Impact of “non-lethal” tarsal clipping on bumble bees (Bombus vosnesenskii) may depend on queen stage and worker size

Abstract Recent bumble bee declines have prompted the development of novel population monitoring tools, including the use of putatively non-lethal tarsal clipping to obtain genetic material. However, the potential side effects of tarsal clipping have only been tested in the worker caste of a single domesticated species, prompting the need to more broadly test whether tarsal clipping negatively affects sampled individuals. To determine if tarsal clipping reduces queen survivorship and colony establishment, we collected wild queens of Bombus vosnesenskii and clipped tarsi from a single leg of half the individuals. We reared captive queens and estimated survivorship and nest establishment success. We also clipped tarsi of workers from a subset of colonies across a range of body sizes. We found no consistent negative effect of clipping on queen survival. In the first year, clipped nest-searching queens suffered heavy mortality, but there was no effect on foraging queens. The following year, we found no effect of clipping on queen survival or establishment. Clipping did not reduce overall worker survival but reduced survivorship for those in the smallest size quartile. Implications for insect conservation Our findings suggest tarsal clipping does not have consistent negative effects on individual survival. However, our results varied with queen behavioral state, year, and worker size, suggesting differences within and among species and interactions with landscape stressors warrant further study. In the interim, we recommend researchers and conservationists minimize the use of tarsal clipping for sensitive species, populations, or small workers except in cases of exceptional scientific need.

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Long-term effects of lime on pasture yields and response to phosphate fertilizers on eight acidic soils

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar9941051 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 45 (5) ◽

pp. 1051 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

ICR Holford ◽

GJ Crocker

Keyword(s):

Residual Effects ◽

First Year ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Acidic Soils ◽

Soil P ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Yield Responses

Eight experiments on acidic soils of the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales were carried out to measure lime effects on clover-based pastures and their response to fertilizer phosphate (P). Each experiment lasted 3 years. The seven soils deficient in P all responded to lime in the first year, and pasture yield responses were associated with lime-induced increases in isotopically exchangeable or soluble soil P or both. Three of these soils were also relatively high in soluble aluminium (Al) or manganese (Mn), and the lime-induced suppression of these toxic cations probably also contributed to the beneficial effects of lime. Negative effects of lime on fertilizer P response were more frequent than positive effects, and tended to occur on higher A1 soils. Lime eliminated the need for fertilizer P on at least three P-deficient soils during the 3 year period of the experiments, and this was also associated with increases in availability and uptake of soil P. Lime suppressed P sorptivity in all soils, but this caused an increase in fertilizer P effectiveness in only two soils (in the first year). Hence, the positive effect of lime on soluble soil P, which occurred on all soils and which would tend to lower fertilizer P effectiveness, seemed to be dominant over its negative effect on soil P sorptivity. Residual effects of lime and fertilizer P were similar, both declining after the first year, with five soils still responsive in the third year.

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Asthma patients experience increased symptoms of anxiety, depression and fear during the COVID-19 pandemic

Chronic Respiratory Disease ◽

10.1177/14799731211029658 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

pp. 147997312110296

Author(s):

Geertje M de Boer ◽

Laura Houweling ◽

Rudi W Hendriks ◽

Jan H Vercoulen ◽

Gerdien A Tramper-Stranders ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Care Workers ◽

Asthma Patients ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Patients Experience ◽

Anxiety Depression

Population studies showed a decrease in psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asthma is associated with a negative effect on anxiety and depression, which might worsen during the COVID-19 lockdown. The aim of the study was to compare fear, anxiety and depression between asthma patients and patients wit hout asthma pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19 pandemic. This study compares fear, anxiety and depression in asthma patients and controls between pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19 lockdown with a cross-sectional online survey. Participants were invited to fill out several questionnaires pertaining to fear, anxiety, depression, asthma control and quality of life. Asthma patients (N = 37) displayed, during the course of the pandemic, a clinically relevant increase in anxiety (3.32 ± 2.95 vs. 6.68 ± 3.78; p < 0.001) and depression (1.30 ± 1.15 vs. 3.65 ± 3.31; p < 0.001), according to the hospital anxiety and depression levels (HADS) compared to pre-COVID-19 assessment. This was not seen in controls. Also, asthma patients displayed more anxiety about acquiring COVID-19 disease compared to controls ((5.11 ± 1.99 vs. 3.50 ± 2.79), p = 0.006). Patients with asthma experienced an increase in anxiety and depression levels and were more afraid of acquiring COVID-19 disease compared to controls. Also, patients with asthma were more likely to avoid healthcare facilities due to fear of acquiring COVID-19 disease compared to controls. Therefore, we advise health care workers to address these possible negative effects on mental health by phone or e-consults.

