Local habitat composition and complexity outweigh seascape effects on fish distributions across a tropical seascape

Context: The distribution of animals is influenced by a complex interplay of landscape, environmental, habitat, and anthropogenic factors. While the effects of each of these forces on fish assemblages have been studied in isolation, the implications of their combined influence within a seascape remain equivocal. Objectives: We assessed the importance of local habitat composition, seascape configuration, and environmental conditions for determining the abundance, diversity, and functional composition of fish assemblages across a tropical seascape. Methods: We quantified fish abundance in coral, macroalgal, mangrove, and sand habitats throughout the Dampier Archipelago, Western Australia. A full-subsets modelling approach was used that incorporated data from benthic habitat maps, a hydrodynamic model, in situ measures of habitat composition, and remotely sensed environmental data to evaluate the relative influence of biophysical drivers on fish assemblages. Results: Measures of habitat complexity were the strongest predictors of fish abundance, diversity, and assemblage composition in coral and macroalgal habitats, with seascape effects playing a secondary role for some functional groups. Proximity to potential nursery habitats appeared to have minimal influence on coral reef fish assemblages. Consequently, coral, macroalgal, and mangrove habitats contained distinct fish assemblages that contributed to the overall diversity of fish within the seascape. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the importance of structural complexity for supporting diverse and abundant fish populations and suggest that the value of structural connectivity between habitats depends on local environmental context. Our results support management approaches that prioritise the preservation of habitat complexity, and that incorporate the full range of habitats comprising tropical seascapes

RNA modification landscape of the human mitochondrial tRNA(LYs) regulates protein synthesis

Post-transcriptional RNA modifications play a critical role in the pathogenesis of human mitochondrial disorders, but the mechanisms by which specific modifications affect mitochondrial protein synthesis remain poorly understood. Here we used a quantitative RNA sequencing approach to investigate, at nucleotide resolution, the stoichiometry and methyl modifications of the entire mitochondrial tRNA pool, and establish the relevance to human disease. We discovered that a N-1 -methyladenosine (m(1)A) modification is missing at position 58 in the mitochondrial tRNA(LYs) of patients with the mitochondrial DNA mutation m.8344 A > G associated with MERRF (myoclonus epilepsy, ragged-red fibers). By restoring the modification on the mitochondrial tRNA(LYs), we demonstrated the importance of the m(1)A58 to translation elongation and the stability of selected nascent chains. Our data indicates regulation of post-transcriptional modifications on mitochondrial tRNAs is finely tuned for the control of mitochondrial gene expression. Collectively, our findings provide novel insight into the regulation of mitochondrial tRNAs and reveal greater complexity to the molecular pathogenesis of MERRF.Peer reviewe

Nanoanalytical Electron Microscopy Reveals a Sequential Mineralization Process Involving Carbonate-Containing Amorphous Precursors

A direct observation and an in-depth characterization of the steps by which bone mineral nucleates and grows in the extracellular matrix during the earliest stages of maturation, using relevant biomineralization models as they grow into mature bone mineral, is an important research goal. To better understand the process of bone mineralization in the extracellular matrix, we used nanoanalytical electron microscopy techniques to examine an in vitro model of bone formation. This study demonstrates the presence of three dominant CaP structures in the mineralizing osteoblast cultures: <80 nm dense granules with a low calcium to phosphate ratio (Ca/P) and crystalline domains; calcium phosphate needles emanating from a focus: “needle-like globules” (100–300 nm in diameter) and mature mineral, both with statistically higher Ca/P compared to that of the dense granules. Many of the submicron granules and globules were interspersed around fibrillar structures containing nitrogen, which are most likely the signature of the organic phase. With high spatial resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) mapping, spatially resolved maps were acquired showing the distribution of carbonate within each mineral structure. The carbonate was located in the middle of the granules, which suggested the nucleation of the younger mineral starts with a carbonate-containing precursor and that this precursor may act as seed for growth into larger, submicron-sized, needle-like globules of hydroxyapatite with a different stoichiometry. Application of analytical electron microscopy has important implications in deciphering both how normal bone forms and in understanding pathological mineralization

