Faunal composition, non-marine vertebrates, of the upper Cedar Mountain formation (Cretaceous: Albian-Cenomanian), central Utah.

Finally, taxonomic associations were examined using correspondence analyses. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to determine which taxa were significantly abundant (or absent) at each site. Each family and most mammal species were found to occur in one or more sites in greater than expected abundances; each site had a unique composition of animals, but some sites shared general patterns of association. Ubertaxa and families were found to form three loose associations; a terrestrial assemblage and two distinct aquatic assemblages. Correspondance analyses on taxa based on habitat, diet, and thermoregulation were all significantly non-random, suggesting an ecological basis for the patterns in faunal distribution among sites.Microsites were found to vary significantly in faunal composition using principal components analyses and Pearson's correlation coefficients. The best resolutions of taxonomic distinctness occurred at the inclusive family level and at the mammal species level.The faunal composition of the upper Cedar Mountain Formation (Mussentuchit Member) in Emery County, Utah, is herein examined based on fossils and associated data from twelve microvertebrate fossil localities.Eleven of the sites examined for sedimentary structures and other geologic features in order to determine depositional environment and energy. Similarity based on geology did not correspond with similarity based on taxonomy, using Mantel tests and Kendall's Tau. Depositional processes, while altering the overall faunal composition in the Mussentuchit Member, apparently operated in a similar manner among sites.Next, species accumulation curves were plotted by adding taxa from different sites. The number of families and the number of mammal species as yet undiscovered were estimated. While several families are probably still undiscovered in the fauna, nearly all mammal species appear to have been found and sampling in this member has reached the point of diminishing returns.First, raw abundances were corrected for differences in preservation potential among families, using a weighted abundance of elements method. Biases in preservation strongly favored fishes and crocodiles. These groups were consequently overrepresented in the record, distorting ecological patterns

DISCRIMINACIÓN: EL CASO DE LORENZA CAYUHÁN

El artículo se refiere a la sentencia de la Corte Suprema chilena que acogió un recurso de amparo en favor de Lorenza Cayuhán, embarazada privada de libertad, para cuyo traslado se aplicaron medidas de seguridad que se prolongaron hasta el momento del parto. Se destaca la utilización del concepto de discriminación “interseccional” para fundamentar la decisión en favor de la peticionaria. Se plantea que este caso permite ilustrar la necesidad de incorporar la perspectiva de género en el ámbito penitenciario. Full version of this article (English

How does learners’ behavior attract preservice teachers’ attention during teaching?

Teachers need to continuously monitor students’ engagement in classrooms, but novice teachers have difficulties paying attention to individual behavioral cues in all learners. To investigate these interaction processes in more detail, we re-analyzed eye-tracking data from preservice teachers teaching simulated learners who engaged in different behaviors (Stürmer, Seidel, Müller, Häusler, & Cortina, 2017). With a new methodological approach, we synchronized the data with a continuous annotation of observable student behavior and conducted time series analysis on 3646 s of video material. Results indicate that novice teachers’ attention is attracted most often when learners show (inter)active learning-related behavior

Modeling boron adsorption on five soils before and after removal of organic matter

Boron-B concentrations that cause deficiency and those that cause toxicity appear to be very similar, compared to other nutrients, which can complicate successful management of this element in soils. In this study, B adsorption onto two Oxisols from Brazil (Rhodic Eutroperox and Anionic Acroperox), two Alfisols (Natric Palexeralf and Aridic Paleustalf) and an Entisol (Xeric Torrifluvent) from the United States of America were evaluated. The samples were treated with sodium hypochlorite in order to remove soil organic matter. Both treated and untreated samples were used to determine B adsorption isotherms using different B concentrations (0- 4.630 mmol L–1) and NaNO3 (0.05 M) as background electrolyte solution at pH 7. Boron adsorption envelopes were also measured using 0.463 mmol L–1 B at three ionic strengths (0.05, 0.1 and 1M) and NaNO3 as background electrolyte solutions at different pH values (3-12). The cation exchange capacity, specific surface area, free Al and Fe oxides, organic and inorganic carbon content, mineralogy and particle size distribution of the soils were also determined. The Langmuir isotherm and the constant capacitance model were fit to the B adsorption data and the parameters obtained were related to the chemical attributes by multiple linear regression equations. Boron maximum adsorption capacity (BMAC) and the complexation constant for the SH3BO4 – inner-sphere complex (LogKB–) could be predicted under all experimental conditions. The Alc content was the main soil chemical attribute associated with the BMAC under the conditions evaluated and the LogKB–(int) in untreated and treated samples