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Sperm Cryopreservation in American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus Ruber): Influence of Cryoprotectants and Seminal Plasma Removal

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11010203 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 203

Author(s):

María Gemma Millán de la Blanca ◽

Eva Martínez-Nevado ◽

Cristina Castaño ◽

Juncal García ◽

Berenice Bernal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seminal Plasma ◽

Genetic Material ◽

First Year ◽

Sperm Cryopreservation ◽

Straight Line ◽

The Family ◽

Second Year ◽

American Flamingo ◽

Phoenicopterus Ruber

The American flamingo is a useful model for the development of successful semen cryopreservation procedures to be applied to threatened related species from the family Phoenicopteridae, and to permit genetic material banking. Current study sought to develop effective sperm cryopreservation protocols through examining the influences of two permeating cryoprotectants and the seminal plasma removal. During two consecutive years (April), semen samples were collected and frozen from American flamingos. In the first year, the effect of two permeating cryoprotectants, DMA (dimethylacetamide) (6%) or Me2SO (dimethylsulphoxide) (8%), on frozen–thawed sperm variables were compared in 21 males. No differences were seen between DMA and Me2SO for sperm motility, sperm viability, and DNA fragmentation after thawing. In the second year, the role of seminal plasma on sperm cryoresistance was investigated in 31 flamingos. Sperm samples were cryopreserved with and without seminal plasma, using Me2SO (8%) as a cryoprotectant. The results showed that samples with seminal plasma had higher values than samples without seminal plasma for the following sperm variables: Straight line velocity (22.40 µm/s vs. 16.64 µm/s), wobble (75.83% vs. 69.40%), (p < 0.05), linearity (62.73% vs. 52.01%) and straightness (82.38% vs. 73.79%) (p < 0.01); but acrosome integrity was lower (55.56% vs. 66.88%) (p < 0.05). The cryoresistance ratio (CR) was greater in samples frozen with seminal plasma than without seminal plasma for CR-progressive motility (138.72 vs. 54.59), CR-curvilinear velocity (105.98 vs. 89.32), CR-straight line velocity (152.77 vs. 112.58), CR-average path velocity (122.48 vs. 98.12), CR-wobble (111.75 vs. 102.04) (p < 0.05), CR-linearity (139.41 vs. 113.18), and CR-straightness (124.02 vs. 109.97) (p < 0.01). This research demonstrated that there were not differences between Me2SO and DMA to successful freezing sperm of flamingos; seminal plasma removal did not provide a benefit for sperm cryopreservation.

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Long-term subjective memory after electroconvulsive therapy

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2020.9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Robert Sigström ◽

Axel Nordenskjöld ◽

Anders Juréus ◽

Caitlin Clements ◽

Erik Joas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electroconvulsive Therapy ◽

Memory Impairment ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Final Analysis ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Subjective Memory ◽

Subjective Memory Impairment ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Negative Expectations

Background There have been reports of long-term subjective memory worsening after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Aims To study the prevalence and risk factors of long-term subjective memory worsening among patients receiving ECT in routine clinical practice. Method Patients (n = 535, of whom 277 were included in the final analysis) were recruited from eight Swedish hospitals. Participants' subjective memory impairment was assessed before ECT and a median of 73 days after ECT using the memory item from the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale. Participants also rated their pre-ECT expectations and post-ECT evaluations of the effect of ECT on memory on a 7-point scale. We used ordinal regression to identify variables associated with subjective memory worsening and negative evaluations of the effect of ECT on memory. Results Comparisons of pre- and post-ECT assessments showed that subjective memory worsened in 16.2% of participants, remained unchanged in 52.3% and improved in 31.4%. By contrast, when asked to evaluate the effect of ECT on memory after treatment 54.6% reported a negative effect. Subjective memory worsening was associated with negative expectations before ECT, younger age and shorter duration of follow-up. Conclusions Although subjective memory improved more often than it worsened when assessed before and after ECT, a majority of patients reported that ECT had negative effects on their memory when retrospectively asked how ECT had affected it. This might suggest that some patients attribute pre-existing subjective memory impairment to ECT. Clinicians should be aware that negative expectations are associated with subjective worsening of memory after ECT.

