The effects of human approach on sanderling foraging behavior

During low tide, sanderlings (Calidris alba) forage on small invertebrates in the sand of the intertidal zone. As a result, these common shorebirds frequently come into contact with humans who visit the beaches for a variety of activities, such as fishing or jogging. Here, the effects of three different approach types (undisturbed, passive, and aggressive) on sanderling foraging behavior were examined to help understand how human activities may be affecting their ability to search for food. At two local beaches, locomotory rate was recorded in addition to obvious changes in initial behavior. Treatments were defined as follows: 1) Undisturbed – sanderlings observed from a distance that does not influence their behavior 2) Passive - a human approached by walking at a steady walking pace from a predetermined distance 3) Aggressive - a more assertive approach at a noticeably faster speed from a closer distance. In general, sanderlings exposed to an aggressive approach moved at the highest rate, while the rates of birds approached passively or not at all did not differ significantly from each other. This was true for birds found at both locations. These results show a correlation between intensity of human approach and sanderling response, potentially impeding their ability to forage. The similarities between sites suggest that sanderling populations move frequently between local beaches and are therefore likely to show similar responses to the presence of humans regardless of beach location

S06RS SGR No. 8 (System President)

A Resolution to urge the LSU Board of Supervisors to include student representation on the search committee for the LSU System President

Adenocarcinoma of the caecum metastatic to the bladder: an unusual cause of haematuria

BACKGROUND: Primary malignancies of colorectal origin can metastasise to the bladder. Reports are however extremely rare, particularly from the caecum. CASE REPORT: The report describes the case of a 45-year old male with Duke's B caecal carcinoma treated with a laparoscopically-assisted right hemicolectomy and adjuvant 5-Fluorouracil chemotherapy. Subsequently, a metastatic lesion to the bladder was demonstrated and successfully excised by partial cystectomy. CONCLUSION: In order that optimal therapeutic options can be determined, it is important for clinicians to distinguish between primary disease of the bladder and other causes of haematuria. Various immunohistochemical techniques attempt to differentiate primary adenocarcinoma of the bladder from secondary colorectal adenocarcinoma. Suspicion of metastatic disease must be raised when histologically unusual bladder tumours are identified

Polyglutamine Expansion Accelerates the Dynamics of Ataxin-1 and Does Not Result in Aggregate Formation

Polyglutamine expansion disorders are caused by an expansion of the polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in the disease related protein, leading to severe neurodegeneration. All polyQ disorders are hallmarked by the presence of intracellular aggregates containing the expanded protein in affected neurons. The polyQ disorder SpinoCerebellar Ataxia 1 (SCA1) is caused by a polyQ-expansion in the ataxin-1 protein, which is thought to lead to nuclear aggregates.Using advanced live cell fluorescence microscopy and a filter retardation assay we show that nuclear accumulations formed by polyQ-expanded ataxin-1 do not resemble aggregates of other polyQ-expanded proteins. Instead of being static, insoluble aggregates, nuclear accumulations formed by the polyQ-expanded ataxin-1 showed enhanced intracellular kinetics as compared to wild-type ataxin-1. During mitosis, ataxin-1 accumulations redistributed equally among daughter cells, in contrast to polyQ aggregates. Interestingly, polyQ expansion did not affect the nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling of ataxin-1 as proposed before.These results indicate that polyQ expansion does not necessarily lead to aggregate formation, and that the enhanced kinetics may affect the nuclear function of ataxin-1. The unexpected findings for a polyQ-expanded protein and their consequences for ongoing SCA1 research are discussed

The Cytosolic Tail of the Golgi Apyrase Ynd1 Mediates E4orf4-Induced Toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The adenovirus E4 open reading frame 4 (E4orf4) protein contributes to regulation of the progression of virus infection. When expressed individually, E4orf4 was shown to induce non-classical transformed cell-specific apoptosis in mammalian cells. At least some of the mechanisms underlying E4orf4-induced toxicity are conserved from yeast to mammals, including the requirement for an interaction of E4orf4 with protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). A genetic screen in yeast revealed that the Golgi apyrase Ynd1 associates with E4orf4 and contributes to E4orf4-induced toxicity, independently of Ynd1 apyrase activity. Ynd1 and PP2A were shown to contribute additively to E4orf4-induced toxicity in yeast, and to interact genetically and physically. A mammalian orthologue of Ynd1 was shown to bind E4orf4 in mammalian cells, confirming the evolutionary conservation of this interaction. Here, we use mutation analysis to identify the cytosolic tail of Ynd1 as the protein domain required for mediation of the E4orf4 toxic signal and for the interaction with E4orf4. We also show that E4orf4 associates with cellular membranes in yeast and is localized at their cytoplasmic face. However, E4orf4 is membrane-associated even in the absence of Ynd1, suggesting that additional membrane proteins may mediate E4orf4 localization. Based on our results and on a previous report describing a collection of Ynd1 protein partners, we propose that the Ynd1 cytoplasmic tail acts as a scaffold, interacting with a multi-protein complex, whose targeting by E4orf4 leads to cell death

