Helminth communities in amphibians from Latvia, with an emphasis on their connection to host ecology

2021 ◽  
Vol 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Čeirāns ◽  
E. Gravele ◽  
I. Gavarane ◽  
M. Pupins ◽  
L. Mezaraupe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Bufo Bufo ◽  
Host Size ◽  
Trematode Species ◽  
Ecological Groups ◽  
Food Object ◽  
Linear Discriminant

Abstract Helminth infracommunities were studied at 174 sites of Latvia in seven hosts from six amphibian taxa of different taxonomical, ontogenic and ecological groups. They were described using a standard set of parasitological parameters, compared by ecological indices and linear discriminant analysis. Their species associations were identified by Kendall's rank correlation, but relationships with host size and waterbody area were analysed by zero-inflated Poisson and zero-inflated negative binomial regressions. The richest communities (25 species) were found in post-metamorphic semi-aquatic Pelophylax spp. frogs, which were dominated by trematode species of both adult and larval stages. Both larval and terrestrial hosts yielded depauperate trematode communities with accession of aquatic and soil-transmitted nematode species, respectively. Nematode loads peaked in terrestrial Bufo bufo. Helminth infracommunities suggested some differences in host microhabitat or food object selection not detected by their ecology studies. Associations were present in 96% of helminth species (on average, 7.3 associations per species) and dominated positive ones. Species richness and abundances, in most cases, were positively correlated with host size, which could be explained by increasing parasite intake rates over host ontogeny (trematode adult stages) or parasite accumulation (larval Alaria alata). Two larval diplostomid species (Strigea strigis, Tylodelphys excavata) had a negative relationship with host size, which could be caused by parasite-induced host mortality. The adult trematode abundances were higher in larger waterbodies, most likely due to their ecosystem richness, while higher larval abundances in smaller waterbodies could be caused by elevated infection rates under high host densities.

Colorectal Cancer Classification and Survival Analysis Based on an Integrated RNA and DNA molecular signature

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohanad Mohammed ◽  
Henry Mwambi ◽  
Bernard Omolo
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Survival Analysis ◽  
Discriminant Analysis ◽  
Linear Discriminant Analysis ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Mutation Status ◽  
Linear Discriminant ◽  
Rnaseq Data

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer among women and men in the USA, and recent studies have shown an increasing incidence in less developed regions, including Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We developed a hybrid (DNA mutation and RNA expression) signature and assessed its predictive properties for the mutation status and survival of CRC patients. Methods: Publicly-available microarray and RNASeq data from 54 matched formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples from the Affymetrix GeneChip and RNASeq platforms, were used to obtain differentially expressed genes between mutant and wild-type samples. We applied the support-vector machines, artificial neural networks, random forests, k-nearest neighbor, naïve Bayes, negative binomial linear discriminant analysis, and the Poisson linear discriminant analysis algorithms for classification. Cox proportional hazards model was used for survival analysis. Results: Compared to the genelist from each of the individual platforms, the hybrid genelist had the highest accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and AUC for mutation status, across all the classifiers and is prognostic for survival in patients with CRC. NBLDA method was the best performer on the RNASeq data while the SVM method was the most suitable classifier for CRC across the two data types. Nine genes were found to be predictive of survival. Conclusion: This signature could be useful in clinical practice, especially for colorectal cancer diagnosis and therapy. Future studies should determine the effectiveness of integration in cancer survival analysis and the application on unbalanced data, where the classes are of different sizes, as well as on data with multiple classes.

Athletic Scholarships in Intercollegiate Football

2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 515-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua D. Pitts ◽  
Jon Paul Rezek
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Intercollegiate Athletics ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Field Performance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Football Players ◽  
High School Football ◽  
Football Coaches ◽  
Athletic Scholarships

Despite the financial and cultural importance of intercollegiate athletics in the United States, there is a paucity of research into how athletic scholarships are awarded. In this article, the authors empirically examine the factors that universities use in their decision to offer athletic scholarships to high school football players. Using a Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) model, the authors find a player’s weight, height, body mass index (BMI), race, speed, on-the-field performance, and his high school team’s success often have large and significant impacts on the number of scholarship offers he receives. There is also evidence of a negative relationship between academic performance and scholarship offers. In addition, the authors find evidence of a scholarship premium for players from Florida and Texas. The results also show that running backs, wide receivers, and defensive backs appear to generate the most attention from college football coaches, other things equal.

scholarly journals Will Musculoskeletal Conditions of Shoulder Affect the Hand Function and Hand-Eye Coordination? A Cross-Sectional Analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. 17-20
Author(s):  
Senthil Kumar B ◽  
Subbaiah S ◽  
Arunachalam Ramachandran ◽  
Mohammad Sidiq ◽  
Mahendra Yadav ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shoulder Pain ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Hand Function ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Shoulder Pathology ◽  
Hand Eye Coordination ◽  
Spearman Rank Correlation Analysis ◽  
Sectional Analysis