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Dominant Negative Mutants Implicate STAT5 in Myeloid Cell Proliferation and Neutrophil Differentiation

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v93.12.4154 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 93 (12) ◽

pp. 4154-4166 ◽

Cited By ~ 80

Author(s):

Robert L. Ilaria ◽

Robert G. Hawley ◽

Richard A. Van Etten

Keyword(s):

Dna Binding ◽

Transcriptional Activation ◽

Dominant Negative ◽

Dominant Negative Effect ◽

Cytokine Signaling ◽

Transactivation Domain ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Murine Bone Marrow ◽

Negative Effect

Abstract STAT5 is a member of the signal transducers and activation of transcription (STAT) family of latent transcription factors activated in a variety of cytokine signaling pathways. We introduced alanine substitution mutations in highly conserved regions of murine STAT5A and studied the mutants for dimerization, DNA binding, transactivation, and dominant negative effects on erythropoietin-induced STAT5-dependent transcriptional activation. The mutations included two near the amino-terminus (W255KR→AAA and R290QQ→AAA), two in the DNA-binding domain (E437E→AA and V466VV→AAA), and a carboxy-terminal truncation of STAT5A (STAT5A/▵53C) analogous to a naturally occurring isoform of rat STAT5B. All of the STAT mutant proteins were tyrosine phosphorylated by JAK2 and heterodimerized with STAT5B except for the WKR mutant, suggesting an important role for this region in STAT5 for stabilizing dimerization. The WKR, EE, and VVV mutants had no detectable DNA-binding activity, and the WKR and VVV mutants, but not EE, were defective in transcriptional induction. The VVV mutant had a moderate dominant negative effect on erythropoietin-induced STAT5 transcriptional activation, which was likely due to the formation of heterodimers that are defective in DNA binding. Interestingly, the WKR mutant had a potent dominant negative effect, comparable to the transactivation domain deletion mutant, ▵53C. Stable expression of either the WKR or ▵53C STAT5 mutants in the murine myeloid cytokine-dependent cell line 32D inhibited both interleukin-3–dependent proliferation and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)–dependent differentiation, without induction of apoptosis. Expression of these mutants in primary murine bone marrow inhibited G-CSF–dependent granulocyte colony formation in vitro. These results demonstrate that mutations in distinct regions of STAT5 exert dominant negative effects on cytokine signaling, likely through different mechanisms, and suggest a role for STAT5 in proliferation and differentiation of myeloid cells.

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The Psychology of Sharing: Multigroup Analysis among Users and Non-Users of Carsharing

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13126842 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 6842

Author(s):

Érika Martins Silva Ramos ◽

Cecilia Jakobsson Bergstad

Keyword(s):

Travel Behavior ◽

Psychological Factors ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Subjective Norms ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Intention To Use ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis

The present study investigates the determinants of intention to use carsharing services by an integrated model of psychological predictors of travel behavior. The model proposed is tested by multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) in structural equation modeling (SEM) with further discussion about analysis of invariance and its relevance for comparisons between groups. The sample was classified into four groups: Italian users, Italian non-users, Swedish users, and Swedish non-users of carsharing. The users were respondents who have used or are currently using carsharing, while non-users reported never using the carsharing services. The analysis of data from 6072 respondents revealed that control was the main predictor of intention to use carsharing; driving habits had stronger negative effects for users of carsharing than for non-users; subjective norms positively predicted the intention to use carsharing among all groups; trust was a predictor of intention only for the Italian groups; and climate morality had a small negative effect on the Swedish groups only. The outcomes of this investigation will increase the knowledge about the use of carsharing and help to identify the behavioral and psychological factors that primarily influence people’s intention to use it.

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Who Becomes Unhappy when Income Inequality Increases?

Applied Research in Quality of Life ◽

10.1007/s11482-020-09906-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bjorn Lous ◽

Johan Graafland

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Income Inequality ◽

Harmful Effect ◽

World Values Survey ◽

Lower Income ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Average Life ◽

Income Groups ◽

The World ◽

Negative Effect

AbstractLiterature has established that, on a macroeconomic level, income inequality has a negative effect on average life satisfaction. An unresolved question is, however, which income groups are harmed by income inequality. In this paper we investigate this relationship at the microeconomic level combining national indicators of income inequality with individual data of life satisfaction from the World Values Survey for 39 countries over a period of 25 years. Tests on moderation by income category show that the Gini coefficient is most negatively related to life satisfaction of the lowest income groups, but the negative effects also extends to other income groups. For the income share of the top 1% we find a similar result. These findings show that income inequality is especially a concern for the lower income groups, but that the harmful effect of income inequality also spillovers to the life satisfaction of other income groups.

