furthermore, prolonged RA exposure phenocopies LSD1 inhibition, suggesting that LSD1 regulates endocrine cell differentiation by limiting the duration of RA signalling. Our findings identify LSD1-mediated enhancer silencing as a cell-intrinsic epigenetic feedback mechanism by which the duration of the transcriptional response to a developmental signal is limited

Male age is associated with extra-pair paternity, but not with extra-pair mating behaviour

Extra-pair paternity is the result of copulation between a female and a male other than her social partner. In socially monogamous birds, old males are most likely to sire extra-pair offspring. The male manipulation and female choice hypotheses predict that age-specific male mating behaviour could explain this old-over-young male advantage. These hypotheses have been difficult to test because copulations and the individuals involved are hard to observe. Here, we studied the mating behaviour and pairing contexts of captive house sparrows, Passer domesticus. Our set-up mimicked the complex social environment experienced by wild house sparrows. We found that middle-aged males, which would be considered old in natural populations, gained most extra-pair paternity. However, both, female solicitation behaviour and subsequent extra-pair matings were not associated with male age. Further, copulations were more likely when solicited by females than when initiated by males (i.e. unsolicited copulations). Male initiated within-pair copulations were more common than male initiated extra-pair copulations. To conclude, our results did not support either hypothesis regarding age-specific male mating behaviour. Instead, female choice, independent of male age, governed copulation success, especially in an extra-pair context. Post-copulatory mechanisms might determine why older males sire more extra-pair offspring

Age before beauty? Relationships between fertilization success and age-dependent ornaments in barn swallows

When males become more ornamented and reproduce more successfully as they grow older, phenotypic correlations between ornament exaggeration and reproductive success can be confounded with age effects in cross-sectional studies, and thus say relatively little about sexual selection on these traits. This is exemplified here in a correlative study of male fertilization success in a large colony of American barn swallows (Hirundo rustica erythrogaster). Previous studies of this species have indicated that two sexually dimorphic traits, tail length and ventral plumage coloration, are positively correlated with male fertilization success, and a mechanism of sexual selection by female choice has been invoked. However, these studies did not control for potential age-related variation in trait expression. Here, we show that male fertilization success was positively correlated with male tail length but not with plumage coloration. We also show that 1-year-old males had shorter tails and lower fertilization success than older males. This age effect accounted for much of the covariance between tail length and fertilization success. Still, there was a positive relationship between tail length and fertilization success among older males. But as this group consisted of males from different age classes, an age effect may be hidden in this relationship as well. Our data also revealed a longitudinal increase in both tail length and fertilization success for individual males. We argue that age-dependent ornament expression and reproductive performance in males complicate inferences about female preferences and sexual selection

In the blood: the myth and reality of genetic markers of identity

The differences between copies of the human genome are very small, but tend to cluster in different populations. So, despite the fact that low inter-population differentiation does not support a biological definition of races statistical methods are nonetheless claimed to be able to predict successfully the population of origin of a DNA sample. Such methods are employed in commercial genetic ancestry tests, and particular genetic signatures, often in the male-specific Y-chromosome or maternally-inherited mitochondrial DNA, have become widely identified with particular ancestral or existing groups, such as Vikings, Jews, or Zulus. Here, we provide a primer on genetics, and describe how genetic markers have become associated with particular groups. We describe the conflict between population genetics and individual-based genetics and the pitfalls of over-simplistic genetic interpretations, arguing that although the tests themselves are reliable, the interpretations are unreliable and strongly influenced by cultural and other social forces.</p