Objective: To analyze the Hand Function (HF) and Hand-Eye Coordination (HEC) among subjects with shoulder conditions resulting in pain and disability. Methodology: In these cross-sectional 47 subjects with selected shoulder pathology between 30 to 60 years participated. Shoulder pathology was measured in terms of pain and disability using the SPADI scale. These values were correlated with Purdue pegboard and Balloon tossing task and Wall Ball Bounce task. Results: Spearman rank correlation analysis of SPADI pain component revealed that there was a negative correlation with HF (R= -0.596, p<0.001), but there was significant correlation with HEC1 (R= -0.260, p= 0.078) and HEC2 (R= -0.217, p= -0.144). Though there was no correlation a negative relationship was observed between the variables. In the correlation of SPADI disability component there was a perfect negative correlation with HF (R= -0.870, p<0.001), with HEC1 (R= -0.588, p<0.001) and HEC2 (R= -0.541, p<0.001). Conclusion: This study concludes that shoulder pain negatively influences the Hand Function, whereas the shoulder disability negatively influences both Hand Function and Hand-Eye Coordination. The therapist should consider assessing and treating HF and HEC in patients with shoulder pain and disability in the future.

scholarly journals The Effects of Uric Acid, Serum Vitamin D3, and Their Interaction on Parkinson’s Disease Severity

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rokhsareh Meamar ◽  
Pooria Shaabani ◽  
Seyed Reza Tabibian ◽  
Mohammad Reza Aghaye Ghazvini ◽  
Awat Feizi
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D3 ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Referral Hospitals ◽  
The One

Objectives. In current study, the relationships between serum vitamin D3 levels and serum UA concentrations as well as their interaction with severity of PD were evaluated in a sample of Iranian PD patients.Method. In a cross sectional study at the one of the main referral hospitals in central region of Iran, during September to November 2011, 112 patients were recruited. Severity of PD was evaluated sing H&R stages and UPDRS.Results. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient suggests the negative significant association between serum vitamin D3 and UPDRS in patients aged >62 (r=-0.34,P<0.05). No statistically significant association was observed between the UA levels and severity of PD (represented by H&Y categories) in different levels of serum vitamin D3 not only in total sample but also in separate age and sex groups. The linear regression coefficients suggested positive association between UA and serum vitamin D3 with UPDRSIII scores while negative relationship between UA and serum vitamin D3 interaction with UPDRSIII; however it was only statistically significant in age group ≤62 (P<0.05).Conclusion. Our study revealed a negative correlation between interaction of serum vitamin D3 and UA with severity of PD; other studies are required to confirm our findings.

Abundance/host size relationship in a fish trematode community

1992 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 187-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Saad-Fares ◽  
C. Combes
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Competition ◽  
Digestive Tract ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Size Class ◽  
Host Size ◽  
Trematode Species ◽  
High Threshold ◽  
East Mediterranean ◽  
Host Growth ◽  
Single Host

ABSTRACTThe abundance of six species of trematodes: Aphanurus stossichi, Bacciger israelensis, Diphterostomum israelense, Plagioporus idoneus, Lepocreadium album and L. pegorchis, parasitic in the digestive tract of marine teleostei (Sparidae) collected near Jounieh (east Mediterranean), was analysed as a function of the host-size. In two parasite/host systems, infections were observed from the lowest size classes of the sample, with a clear tendency to an increase of abundance in older fish. In four others, parasites appear only above a rather high threshold class, young individuals never being infected. In the last three parasite/host systems, host invasion may occur early or late, but infection decreases above a well defined size class, old fishes rarely or never being infected. A given trematode species. when parasitizing several host species, shows similar abundance/host size relationships, e.g. P. idoneus in Diplodus vulgaris and Oblada melanura. When more than one species of trematode infects a single host species, curves can be markedly distinct; for instance, L. pegorchis was collected from Pagellus erythrinus below 15 cm. whereas D. israelense parasitized the same fish approximately above the same size. There is no evidence that such a replacement of one trematode by another in the course of host growth is a result of interspecific competition.

scholarly journals Effects of Zinc Source and Enzyme Addition on the Fecal Microbiota of Dogs

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Margarida Pereira ◽  
Margarida R. G. Maia ◽  
Carlo Pinna ◽  
Giacomo Biagi ◽  
Elisabete Matos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zinc Sulfate ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Fecal Microbiota ◽  
Latin Squares ◽  
Linear Discriminant ◽  
Zinc Source ◽  
Organic Zinc ◽  
Zinc Bioavailability ◽  
End Products ◽  
Zinc Sources

