Scavenging by Jumping Spiders (Araneae: Salticidae)

Jumping spiders are usually considered obligate predators where ingestion is preceded by visual or tactile stimuli which elicit hunting behavior. Hungry females of Salticus scenicus were shown to feed upon dead houseflies

Wolf Spiders of the Genus \u3ci\u3ePardosa\u3c/i\u3e (Araneae: Lycosidae) in Michigan

Distribution, life history, and habitat information is given for 11 species of Pardosa which occur in Michigan

Coyle’s Purseweb Spider

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources published guides to many threatened animals living in the state. This guide gives information about Coyle’s Purseweb Spider, including description, status, habitat, conservation challenges & recommendations, and measures of success

Electron-Induced Dissociation of Glycosaminoglycan Tetrasaccharides

Electron detachment dissociation (EDD) Fourier transform mass spectrometry has recently been shown to be a powerful tool for examining the structural features of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). The characteristics of GAG fragmentation by EDD include abundant cross-ring fragmentation primarily on hexuronic acid residues, cleavage of all glycosidic bonds, and the formation of even- and odd-electron product ions. GAG dissociation by EDD has been proposed to occur through the formation of an excited species that can undergo direct decomposition or ejects an electron and then undergoes dissociation. In this work, we perform electron-induced dissociation (EID) on singly charged GAGs to identify products that form via direct decomposition by eliminating the pathway of electron detachment. EID of GAG tetrasaccharides produces cleavage of all glycosidic bonds and abundant cross-ring fragmentation primarily on hexuronic acid residues, producing fragmentation similar to EDD of the same molecules, but distinctly different from the products of infrared multiphoton dissociation or collisionally activated decomposition. These results suggest that observed abundant fragmentation of hexuronic acid residues occurs as a result of their increased lability when they undergo electronic excitation. EID fragmentation of GAG tetrasaccharides results in both even- and odd-electron products. EID of heparan sulfate tetrasaccharide epimers produces identical fragmentation, in contrast to EDD, in which the epimers can be distinguished by their fragment ions. These data suggest that for EDD, electron detachment plays a significant role in distinguishing glucuronic acid from iduronic acid

Why does early childhood deprivation increase the risk for depression and anxiety in adulthood? A developmental cascade model

Abstract Background: Using data from the English & Romanian Adoptees (ERA) study we recently reported that early time-lmited exposure to severe institutional deprivation is associated with early onset and persistent neurodevelopmental problems and later onset emotional problems. Here we examine possible reasons for the late emergence of emotional problems in this cohort. Our main focus is on testing a developmental cascade mediated via the functional impact of early-appearing neurodevelopmental problems on late adolescent functioning. We also explore a second putative pathway via sensitization to stress. Methods: The ERA study includes 165 Romanian individuals who spent their early lives in grossly depriving institutions and were subsequently adopted into UK families, along with 52 UK adoptees with no history of deprivation. Age six years symptoms of neurodevelopmental problems and age 15 anxiety/depression symptoms were assessed via parental reports. Young adult symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed by both parent and self-reports; young adults also completed measures of stress reactivity , exposure to adverse life events and functioning in work and interpersonal relationships. Results: The path between early institutional deprivation and adult emotional problems was mediated via the impact of early neurodevelopmental problems on unemployment and poor friendship functioning during the transition to adulthood. The findings with regard to early deprivation, later life stress reactivity and emotional problems were inconclusive. Conclusions: Our analysis suggests that the risk for adult depression and anxiety following extreme institutional deprivation is explained through the effects of early neurodevelopmental problems on later social and vocational functioning. Future research should more fully examine the role of stress susceptibility in this model

The Growth Response of Two Diatom Species to Atmospheric Dust from the Last Glacial Maximum

Relief of iron (Fe) limitation in the surface Southern Ocean has been suggested as one driver of the regular glacial-interglacial cycles in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). The proposed cause is enhanced deposition of Fe-bearing atmospheric dust to the oceans during glacial intervals, with consequent effects on export production and the carbon cycle. However, understanding the role of enhanced atmospheric Fe supply in biogeochemical cycles is limited by knowledge of the fluxes and ‘bioavailability’ of atmospheric Fe during glacial intervals. Here, we assess the effect of Fe fertilization by dust, dry-extracted from the Last Glacial Maximum portion of the EPICA Dome C Antarctic ice core, on the Antarctic diatom species Eucampia antarctica and Proboscia inermis. Both species showed strong but differing reactions to dust addition. E. antarctica increased cell number (3880 vs. 786 cells mL-1), chlorophyll a (51 vs. 3.9 μg mL-1) and particulate organic carbon (POC; 1.68 vs. 0.28 μg mL-1) production in response to dust compared to controls. P. inermis did not increase cell number in response to dust, but chlorophyll a and POC per cell both strongly increased compared to controls (39 vs. 15 and 2.13 vs. 0.95 ng cell-1 respectively). The net result of both responses was a greater production of POC and chlorophyll a, as well as decreased Si:C and Si:N incorporation ratios within cells. However, E, antarctica decreased silicate uptake for the same nitrate and carbon uptake, while P. inermis increased carbon and nitrate uptake for the same silicate uptake. This suggests that nutrient utilization changes in response to Fe addition could be driven by different underlying mechanisms between different diatom species. Enhanced supply of atmospheric dust to the surface ocean during glacial intervals could therefore have driven nutrient-utilization changes which could permit greater carbon fixation for lower silica utilization. Additionally, both species responded more strongly to lower amounts of direct Fe chloride addition than they did to dust, suggesting that not all the Fe released from dust was in a bioavailable form available for uptake by diatoms

Cluster Monte Carlo Simulations of the Nematic--Isotropic Transition

We report the results of simulations of the Lebwohl-Lasher model of the nematic-isotropic transition using a new cluster Monte Carlo algorithm. The algorithm is a modification of the Wolff algorithm for spin systems, and greatly reduces critical slowing down. We calculate the free energy in the neighborhood of the transition for systems up to linear size 70. We find a double well structure with a barrier that grows with increasing system size, obeying finite size scaling for systems of size greater than 35. We thus obtain an estimate of the value of the transition temperature in the thermodynamic limit.Comment: 4 figure

Haemofiltration in newborns treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a case-comparison study

Introduction: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a supportive cardiopulmonary bypass technique for patients with acute reversible cardiovascular or respiratory failure. Favourable effects of haemofiltration during cardiopulmonary bypass instigated the use of this technique in infants on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The current study aimed at comparing clinical outcomes of newborns on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with and without continuous haemofiltration. Methods: Demographic data of newborns treated with haemofiltration during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were compared with those of patients treated without haemofiltration in a retrospective 1:3 case-comparison study. Primary outcome parameters were time on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, time until extubation after decannulation, mortality and potential cost reduction. Secondary outcome parameters were total and mean fluid balance, urine output in mL/kg/day, dose of vasopressors, blood products and fluid bolus infusions, serum creatinin, urea and albumin levels. Results: Fifteen patients with haemof