The competitor release effect applied to carnivore species: how red foxes can increase in numbers when persecuted

The objective of our study was to numerically simulate the population dynamics of a hypothetical community of three species of small to medium–sized carnivores subjected to non–selective control within the context of the competitor release effect (CRE). We applied the CRE to three carnivore species, linking interspecific competition with predator control efforts. We predicted the population response of European badger, the red fox and the pine marten to this wildlife management tool by means of numerical simulations. The theoretical responses differed depending on the intrinsic rate of growth (r), although modulated by the competition coefficients. The red fox, showing the highest r value, can increase its populations despite predator control efforts if control intensity is moderate. Populations of the other two species, however, decreased with control efforts, even reaching extinction. Three additional theoretical predictions were obtained. The conclusions from the simulations were: 1) predator control can play a role in altering the carnivore communities; 2) red fox numbers can increase due to control; and 3) predator control programs should evaluate the potential of unintended effects on ecosystems

Urea y pasta de soya como fuentes de nitrógeno para borregas gestantes

El presente trabajo realizado en el instituto de Investigaciones de Rowett en Aberdeen, Escocia, se llevó a cabo para estudiar el grado de utilización de una fuente de nitrógeno no proteico en comparación con una fuente convencional de proteína ofrecida

A methodology for user Interface adaptation of multi-device broadcast-broadband services

New audiovisual experiences involve consuming several contents displayed through multiple internet-connected devices. The TV is still the central hub of the living room, but it is often used simultaneously with other screens. Consequently, the user has the chance to consume all different contents at once across multiple devices. However, no existing adaptation models are available to dynamically adapt such a multitude of contents in multi-device contexts. To address this gap, this paper proposes a novel multi-device adaptation methodology to build adaptive User Interfaces for multi-screen hybrid broadcastbroadband TV experiences. The methodology is extensible to any kind of content, device and user, and is applicable to different contexts considering technological evolution and other fields of application. The proposed methodology is the outcome of extensive research that arose from a previous multi-device media service deployment with broadcasters

The Mesostigmatid mite (Acari, Mesostigmata) community in canopies of Sitka spruce in Ireland and a comparison with ground moss habitats

J. Arroyo, M. L. Moraza & T. Bolger. 2010. The Mesostigmatid mite (Acari, Mesostigmata) community in canopies of Sitka spruce in Ireland and a comparison with ground moss habitats. Graellsia, 66(1): 29-37. The main aim of this study was to examine the communities of mesostigmatid mites occurring in Irish Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) canopies or inhabiting moss, either in the canopy or on the soil surface, and to discover whether a characteristic assemblage of species occurs in particular habitat patches (ground vs. aerial). Twenty two species of Mesostigmata were recorded, of which five occurred exclusively in arboreal microhabitats. All three species of Zerconidae collected were unique to the canopy and moss mats on the tree branches. Trachytes aegrota (C.L. Koch, 1841) was recorded for the first time in Ireland and some comments about its distribution are made. Multivariate analysis indicated that the arboreal mesostigmatid community is not just a subset of the assemblage occurring in moss on soil or trunks and that it appears to be more homogeneous than those occurring on the soil surface

Reusing intravaginal progesterone releasing devices for oestrous synchoronization in ewes

In this study, the second use of an intravaginal progesterone-releasing device or controlled intravaginal drug release device (CIDR) was evaluated. After a first use of 11 days, the CIDR was again used for either nine or 12 days with 200 or 300 IU equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) being injected on its removal. Sixty-four ewes were randomly distributed to four treatments (n=16/group): CIDR9+eCG200, CIDR9+eCG300, CIDR12+eCG200, and CIDR12+eCG300. The eCG was administered intramuscularly on withdrawal of the device. Thus, the experiment was a completely randomized design with a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Oestrus presentation did not differ between treatments (P =0.29). However, with the dose of 200 IU of eCG, oestrus presentation tended to increase (P =0.08). The onset and duration of oestrus, percentage of gestation, and return to oestrus did not differ between treatments (P >0.05). Progesterone concentration in serum was greater (P < 0.05) in ewes treated with CIDR12+eCG300. Prolificacy was greatest (1.44) with the CIDR12+eCG300 treatment and was different (P = 0.001) from the treatments CIDR9+eCG200 (1.21) and CIDR9+eCG300 (1.20), but not from the CIDR12+eCG200 treated ewes (1.31). The CIDR12+eCG300 treatement produced the highest percentage of twin births (45.8%) (P =0.001). Leaving the device in place for 12 days increased (P =0.001) the incidence of twin births. Use of the CIDR for a second time synchronized oestrus in ewes successfully with better fertility being obtained when the device was left in place for 12 days, and 300 IU of eCG was injected on its removal. Key words: gonadotropin, progesterone device, synchronizatio