The Vehicle, 1967, Vol. 9 no. 1

Vol. 9, No. 1 Table of Contents Commentarypage 3 PoofMolly J. Evanspage 4 PreludeMike Baldwinpage 5 UntitledMike Baldwinpage 5 Where is Tomorrow?Paula Bresnanpage 6 Could It Be Or NotMary Hoeggerpage 7 PsalmAnthony Griggspage 7 Where Am I Going?William A. Framepage 8 Out of DarknessMarilyn Henry Hoodpage 9 She CriedMolly J. Evanspage 12 When I MoveAnthony Griggspage 13 Hi Ya, MorningWilliam A. Framepage 13 Summer Twilight ThoughtsSteve Allenpage 14 Too MuchBill Moserpage 16 Ink SketchWilliam A. Framepage 17 No. 1Molly J. Evanspage 18 Youth, So Hated and DamnedJeff Hendrickspage 18 GoneJackie Jaquespage 19 The JesterWilliam A. Framepage 20 ReflectionMike Baldwinpage 20 No. 3Molly J. Evanspage 21 EpitaphBill Moserpage 22 I Take A Long-Out-of-Use BookAnthony Griggspage 23https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1016/thumbnail.jp

The Vehicle, 1967, Vol. 9 no. 1

Vol. 9, No. 1 Table of Contents Commentarypage 3 PoofMolly J. Evanspage 4 PreludeMike Baldwinpage 5 UntitledMike Baldwinpage 5 Where is Tomorrow?Paula Bresnanpage 6 Could It Be Or NotMary Hoeggerpage 7 PsalmAnthony Griggspage 7 Where Am I Going?William A. Framepage 8 Out of DarknessMarilyn Henry Hoodpage 9 She CriedMolly J. Evanspage 12 When I MoveAnthony Griggspage 13 Hi Ya, MorningWilliam A. Framepage 13 Summer Twilight ThoughtsSteve Allenpage 14 Too MuchBill Moserpage 16 Ink SketchWilliam A. Framepage 17 No. 1Molly J. Evanspage 18 Youth, So Hated and DamnedJeff Hendrickspage 18 GoneJackie Jaquespage 19 The JesterWilliam A. Framepage 20 ReflectionMike Baldwinpage 20 No. 3Molly J. Evanspage 21 EpitaphBill Moserpage 22 I Take A Long-Out-of-Use BookAnthony Griggspage 23https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1016/thumbnail.jp

Updated Parameters and a New Transmission Spectrum of HD 97658b

Recent years have seen increasing interest in the characterization of sub-Neptune-sized planets because of their prevalence in the Galaxy, contrasted with their absence in our solar system. HD 97658 is one of the brightest stars hosting a planet of this kind, and we present the transmission spectrum of this planet by combining four Hubble Space Telescope transits, 12 Spitzer/IRAC transits, and eight MOST transits of this system. Our transmission spectrum has a higher signal-to-noise ratio than those from previous works, and the result suggests that the slight increase in transit depth from wavelength 1.1–1.7 μm reported in previous works on the transmission spectrum of this planet is likely systematic. Nonetheless, our atmospheric modeling results are inconclusive, as no model provides an excellent match to our data. Nonetheless, we find that atmospheres with high C/O ratios (C/O ≳ 0.8) and metallicities of ≳100× solar metallicity are favored. We combine the mid-transit times from all of the new Spitzer and MOST observations and obtain an updated orbital period of P = 9.489295 ± 0.000005, with a best-fit transit time center at T₀ = 2456361.80690 ± 0.00038 (BJD). No transit timing variations are found in this system. We also present new measurements of the stellar rotation period (34 ± 2 days) and stellar activity cycle (9.6 yr) of the host star HD 97658. Finally, we calculate and rank the Transmission Spectroscopy Metric of all confirmed planets cooler than 1000 K and with sizes between 1 R⊕ and 4 R⊕. We find that at least a third of small planets cooler than 1000 K can be well characterized using James Webb Space Telescope, and of those, HD 97658b is ranked fifth, meaning that it remains a high-priority target for atmospheric characterization