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Do researchers impact their study populations? Assessing the effect of field procedures in a long term population monitoring of sea kraits

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/15685381-00002839 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 33 (3-4) ◽

pp. 365-372 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Thomas Fauvel ◽

François Brischoux ◽

Marine Jeanne Briand ◽

Xavier Bonnet

Keyword(s):

Body Condition ◽

New Caledonia ◽

Stress Hormones ◽

Population Level ◽

Population Monitoring ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Short Term ◽

Head Morphology

Long term population monitoring is essential to ecological studies; however, field procedures may disturb individuals. Assessing this topic is important in worldwide declining taxa such as reptiles. Previous studies focussed on animal welfare issues and examined short-term effects (e.g. increase of stress hormones due to handling). Long-term effects with possible consequences at the population level remain poorly investigated. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of widely used field procedures (e.g. handling, marking, forced regurgitation) both on short-term (hormonal stress response) and on long-term (changes in body condition, survival) scales in two intensively monitored populations of sea kraits (Laticauda spp.) in New Caledonia. Focusing on the most intensively monitored sites, from 2002 to 2012, we gathered approximately 11 200 captures/recaptures on 4500 individuals. Each snake was individually marked (scale clipping + branding) and subjected to various measurements (e.g. body size, head morphology, palpation). In addition, a subsample of more than 500 snakes was forced to regurgitate their prey for dietary analyses. Handling caused a significant stress hormonal response, however we found no detrimental long-term effect on body condition. Forced regurgitation did not cause any significant effect on both body condition one year later and survival. These results suggest that the strong short-term stress provoked by field procedures did not translate into negative effects on the population. Although similar analyses are required to test the validity of our conclusions in other species, our results suggest distinguishing welfare and population issues to evaluate the potential impact of population surveys.

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Effects of trophic status and wetland morphology, hydroperiod, and water chemistry on mercury concentrations in fish

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f99-199 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 57 (1) ◽

pp. 171-180 ◽

Cited By ~ 93

Author(s):

Joel W Snodgrass ◽

Charles H Jagoe ◽

A Lawrence Bryan, Jr. ◽

Heather A Brant ◽

J Burger

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Dissolved Organic Carbon ◽

Water Chemistry ◽

Maximum Depth ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Whole Body ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Depression Wetlands ◽

Negative Effect

We sampled fish and selected water chemistry variables (dissolved organic carbon, sulfate, and pH) in nine southeastern depression wetlands to determine relationships among wetland morphology (surface area and maximum depth), hydrology, water chemistry, and bioaccumulation of mercury (Hg) in fishes. We concentrated on three fish species representing the range of trophic levels occupied by fish in southeastern depression wetlands. Whole-body Hg concentrations were lowest in lake chubsucker (Erimyzon sucetta), a benthic detritivore, and highest in redfin pickerel (Esox americanus americanus), a top carnivore. However, variation in Hg concentrations among wetlands was greater than variation among species. Regression analyses indicated that maximum depth and hydroperiod accounted for significant portions of variation among wetlands in standardized lake chubsucker and redfin pickerel Hg concentrations. Maximum depth and dissolved organic carbon had a negative effect on standardized Hg concentrations in mud sunfish (Acantharchus pomotis). Path analysis confirmed the results of regression analyses, with maximum depth and hydroperiod having relatively large direct negative effects on Hg concentrations. Our results suggest that leaching of Hg from sediments during the drying and reflooding cycle and binding of Hg species by dissolved organic carbon in the water column are primary factors controlling the bioavailability of Hg in southeastern depression wetlands.

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Basking Site Selection and Usage Strategies of the European Pond Turtle, Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758) in Babat valley (Gödöllő, Hungary)

Russian Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.30906/1026-2296-2021-28-4-175-184 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 175-184

Author(s):

Gergő Erdélyi ◽

Borbála Szabó ◽

István Kiss

Keyword(s):

Site Selection ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Freshwater Turtles ◽

Emys Orbicularis ◽

Pond Turtle ◽

Site Type ◽

Type Selection ◽

Body Sizes ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Selection Of

Sun basking is the most common method for freshwater turtles, such as the European pond turtle, to maintain optimal body temperature. The attributes of the macro- and microhabitat features around the basking sites affect the basking site selection of the European pond turtle. To protect the European pond turtle, it is important to know the basking habits among the biological characteristics of the species, along with the effects of the habitat characteristics and the choice of the type of basking sites. The purpose of our research was to detect the effects of macro- and microhabitat features on the selection of basking sites. We wanted to determine basking site type selection according to the carapace length classes and if there is any difference in the choice of basking trunks and branches with different thicknesses. Turtles choose basking sites with less closed vegetation in their environment. We have detected seasonal differences in the microhabitat features. The closing reed and Typha sp. had a negative effect on the number of observed basking turtles. The most popular type of basking sites in the pond system was the commonly occurred fallen tree trunks and branches in the water, regardless of turtle body size. Most turtles used thinner tree trunks and branches for basking. In the meantime, we found differences in the choice of basking trunks between the turtles with different body sizes. Younger turtles with smaller bodies appeared in larger numbers on emergent branches with smaller diameters.

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