Mammal responses to global changes in human activity vary by trophic group and landscape

Wildlife must adapt to human presence to survive in the Anthropocene, so it is critical to understand species responses to humans in different contexts. We used camera trapping as a lens to view mammal responses to changes in human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Across 163 species sampled in 102 projects around the world, changes in the amount and timing of animal activity varied widely. Under higher human activity, mammals were less active in undeveloped areas but unexpectedly more active in developed areas while exhibiting greater nocturnality. Carnivores were most sensitive, showing the strongest decreases in activity and greatest increases in nocturnality. Wildlife managers must consider how habituation and uneven sensitivity across species may cause fundamental differences in human–wildlife interactions along gradients of human influence.Peer reviewe

Rapport final de la caractérisation de la faune et la flore pour la nouvelle bleuetière d’enseignement et de recherche (BER)

La Corporation d’aménagement forêt Normandin (CAFN) accueille deux sites dédiés à l’enseignement et la recherche sur le bleuet sauvage. Le premier site est déjà aménagé en bleuetière et il se déroule présentement des activités de recherche réalisées par les différents acteurs de la recherche sur le bleuet sauvage. Le deuxième site (d’une superficie de 55 ha) doit être aménagé en bleuetière avant de recevoir des travaux de recherche puisqu’il est présentement sous couvert forestier. Dans le cadre du Fonds d’appui au rayonnement des régions (FARR), l’UQAC et ses partenaires ont obtenu, en avril 2018, une aide financière pour réaliser les travaux d’aménagements qui permettront de transformer la pinède en une bleuetière productive. Le financement permettra de développer davantage la bleuetière d’enseignement et de recherche (BER). Le nouveau secteur développé sera aménagé de façon à assurer la protection de la faune et de la flore et la cohabitation avec les usagers. La première étape du projet d’aménagement consiste à caractériser la faune et la flore présentes dans le milieu afin d’être bien outillé pour planifier les travaux d’aménagement. À la suite de ces études préliminaires, la réalisation de la coupe et les travaux de broyage pourront être réalisés en suivant un plan respectueux de l’environnement. Finalement, comme le désirent les partenaires, une stratégie d’information s’adressant aux producteurs et aux utilisateurs du territoire sera mise en place grâce à la contribution du FARR. Le développement de la future bleuetière permettra de continuer les recherches et les expériences de longues durées sur le bleuet sauvage. Le nouveau site pourra répondre aux préoccupations du secteur afin de trouver des solutions novatrices aux problématiques actuelles, en plus de participer à la formation de professionnels qualifiés dans la région du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean

The elevation of plasma concentrations of apoB-48-containing lipoproteins in familial hypercholesterolemia is independent of PCSK9 levels

Abstract Background Previous studies have reported high plasma concentrations of both intestinal apolipoprotein (apo) B-48-containing lipoproteins and PCSK9 in subjects with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). However, the extent to which LDL receptor deficiency and PCSK9 levels influence plasma apoB-48 concentrations in humans remains to be fully characterized. The objective of the study was to assess the independent association between FH, PCSK9 concentrations and plasma apoB-48 levels in a large cohort of genetically defined FH heterozygotes (HeFH) and homozygotes (HoFH). Methods A total of 118 HeFH, 6 HoFH, and 117 controls were included in the study. Plasma PCSK9 and apoB-48 concentrations were measured in the fasting state. Results Plasma PCSK9 and apoB-48 levels were higher in FH subjects compared with controls (PCSK9: HoFH: 642.6 ± 246.9 vs. HeFH: 324.9 ± 119.8 vs. controls: 194.5 ± 65.9 ng/mL, P < 0.0001; apoB-48: HoFH: 14.71 ± 4.36 vs. HeFH: 6.55 ± 4.24 vs. controls: 3.03 ± 2.07 μg/mL; P < 0.0001). There were no correlations between apoB-48 and PCSK9 plasma levels in both controls (ρ = 0.06, P = 0.5) and HeFH subjects (ρ = 0.07, P = 0.4). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the FH status was the only independent factor associated with apoB-48 levels, contributing to 28.7% of the variance (P < 0.0001). Conclusions These data indicate that the elevation in plasma apoB-48 levels associated with FH is independent of PCSK9 levels. Trial registration NCT02225340

Behavioural and metabolic characterisation of the low satiety phenotype

Some individuals report weak appetite sensations and thus, have higher susceptibility to overeating. The aim of this study was (1) to evaluate the reliability of the satiety quotient (SQ), a marker of satiety effi- ciency; (2) to characterize the biopsychobehavioural profiles of individual presenting low satiety effi- ciency, i.e. the low satiety phenotype and (3) to document the impact of a weight loss program on these profiles. Sixty-nine obese men (BMI 33.6 ± 3.0 kg/m2, age 41.5 ± 5.7 years) participated in a 16- week, non-restrictive weight loss intervention. Visual analog scales for appetite sensations in response to a test-meal were completed twice at baseline. Blood samples were collected before and during one test-meal. Questionnaires were administered before and after the intervention. The mean SQ showed good reliability (ICC = 0.67). Baseline SQ scores tended to be negatively correlated with external hunger, anxiety and night eating symptoms (p < 0.10). Moreover, the low satiety phenotype showed a lower cortisol response to the test-meal (p < 0.05). The SQ seems to be a reliable marker of weaker appetite sensation responses. Stress/anxiety could be involved in the low satiety phenotype but did not influence the biopsychobehavioural changes in response to the intervention

