Growth and Survival of the Halophyte Salicornia Europaera L. Under Saline Field Conditions

Author Institution: Department of Botany, Ohio UniversityField investigations were carried out to determine growth and survival rates of Salicornia europaea L. in a saline environment at Rittman, Ohio. Collected data indicated that from 62% to 100% of the seedlings within the 'A saline zones investigated did not survive to maturity. Seedling mortality was statistically correlated at P<0.01 to rising soil salinity stress during late spring and summer. Plant growth was minimal between April and June, increasing sharply during late summer and fall

Complementary shifts in photoreceptor spectral tuning unlock the full adaptive potential of ultraviolet vision in birds

Color vision in birds is mediated by four types of cone photoreceptors whose maximal sensitivities (λmax) are evenly spaced across the light spectrum. In the course of avian evolution, the λmax of the most shortwave-sensitive cone, SWS1, has switched between violet (λmax > 400 nm) and ultraviolet (λmax < 380 nm) multiple times. This shift of the SWS1 opsin is accompanied by a corresponding short-wavelength shift in the spectrally adjacent SWS2 cone. Here, we show that SWS2 cone spectral tuning is mediated by modulating the ratio of two apocarotenoids, galloxanthin and 11',12'-dihydrogalloxanthin, which act as intracellular spectral filters in this cell type. We propose an enzymatic pathway that mediates the differential production of these apocarotenoids in the avian retina, and we use color vision modeling to demonstrate how correlated evolution of spectral tuning is necessary to achieve even sampling of the light spectrum and thereby maintain near-optimal color discrimination

Spreading Dynamics of Polymer Nanodroplets

The spreading of polymer droplets is studied using molecular dynamics simulations. To study the dynamics of both the precursor foot and the bulk droplet, large drops of ~200,000 monomers are simulated using a bead-spring model for polymers of chain length 10, 20, and 40 monomers per chain. We compare spreading on flat and atomistic surfaces, chain length effects, and different applications of the Langevin and dissipative particle dynamics thermostats. We find diffusive behavior for the precursor foot and good agreement with the molecular kinetic model of droplet spreading using both flat and atomistic surfaces. Despite the large system size and long simulation time relative to previous simulations, we find no evidence of hydrodynamic behavior in the spreading droplet.Comment: Physical Review E 11 pages 10 figure

Effects of Subnormothermic Regulated Hepatic Reperfusion on Mitochondrial and Transcriptomic Profiles in a Porcine Model

OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the biological effects of pre-reperfusion treatments of the liver after warm and cold ischemic injuries in a porcine donation after circulatory death model. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Donation after circulatory death represents a severe form of liver ischemia and reperfusion injury that has a profound impact on graft function after liver transplantation. METHODS: Twenty donor pig livers underwent 60 minutes of in situ warm ischemia after circulatory arrest and 120 minutes of cold static preservation prior to simulated transplantation using an ex vivo perfusion machine. Four reperfusion treatments were compared: Control-Normothermic (N), Control- Subnormothermic (S), regulated hepatic reperfusion (RHR)-N, and RHR-S (n = 5 each). The biochemical, metabolic, and transcriptomic profiles, as well as mitochondrial function were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared to the other groups, RHR-S treated group showed significantly lower post-reperfusion aspartate aminotransferase levels in the reperfusion effluent and histologic findings of hepatocyte viability and lesser degree of congestion and necrosis. RHR-S resulted in a significantly higher mitochondrial respiratory control index and calcium retention capacity. Transcriptomic profile analysis showed that treatment with RHR-S activated cell survival and viability, cellular homeostasis as well as other biological functions involved in tissue repair such as cytoskeleton or cytoplasm organization, cell migration, transcription, and microtubule dynamics. Furthermore, RHR-S inhibited organismal death, morbidity and mortality, necrosis, and apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Subnormothermic RHR mitigates IRI and preserves hepatic mitochondrial function after warm and cold hepatic ischemia. This organ resuscitative therapy may also trigger the activation of protective genes against IRI. Sub- normothermic RHR has potential applicability to clinical liver transplantation

Seasonal Changes in Colour: A Comparison of Structural, Melanin- and Carotenoid-Based Plumage Colours

