Mitochondrial DNA signature for range-wide populations of Bicyclus anynana suggests a rapid expansion from recent refugia

This study investigates the genetic diversity, population structure and demographic history of the afrotropical butterfly Bicyclus anynana using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Samples from six wild populations covering most of the species range from Uganda to South Africa were compared for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit gene (COI). Molecular diversity indices show overall high mtDNA diversity for the populations, but low nucleotide divergence between haplotypes. Our results indicate relatively little geographic population structure among the southern populations, especially given the extensive distributional range and an expectation of limited gene flow between populations. We implemented neutrality tests to assess signatures of recent historical demographic events. Tajima's D test and Fu's FS test both suggested recent population growth for the populations. The results were only significant for the southernmost populations when applying Tajima's D, but Fu's FS indicated significant deviations from neutrality for all populations except the one closest to the equator. Based on our own findings and those from pollen and vegetation studies, we hypothesize that the species range of B. anynana was reduced to equatorial refugia during the last glacial period, and that the species expanded southwards during the past 10.000 years. These results provide crucial background information for studies of phenotypic and molecular adaptation in wild populations of B. anynan

Sexual Function in Women Suffering from Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease

AbstractObjective:to describe the sexual function in women suffering aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) and in an age-matched reference group.Patients and methods:thirty-six women suffering from AIOD were included. Twenty were investigated before vascular intervention (untreated) and 16 different women after treatment (treated). Eighteen age-matched women served as areferencegroup. The patients answered a questionnaire including sexual, social and medical questions and a gynaecological examination was performed.Results:untreated patients with AIOD have a significantly impaired physical well-being compared to the other groups (p<0.001). A negative effect of the vascular disease and its treatment on sexual life was experienced by 69% oftreatedcompared to 40% affected amonguntreated(p=0.05). Vulval sensibility was impaired in 44% oftreated, 11% ofuntreatedand 22% ofreferencepatients. Defective anal sphincter function was found in 33% oftreated, 17% ofuntreatedand 6% in thereferencegroup. Those differences were not statistically significant.Conclusions:symptomatic AIOD in women is associated with a significantly impaired physical and sexual well-being. Though limited by size and methodology, the results indicate the possibility of iatrogenic nerve damage

Experience Improves the Reliability of Subjective Measurements of Temperament in Beef Cattle

Reliability of experienced and inexperienced observers when assessing the behavior of cattle when restrained in a squeeze chute (chute score), and when exiting the chute (exit score), was compared. Overall, experienced observers had higher reliability than inexperienced observers. Increasing the number of individuals scoring an animal decreased the degree of agreement. However, within an acceptable tolerance for difference in scores, such disagreement may be beneficial; it allows for subtlety in interpretations of temperament, which when averaged, may better reflect docility. Reliabilities were higher for exit score than chute score. This may reflect the complexity of the trait being evaluated, with fewer behaviors observed when cattle exit as compared to when restrained in a chute. Producers may profitably use chute and exit score to quantify docility in cattle. However, it may be worthwhile to gain experience in using the scoring system before implementing it for selection decisions

Experience Improves the Reliability of Subjective Measurements of Temperament in Beef Cattle

Reliability of experienced and inexperienced observers when assessing the behavior of cattle when restrained in a squeeze chute (chute score), and when exiting the chute (exit score), was compared. Overall, experienced observers had higher reliability than inexperienced observers. Increasing the number of individuals scoring an animal decreased the degree of agreement. However, within an acceptable tolerance for difference in scores, such disagreement may be beneficial; it allows for subtlety in interpretations of temperament, which when averaged, may better reflect docility. Reliabilities were higher for exit score than chute score. This may reflect the complexity of the trait being evaluated, with fewer behaviors observed when cattle exit as compared to when restrained in a chute. Producers may profitably use chute and exit score to quantify docility in cattle. However, it may be worthwhile to gain experience in using the scoring system before implementing it for selection decisions

Repeated Calm Handling Can Lead to More Docile Cattle

Changes in temperament in heifers when handled either frequently or infrequently were evaluated subjectively based on their behavior when restrained in (chute score) and exiting from (exit score) a squeeze chute. Chute scores decreased over time–a favorable direction–with more dramatic declines in heifers handled more frequently. Heifers with higher chute scores on the first day of handling had the largest reduction in score. Exit scores changed less over time. Chute score therefore may be more indicative of acclimation to a novel environment than exit score. Both scores appear to offer a fast, easy and inexpensive way to quantify docility in cattle. Heifers became calmer with repeated gentle handling. Producers therefore may benefit from allowing cattle a few days to acclimate to new working facilities before assessing docility

Conormal distributions in the Shubin calculus of pseudodifferential operators

We characterize the Schwartz kernels of pseudodifferential operators of Shubin type by means of an FBI transform. Based on this we introduce as a generalization a new class of tempered distributions called Shubin conormal distributions. We study their transformation behavior, normal forms and microlocal properties.Comment: 23 page

The Gabor wave front set of compactly supported distributions

We show that the Gabor wave front set of a compactly supported distribution equals zero times the projection on the second variable of the classical wave front set

The 8q24 Gene Desert: An Oasis of Non-Coding Transcriptional Activity

Understanding the functional effects of the wide-range of aberrant genetic characteristics associated with the human chromosome 8q24 region in cancer remains daunting due to the complexity of the locus. The most logical target for study remains the MYC proto-oncogene, a prominent resident of 8q24 that was first identified more than a quarter of a century ago. However, many of the amplifications, translocation breakpoints, and viral integration sites associated with 8q24 are often found throughout regions surrounding large expanses of the MYC locus that include other transcripts. In addition, chr.8q24 is host to a number of single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with cancer risk. Yet, the lack of a direct correlation between cancer risk alleles and MYC expression has also raised the possibility that MYC is not always the target of these genetic associations. The 8q24 region has been described as a “gene desert” because of the paucity of functionally annotated genes located within this region. Here we review the evidence for the role of other loci within the 8q24 region, most of which are non-coding transcripts, either in concert with MYC or independent of MYC, as possible candidate gene targets in malignancy

Performance evaluation of drinking water treatment plants in Kampala - case of Ggaba II

Kampala water treatment plant (Ggaba II) was evaluated in terms of performance, design, operation and maintenance. The evaluation was done across the dry and wet seasons, measuring physical-chemical parameters. Receding water level of Lake Victoria combined with poor quality of water at the intakes affected the supply of water in Kampala and the neighbouring districts. There was considerable increase in the colour of about two fold at the intake works during the period 1997 to 2005 with increased chemical usage to achieve acceptable standards. The conditions of operation and maintenance were also found to be deficient with some design and construction problems as well. The annual mean colour of the finished water was found to be significantly above the National standard value of 15 Ptu with 53.4% of samples not compliant. 21.6% and 9.3% of the samples taken were not compliant with the WHO pH and turbidity values respectively