A vegetative survey of Maui county's offshore islets

Western Region, National Park Servic

Lana'i A Case Study: The Loss of Biodiversity on a Small Hawaiian Island

Uina'i, with only 361 km2 of land area, is one of the smaller Hawaiian Islands. Its forest area is limited and its complement of flora and fauna is correspondingly low. Its relative isolation, however, has allowed development of a small but distinctive group of endemic plants, birds, insects, and molluscs. Throughout its period of human occupation it has suffered gradual losses in biodiversity due to the effects of grazing and browsing herbivores, aggressive introduced plants, predacious carnivores, diseases, and human activities. In recent years the loss of species has accelerated as Uina'i's ecosystems have begun to suffer catastrophic collapse. This paper documents the changes that have occurred in historical chronology and predicts long-term results

The floral biology of the Hawaiian Malvaceae

Western Region, National Park Servic

Portulaca molokiniensis (portulacaceae), a New Species from the Hawaiian Islands

Portulaca molokiniensis is a distinctive new species from the arid islands of Molokini and Kaho'olawe. It is clearly distinguishable from its closest relative, Portulaca lutea , by its spinose seeds, extended peduncle-like apical internodes, many-flowered capitate inflorescences, broad, decussate, imbricate leaves, larger flowers, long, sinuous style branches, and cespitose habit. Portulaca molokiniensis occurs in extremely dry coastal sites on leeward rainshadow islands in Hawai'i, well separated from P. lutea which occurs only on moist windward coastal sites. The new species of Portula ca described here was first collected by Charles N. Forbes on Molokini in February 1913. In a publication appearing later that year (Forbes 1913) he identified it as P. lutea Soland. ex G. Forster. It was collected again at the same locality on 13 October 1925 by Harold S. Palmer and identified by Edward L. Caum (Caum 1930) again as P. lutea. It was not documented again until 1978-1984 when it was collected twice on Molokini and three times on Kaho'olawe by various individuals and botanical survey parties (Stemmermann, Char, Higashino and Yosida 1979; Corn, Char, Clarke and Cuddihy 1980; Clarke 1982). It was only during the most recent surveys that these plants were recognized as being possibly distinct from Portulaca lutea. In order to evaluate their status, I initiated a study which included detailed observations and measurements of plants growing at both the Molokini and Kaho'olawe localities, similar observations and measurements of plants growing under cultivation on Maui, and herbarium studies at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. These studies showed that the Molokini and Kaho'olawe plants possess a number of charactersistics distinguishing them from P. lutea as it occurs throughout its entire Pacific range

The Role of Individuation Processes in the Launching of Children into Adulthood

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which levels of individuation and separation in adulthood would predict adjustment to the empty nest transition. Two-hundred and twenty-seven adults (M age = 48) who had experienced the empty nest within the last year completed a battery of scales assessing individuation from family of origin, spouse, and children as well as measures of adjustment, role strain, coping, and sex role attitudes. MANOVAS and hierarchical regression analyses suggested that levels of individuation from one's family of origin, spouse, and children differentially affect one's adjustment to, and coping with, the experience of launching of the youngest child from the home. Empty nest parents who are less differentiated from their own parents, from their spouses, and from their children reported a more negative impact of the empty nest in terms of more overall stress and role strain, more negative mood, and less life satisfaction than did empty nest parents who were more differentiated with regard to parents, spouse, and children. Results regarding the impact of individuation on empty nest adjustment regarding sex role attitudes were less clear cut, and may reflect cohort differences in work role opportunities for women and a parallel redefinition of the work role/parent role dichotomy for men. The data also suggest that women and men experience the empty nest transition differently, with women experiencing more distress and negative mood, supporting the notion that women, who define themselves in a context of relationship may experience more distress at a time when significant relationships are in flux. However, additional results which indicated significantly more proactive and adaptive coping strategies for women as compared to men suggest that women can meet the demands of the new definitions of themselves and their relationships in a relatively positive and adaptive way. The results suggest that present as well as past experiences of separation and individuation impact how one experiences and copes with the empty nest. The findings lend support to the importance of early, successful individuation experiences as possible precursors of how successfully individuals negotiate other developmental experiences involving separation and loss