Plumage coloration is important for bird communication, most notably in sexual signalling. Colour is often considered a good quality indicator, and the expression of exaggerated colours may depend on individual condition during moult. After moult, plumage coloration has been deemed fixed due to the fact that feathers are dead structures. Still, many plumage colours change after moult, although whether this affects signalling has not been sufficiently assessed.) displaying various coloration types (melanin-, carotenoid-based and structural). Birds were caught regularly during three years to measure plumage reflectance. We used models of avian colour vision to derive two variables, one describing chromatic and the other achromatic variation over the year that can be compared in magnitude among different colour types. All studied plumage patches but one (yellow breast of the blue tit) showed significant chromatic changes over the year, although these were smaller than for a typical dynamic trait (bill colour). Overall, structural colours showed a reduction in relative reflectance at shorter wavelengths, carotenoid-based colours the opposite pattern, while no general pattern was found for melanin-based colours. Achromatic changes were also common, but there were no consistent patterns of change for the different types of colours.Changes of plumage coloration independent of moult are probably widespread; they should be perceivable by birds and have the potential to affect colour signalling

Ancient DNA Suggests Dwarf and ‘Giant’ Emu Are Conspecific

) is unclear. King Island Emu were mainly distinguished by their much smaller size and a reported darker colour compared to modern Emu. oxidase subunit I (COI) region (1,544 bp), as well as a region of the melanocortin 1 receptor gene (57 bp) were sequenced using a multiplex PCR approach. The results show that haplotypes for King Island Emu fall within the diversity of modern Emu.These data show the close relationship of these emu when compared to other congeneric bird species and indicate that the King Island and modern Emu share a recent common ancestor. King Island emu possibly underwent insular dwarfism as a result of phenotypic plasticity. The close relationship between the King Island and the modern Emu suggests it is most appropriate that the former should be considered a subspecies of the latter. Although both taxa show a close genetic relationship they differ drastically in size. This study also suggests that rates of morphological and neutral molecular evolution are decoupled

Acoustic-Friction Networks and the Evolution of Precursory Rupture Fronts in Laboratory Earthquakes

We show that the mesoscopic and transport characteristics of networks follow the same trends for the same type of the shear ruptures in terms of rupture speed while also comparing the results of three different friction experiments.The classified fronts obtained from a saw cut Westerly granite fault regarding friction network parameters show a clear separation into two groups indicating two different rupture fronts. With respect to the scaling of local ruptures durations with the networks parameters we show that the gap is related to the possibility of a separation between slow and regular fronts

Current Issues in Environmental Law

Materials from the Current Issues in Environmental Law seminar held by UK/CLE in April 1995

Agonist-Directed Desensitization of the β2-Adrenergic Receptor

The β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) agonists with reduced tachyphylaxis may offer new therapeutic agents with improved tolerance profile. However, receptor desensitization assays are often inferred at the single signaling molecule level, thus ligand-directed desensitization is poorly understood. Here we report a label-free biosensor whole cell assay with microfluidics to determine ligand-directed desensitization of the β2AR. Together with mechanistic deconvolution using small molecule inhibitors, the receptor desensitization and resensitization patterns under the short-term agonist exposure manifested the long-acting agonism of salmeterol, and differentiated the mechanisms of agonist-directed desensitization between a full agonist epinephrine and a partial agonist pindolol. This study reveals the cellular mechanisms of agonist-selective β2AR desensitization at the whole cell level

Development of a measure of model fidelity for mental health Crisis Resolution Teams

Background Crisis Resolution Teams (CRTs) provide short-term intensive home treatment to people experiencing mental health crisis. Trial evidence suggests CRTs can be effective at reducing hospital admissions and increasing satisfaction with acute care. When scaled up to national level however, CRT implementation and outcomes have been variable. We aimed to develop and test a fidelity scale to assess adherence to a model of best practice for CRTs, based on best available evidence. Methods A concept mapping process was used to develop a CRT fidelity scale. Participants (n = 68) from a range of stakeholder groups prioritised and grouped statements (n = 72) about important components of the CRT model, generated from a literature review, national survey and qualitative interviews. These data were analysed using Ariadne software and the resultant cluster solution informed item selection for a CRT fidelity scale. Operational criteria and scoring anchor points were developed for each item. The CORE CRT fidelity scale was then piloted in 75 CRTs in the UK to assess the range of scores achieved and feasibility for use in a 1-day fidelity review process. Trained reviewers (n = 16) rated CRT service fidelity in a vignette exercise to test the scale’s inter-rater reliability. Results There were high levels of agreement within and between stakeholder groups regarding the most important components of the CRT model. A 39-item measure of CRT model fidelity was developed. Piloting indicated that the scale was feasible for use to assess CRT model fidelity and had good face validity. The wide range of item scores and total scores across CRT services in the pilot demonstrate the measure can distinguish lower and higher fidelity services. Moderately good inter-rater reliability was found, with an estimated correlation between individual ratings of 0.65 (95% CI: 0.54 to 0.76). Conclusions The CORE CRT Fidelity Scale has been developed through a rigorous and systematic process. Promising initial testing indicates its value in assessing adherence to a model of CRT best practice and to support service improvement monitoring and planning. Further research is required to establish its psychometric properties and international applicability