The Vehicle, 1967, Vol. 10 no. 1

Vol. 10, No. 1 Table of Contents Christy Bowercover Photographpage 4 The CityCatherine Waitepage 4 A New DealAnonymouspage 5 The Penny Ride of Carnation PinkAstaire Pappaspage 8 RapeSharon Nelsonpage 10 Born AgainCharles J. Mertzpage 10 DrawingRourkepage 11 UntitledRourkepage 11 DialogueMolly Evanspage 12 SeldomJamse Jonsepage 12 The DifferenceDennis Muchmorepage 13 First LoveBruce Czeluscinskipage 15 Photographpage 15 Immorality of Troilus and Criseyde Milo S. Metcalfpage 16 Answer UnknownDave Owenpage 20 I Am LostJean Lacypage 21 Photographpage 22 On the Eve of No TomorrowsJane Careypage 23 Unrelated TwinsByron Nelsonpage 24 if i sitRoger Zulaufpage 25 if i sitDennis Muchmorepage 26 Drawingpage 27 Bibliographypage 28https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1015/thumbnail.jp

Respiratory sequelae of COVID-19: pulmonary and extrapulmonary origins, and approaches to clinical care and rehabilitation

Although the exact prevalence of post-COVID-19 condition (also known as long COVID) is unknown, more than a third of patients with COVID-19 develop symptoms that persist for more than 3 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. These sequelae are highly heterogeneous in nature and adversely affect multiple biological systems, although breathlessness is a frequently cited symptom. Specific pulmonary sequelae, including pulmonary fibrosis and thromboembolic disease, need careful assessment and might require particular investigations and treatments. COVID-19 outcomes in people with pre-existing respiratory conditions vary according to the nature and severity of the respiratory disease and how well it is controlled. Extrapulmonary complications such as reduced exercise tolerance and frailty might contribute to breathlessness in post-COVID-19 condition. Non-pharmacological therapeutic options, including adapted pulmonary rehabilitation programmes and physiotherapy techniques for breathing management, might help to attenuate breathlessness in people with post-COVID-19 condition. Further research is needed to understand the origins and course of respiratory symptoms and to develop effective therapeutic and rehabilitative strategies

Emulating Natural Disturbances for Declining Late- Successional Species: A Case Study of the Consequences for Cerulean Warblers (Setophaga cerulea)

Forest cover in the eastern United States has increased over the past century and while some late-successional species have benefited from this process as expected, others have experienced population declines. These declines may be in part related to contemporary reductions in small-scale forest interior disturbances such as fire, windthrow, and treefalls. To mitigate the negative impacts of disturbance alteration and suppression on some late-successional species, strategies that emulate natural disturbance regimes are often advocated, but large-scale evaluations of these practices are rare. Here, we assessed the consequences of experimental disturbance (using partial timber harvest) on a severely declining late-successional species, the cerulean warbler (Setophaga cerulea), across the core of its breeding range in the Appalachian Mountains. We measured numerical (density), physiological (body condition), and demographic (age structure and reproduction) responses to three levels of disturbance and explored the potential impacts of disturbance on source-sink dynamics. Breeding densities of warblers increased one to four years after all canopy disturbances (vs. controls) and males occupying territories on treatment plots were in better condition than those on control plots. However, these beneficial effects of disturbance did not correspond to improvements in reproduction; nest success was lower on all treatment plots than on control plots in the southern region and marginally lower on light disturbance plots in the northern region. Our data suggest that only habitats in the southern region acted as sources, and interior disturbances in this region have the potential to create ecological traps at a local scale, but sources when viewed at broader scales. Thus, cerulean warblers would likely benefit from management that strikes a landscape-level balance between emulating natural disturbances in order to attract individuals into areas where current structure is inappropriate, and limiting anthropogenic disturbance in forests that already possess appropriate structural attributes in order to maintain maximum productivity