The MspI polymorphism of the apolipoprotein A-II gene as a modulator of the dyslipidemic state found in visceral obesity

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of variation at the apolipoprotein (apo) A-II gene locus on lipoprotein levels in visceral obesity. A total of 145 sedentary men, free from metabolic disorders requiring pharmacotherapy, were classified into two groups on the basis of their apo A-II-MspI genotype determined by the polymerase chain reaction: 1) 43 M1 carriers or M1M2, including two M1M1 homozygotes and 41 M1M2 heterozygotes, and 2) 102 M2M2 homozygotes for the presence of a MspI restriction site. The two genotypic groups did not differ for body mass index (BMI, expressed in kg/m2 ), body fat mass, visceral adipose tissue (AT) accumulation, as well as for insulin, glucose and free fatty acids levels measured in the fasting state and in response to an oral glucose tolerance test. In addition, 65 and 63% of M1 carriers had plasma HDL2 cholesterol levels and a HDL2/HDL3 cholesterol ratio below the 50th percentile of their distributions compared with 45% (PB0.05) and 46% (P=0.06), respectively, in M2M2 homozygotes. When subjects were further divided on the basis of visceral AT accumulation (below and above a value of 130 cm2 ), M1 carriers with low levels of visceral AT were characterized by high plasma HDL cholesterol and HDL2 cholesterol concentrations as well as by a higher HDL2/HDL3 ratio, compared with M1 carriers with high levels of visceral AT (\130 cm2 ), or with M2M2 homozygotes with either a high or a low accumulation of visceral AT. Furthermore, M1 carriers with high levels of visceral AT showed a trend for lower plasma HDL2 cholesterol levels and were characterized by a significantly lower HDL2/HDL3 cholesterol ratio compared with the other three groups. No difference in HDL and HDL2 cholesterol levels and in the HDL2/HDL3 cholesterol ratio was noted when M2 homozygotes with lower versus higher levels of visceral AT were compared. The contribution of hyperinsulinemia was also examined by dividing subjects on the basis of the 50th percentile of the integrated insulin response to an oral glucose challenge. Significantly lower plasma HDL2 cholesterol levels and a reduced HDL2/HDL3 cholesterol ratio were noted among M1 carriers with high plasma insulin responses compared with M1 carriers with low insulin responses. Among M2M2 homozygotes, no difference was noted in plasma HDL cholesterol and in HDL2 cholesterol concentrations between men with low versus high insulin responses to the oral glucose load. These results suggest that the apo A-II-MspI polymorphism could modulate plasma HDL cholesterol levels among visceral obese, insulin-resistant men

Subclinical Atherosclerosis Is Associated with Discrepancies in BAFF and APRIL Levels and Altered Breg Potential of Precursor-like Marginal Zone B-Cells in Long-Term HIV Treated Individuals

Chronic inflammation persists in people living with HIV (PLHIV) despite antiretrovial therapy (ART) and is involved in their premature development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as atherosclerosis. We have previously reported that an excess of “B-cell activating factor” (BAFF), an important molecule for the selection and activation of first-line Marginal Zone (MZ) B-cell populations, is associated with deregulations of precursor-like MZ (MZp), whose potent B-cell regulatory (Breg) capacities are altered in PLHIV, early on and despite 1–2 years of ART. Based on these observations, and growing evidence that MZ populations are involved in atherosclerosis control, we designed a cross sectional study to explore the associations between BAFF and its analogue “A proliferation-inducing ligand” (APRIL) with subclinical CVD in long-time-treated individuals of the Canadian HIV and Aging Cohort Study (CHACS) imaging sub-study group. We also characterized the Breg profile of MZp from the blood of these individuals. Results were correlated with the total volume of atherosclerotic plaques (TPV) and with CVD risk factors and biomarkers. TPV was measured using cardiac computerised tomography angiography, and presence of CVD was defined as TPV > 0. We report that blood levels of BAFF are elevated and correlate positively with CVD and its risk factors in PLHIV from the CHACS, in contrast to APRIL levels, which correlate negatively with these factors. The expression levels of Breg markers such as NR4A3, CD39, CD73 and CD83 are significantly lower in PLHIV when compared to those of HIV-uninfected controls. In vitro experiments show that APRIL upregulates the expression of Breg markers by blood MZp from HIV-uninfected individuals, while this modulation is dampened by the addition of recombinant BAFF. Altogether, our observations suggest that strategies viewed to modulate levels of BAFF and/or APRIL could eventually represent a potential treatment target for CVD in PLHIV