Src Phosphorylates Cas on Tyrosine 253 to Promote Migration of Transformed Cells

Cas is a member of the focal adhesion complex. Phosphorylation of Cas by Src is an important event leading to cell transformation. Using mass spectrometry, we have mapped 11 sites in Cas that are phosphorylated by Src. These sites are all located between residues 132 and 414 of Cas, in a region that is required for binding to a number of other proteins including Crk. We tested synthetic peptides modeled on Cas phosphorylation sites, and found that the sequence containing tyrosine 253 was phosphorylated by Src most efficiently. Using cells derived from Cas-deficient mice, we confirmed that Cas greatly enhanced the ability of Src to transform cells. Phosphorylation of Cas on tyrosine 253 was not required for Src to increase growth rate, suppress contact inhibition, or suppress anchorage dependence. Yet, in contrast to these growth characteristics, phosphorylation of Cas on tyrosine 253 was required for Src to promote cell migration. Thus, a single phosphorylation site on this focal adhesion adaptor protein can effectively separate cell migration from other transformed growth characteristics

Disrupted Maturation of the Microbiota and Metabolome among Extremely Preterm Infants with Postnatal Growth Failure

Growth failure during infancy is a major global problem that has adverse effects on long-term health and neurodevelopment. Preterm infants are disproportionately affected by growth failure and its effects. Herein we found that extremely preterm infants with postnatal growth failure have disrupted maturation of the intestinal microbiota, characterized by persistently low diversity, dominance of pathogenic bacteria within the Enterobacteriaceae family, and a paucity of strictly anaerobic taxa including Veillonella relative to infants with appropriate postnatal growth. Metabolomic profiling of infants with growth failure demonstrated elevated serum acylcarnitines, fatty acids, and other byproducts of lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation. Machine learning algorithms for normal maturation of the microbiota and metabolome among infants with appropriate growth revealed a pattern of delayed maturation of the microbiota and metabolome among infants with growth failure. Collectively, we identified novel microbial and metabolic features of growth failure in preterm infants and potentially modifiable targets for intervention

The OBO Foundry: Coordinated Evolution of Ontologies to Support Biomedical Data Integration

The value of any kind of data is greatly enhanced when it exists in a form that allows it to be integrated with other data. One approach to integration is through the annotation of multiple bodies of data using common controlled vocabularies or ‘ontologies’. Unfortunately, the very success of this approach has led to a proliferation of ontologies, which itself creates obstacles to integration. The Open Biomedical Ontologies (OBO) consortium has set in train a strategy to overcome this problem. Existing OBO ontologies, including the Gene Ontology, are undergoing a process of coordinated reform, and new ontologies being created, on the basis of an evolving set of shared principles governing ontology development. The result is an expanding family of ontologies designed to be interoperable, logically well-formed, and to incorporate accurate representations of biological reality. We describe the OBO Foundry initiative, and provide guidelines for those who might wish to become involved in the future

Articular Chondrocyte Network Mediated by Gap Junctions: Role in Metabolic Cartilage Homeostasis

Objective This study investigated whether chondrocytes within the cartilage matrix have the capacity to communicate through intercellular connections mediated by voltage-gated gap junction (GJ) channels. Methods Frozen cartilage samples were used for immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry assays. Samples were embedded in cacodylate buffer before dehydration for scanning electron microscopy. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments and mass spectrometry (MS) were performed to identify proteins that interact with the C-terminal end of Cx43. GJ communication was studied through in situ electroporation, electrophysiology and dye injection experiments. A transwell layered culture system and MS were used to identify and quantify transferred amino acids. Results Microscopic images revealed the presence of multiple cellular projections connecting chondrocytes within the matrix. These projections were between 5 and 150 μm in length. MS data analysis indicated that the C-terminus of Cx43 interacts with several cytoskeletal proteins implicated in Cx trafficking and GJ assembly, including α-tubulin and β-tubulin, actin, and vinculin. Electrophysiology experiments demonstrated that 12-mer oligonucleotides could be transferred between chondrocytes within 12 min after injection. Glucose was homogeneously distributed within 22 and 35 min. No transfer was detected when glucose was electroporated into A549 cells, which have no GJs. Transwell layered culture systems coupled with MS analysis revealed connexins can mediate the transfer of L-lysine and L-arginine between chondrocytes. Conclusions This study reveals that intercellular connections between chondrocytes contain GJs that play a key role in cell-cell communication and a metabolic function by exchange of nutrients including glucose and essential amino acids. A three-dimensional cellular network mediated through GJs might mediate metabolic and physiological homeostasis to maintain cartilage tissue