Effects of Riparian Shade on Nearshore Reservoir Fish Assemblages and Water Quality

Shade is defined as the coolness and darkness caused by shelter from solar radiation. In freshwater, shade is most commonly provided by riparian vegetation, which can affect water quality through its effects on temperature and light. The purpose of this research was to explore riparian shade influences on (1) fish distribution along reservoir littorals and (2) diel water quality patterns. Sampling was conducted in shaded and non-shaded paired sites in Columbus Lake, Mississippi, U.S.A. Differences in species distribution revealed that, in general, clupeids and most centrarchids were better represented in unshaded sites, while percids were better represented in shaded sites. Diel cycles of water quality variables were measured in situ over 24-h periods with auto-samplers and assessed using trigonometric polynomial regression to describe daily cycles. Analysis of covariance revealed all water quality variables differed between sites and most also varied between shaded and unshaded sites and exhibited daily cycles

Effects of Riparian Shade on Nearshore Reservoir Fish Assemblages and Water Quality

Shade is defined as the coolness and darkness caused by shelter from solar radiation. In freshwater, shade is most commonly provided by riparian vegetation, which can affect water quality through its effects on temperature and light. The purpose of this research was to explore riparian shade influences on (1) fish distribution along reservoir littorals and (2) diel water quality patterns. Sampling was conducted in shaded and non-shaded paired sites in Columbus Lake, Mississippi, U.S.A. Differences in species distribution revealed that, in general, clupeids and most centrarchids were better represented in unshaded sites, while percids were better represented in shaded sites. Diel cycles of water quality variables were measured in situ over 24-h periods with auto-samplers and assessed using trigonometric polynomial regression to describe daily cycles. Analysis of covariance revealed all water quality variables differed between sites and most also varied between shaded and unshaded sites and exhibited daily cycles

Prospects of pollinator community surveillance using terrestrial environmental DNA metagenetics

Abstract Current pollinator survey methods exhibit bias, require highly‐trained practitioners, and are difficult to scale to large sample sizes. High‐throughput sequencing of terrestrial eDNA could provide a complementary tool for studying pollinator communities, but eDNA methods have not been extensively evaluated. We conducted metagenetic analysis of whole arthropod community eDNA from 20 flower and seven honey bee‐collected pollen samples and compared eDNA‐derived data with traditional netting‐based surveys of the pollinator communities present during sampling. We focused our analysis on Anthophila (bees) and detected eight bee genera belonging to four families across COI, 16S, and 28S markers. Results varied considerably by marker and eDNA substrate. Detected bee genera were plausible for the study system and about 43 percent of total bee genera were detected with both eDNA and net‐based surveys, though netting resulted in more detections across a wider diversity of genera. Data from sequenced controls suggest that eDNA identifications were unlikely to have resulted from cross‐contamination. Our results demonstrate that bee communities can be documented with eDNA techniques and that the choice of marker and substrate substantially influences detection. Future improvements to our methods are required, but eDNA surveys appear well‐suited to characterize diverse pollinator communities and provide novel sampling perspectives within plant‐pollinator networks. Future efforts should focus on improving the selection of markers available for pollinator eDNA metagenetics, addressing taxonomic gaps within reference sequence databases and optimizing sampling and eDNA isolation protocols. We anticipate that such improvements are highly feasible and that eDNA will be a useful tool to those who study pollinators and plant‐pollinator interactions

Smoking Consequences Questionnaire: A reevaluation of the psychometric properties across two independent samples of smokers.

Drug use outcome expectancies are a central construct to psychosocial theories of addictive disorders. In tobacco literature, the Smoking Consequences Questionnaire (SCQ; Brandon & Baker, 1991) is a tool used to assess this construct. Despite its common use, the SCQ has received little psychometric evaluation. In the current report, samples from 2 studies were used to examine the assumed SCQ structure, develop a novel truncated scale, and evaluate the psychometric properties of the novel scale. In Study 1, the 4-factor SCQ structure was examined using data from 343 (32.4% female; Mage = 43.7; SD = 10.8) adult nontreatment-seeking smokers. Results from Study 1 indicated that the 4-factor SCQ structure did not adequately explain covariance between items. Instead, results provided evidence for a 5-factor structure that tapped into outcome expectancies related to (a) immediate negative consequences (IC), (b) long-term negative consequences (LTC), (c) sensory satisfaction (SS), (d) negative affect reduction, and (e) appetite-weight control (AW). In Study 2, the 5-factor structure of the SCQ was confirmed and the construct validity was evaluated in 582 (48.2% female; Mage = 36.9; SD = 13.5) treatment-seeking adult smokers. Study 2 found evidence for measurement invariance across sex and overtime of the 5-factor structure as well as substantial construct validity. Results from 2 independent samples challenge the traditional 4-factor model of the SCQ, and instead, provide evidence for a novel 5-factor SCQ structure with strong validity and reliability. Alternate scoring algorithms for the SCQ, including a 5-subscale scheme, warrant consideration to ensure optimal measurement precision and construct differentiation. (PsycINFO Database Recor

Translational Mini-Review Series on Immunology of Vascular Disease: Inflammation, infections and Toll-like receptors in cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease, in which atherosclerosis is the major underlying cause, is currently the largest cause of death in the world. Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by the formation of arterial lesions over a period of several decades at sites of endothelial cell dysfunction. These lesions are composed of endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, monocytes/macrophages and T lymphocytes (CD4+). As the lesions progress some can become unstable and prone to disruption, resulting in thrombus formation and possibly a myocardial infarction or stroke depending upon the location. Although the exact triggers for plaque disruption remain unknown, much recent evidence has shown a link between the incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke and a recent respiratory tract infection. Interestingly, many reports have also shown a link between a family of pattern recognition receptors, the Toll-like receptors, and the progression of atherosclerosis, suggesting that infections may play a role in both the progression of atherosclerosis and in inducing the more severe complications associated with the disease