Oncological safety of transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) for rectal cancer: mid-term results of a prospective multicentre study

Background There is no consensus regarding the gold standard technique for rectal cancer as Total Mesorectal Excision (TME) may be safely performed either by open or minimally invasive surgery. The laparoscopic approach, however, may carry technical difficulties. For this reason, a novel technique has emerged in the last decade combining a dual laparoscopic dissection (abdominal and transanal) to perform the TME technique (TaTME). When focusing on oncological outcomes, there is a lack of literature regarding mid-long term results. The aim of this study is to evaluate the mid-term oncological impact of TaTME for treating rectal cancer. Methods A prospective multicentre study was performed in four tertiary centres including consecutive patients who underwent TaTME for mid-low rectal cancer by the same group of experienced surgeons. The analysed data included pathological results on the quality of TME and mid-term oncological outcomes. Results In total, 173 patients were included throughout a study period of 6 years. Our series included 70% males and 68% of patients with neoadjuvant treatments. The median follow-up was 23 [15–37.5] months. Regarding pathological results, a complete TME was achieved in 72.8%, while circumferential and distal margins were affected in 1.4 and 1.1%, respectively. Five patients developed local recurrences (3%) and 8.1% presented distant disease during the follow-up. The 2-year disease-free survival and the overall survival rates were 88% and 95%, respectively. Conclusions There is currently a lack of evidence in the literature regarding TaTME and oncological outcomes with no data available from randomized clinical trials. In the meantime, the reported results from different multicentre series are controversial. This study showed positive mid-term outcomes at 2 years of follow-up and supported notable oncological outcomes with TaTME. However, it must be emphasized that previous experience in minimally invasive and transanal surgeries is essential for surgeons before intending to perform TaTME

The bacterial DNA binding protein matp involved in linking the nucleoid terminal domain to the divisome at midcell interacts with lipid membranes

© 2019 Monterroso et al. Division ring formation at midcell is controlled by various mechanisms in Escherichia coli, one of them being the linkage between the chromosomal Ter macrodomain and the Z-ring mediated by MatP, a DNA binding protein that organizes this macrodomain and contributes to the prevention of premature chromosome segregation. Here we show that, during cell division, just before splitting the daughter cells, MatP seems to localize close to the cytoplasmic membrane, suggesting that this protein might interact with lipids. To test this hypothesis, we investigated MatP interaction with lipids in vitro. We found that, when encapsulated inside vesicles and microdroplets generated by microfluidics, MatP accumulates at phospholipid bilayers and monolayers matching the lipid composition in the E. coli inner membrane. MatP binding to lipids was independently confirmed using lipid-coated microbeads and biolayer interferometry assays, which suggested that the recognition is mainly hydrophobic. Interaction of MatP with the lipid membranes also occurs in the presence of the DNA sequences specifically targeted by the protein, but there is no evidence of ternary membrane/protein/DNA complexes. We propose that the association of MatP with lipids may modulate its spatiotemporal localization and its recognition of other ligands. IMPORTANCE The division of an E. coli cell into two daughter cells with equal genomic information and similar size requires duplication and segregation of the chromosome and subsequent scission of the envelope by a protein ring, the Z-ring. MatP is a DNA binding protein that contributes both to the positioning of the Z-ring at midcell and the temporal control of nucleoid segregation. Our integrated in vivo and in vitro analysis provides evidence that MatP can interact with lipid membranes reproducing the phospholipid mixture in the E. coli inner membrane, without concomitant recruitment of the short DNA sequences specifically targeted by MatP. This observation strongly suggests that the membrane may play a role in the regulation of the function and localization of MatP, which could be relevant for the coordination of the two fundamental processes in which this protein participates, nucleoid segregation and cell division