Supplemental zinc from organic sources has been suggested to be more bioavailable than inorganic ones for dog foods. However, the bioavailability of zinc might be affected by dietary constituents such as phytates. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of two zinc sources (zinc sulfate and zinc proteinate) and the addition of a multi-enzymatic complex from the solid-state fermentation of Aspergillus niger on end-products of fecal fermentation and fecal microbiota of adult Beagles fed a high-phytate diet. The experimental design consisted of three 4 × 4 Latin Squares with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (n = 12 Beagles), with four periods and four diets: zinc sulfate without (IZ) or with (IZ +) enzyme addition, and zinc proteinate without (OZ) or with (OZ +) enzyme addition. Enzyme addition significantly affected Faith’s phylogenetic diversity index, whereas zinc source did not affect either beta or alpha diversity measures. Linear discriminant analysis effect size detected nine taxa as markers for organic zinc, 18 for inorganic source, and none for enzyme addition. However, with the use of a negative binomial generalized linear model, further effects were observed. Organic zinc was associated with a significantly higher abundance of Firmicutes and lower Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, although at a genus level, the response varied. The DNA abundance of Clostridium cluster I, Clostridium cluster XIV, Campylobacter spp., Ruminococcaceae, Turicibacter, and Blautia was significantly higher in dogs fed IZ and IZ + diets. Higher abundance of genus Lactobacillus was observed in dogs fed enzyme-supplemented diets. End-products of fecal fermentation were not affected by zinc source or enzymes. An increase in some taxa of the phyla Actinobacteria and Firmicutes was observed in feces of dogs fed organic zinc with enzyme addition but not with inorganic zinc. This study fills a gap in knowledge regarding the effect of zinc source and enzyme addition on the fecal microbiota of dogs. An association of zinc bioavailability and bacteria abundance is suggested, but the implications for the host (dog) are not clear. Further studies are required to unveil the effects of the interaction between zinc sources and enzyme addition on the fecal microbial community.

Likelihood and frequency of recurrent fire ignitions in highly urbanised Mediterranean landscapes

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Elia ◽  
Vincenzo Giannico ◽  
Giuseppina Spano ◽  
Raffaele Lafortezza ◽  
Giovanni Sanesi
Keyword(s):  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystems ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Local Data ◽  
Response Variable ◽  
Fire Recurrence ◽  
Mediterranean Landscapes ◽  
Fire Ignition ◽  
Road Distance

Fire recurrence plays a key role in shaping landscapes in Mediterranean ecosystems. Short-term recurrent fires, in particular, are increasingly affecting highly urbanised landscapes. Studies worldwide have addressed fire recurrence by analysing environmental, climatic and human-driven factors. Current models use fire recurrence polygons as the dependent variable; yet no published study has focused its analysis on fire recurrence considering recurrent ignition points as the response variable. To fill this gap, remote sensing and available local data were combined to analyse the influence of human and biophysical variables in predicting both the likelihood and frequency of recurrent fire ignition points over a 9-year period (2004–12) in southern Italy. For this purpose, we used the Negative Binomial Hurdle model owing to the stochastic nature of the phenomenon of fire recurrence and the (large) number of non-occurrences. Results on the likelihood and frequency of recurrent fire ignition points (dependent variables) suggested that road distance was the strongest predictor, followed by the presence of shrublands and grasslands. The response variable showed a negative relationship with population density and road distance and a positive relationship with land-cover variables. Vegetation indices were also good predictors of fire recurrence. More broadly, this study is intended to be a further experimental step in fire-management analysis characterised by the continuous interaction between human and natural systems. Constant changes between these systems due to causes such as urban sprawl and climate change can create the conditions for short-term-interval recurrent fires.

Helminths of the Mallard, Anas Platyrhynchos (Aves, Anatidae), in Ukraine: Analysis of the Diversity in Mixed Forest Zone and the Black Sea Region

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya. Yu. Syrota ◽  
O. B. Greben ◽  
A. M. Poluda ◽  
O. M. Maleha ◽  
O. I. Lisitsyna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Sea ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Common Species ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Trematode Species ◽  
Forest Zone ◽  
Black Sea Region ◽  
Echinostoma Revolutum ◽  
High Level

Abstract Thirty-eight Mallards were collected on the territory of Ukrainian Polissia to study the fauna of their gastro-intestinal helminths. Materials were collected in 1998-2000, 2014 and 2016 on the territory of Volyn and Chernihiv Regions. In total, 33 species of helminths were found. Th e prevalence of cestode infection was 78.9 %. We found 18 cestode species: Aploparaksis furcigera, Cloacotaenia megalops, Dicranotaenia coronula, Diorchis acuminatus, D. stefanskii, Fimbriaria fasciolaris, F. teresae, Microsomacanthus compressa, M. spiralibursata, M. paracompressa, M. paramicrosoma, M. parvula, M. hopkinsi, Platyscolex ciliata, Retinometra venusta, Sobolevicanthus aculeostyleticus, S. gracilis, S. stolli. Th e prevalence of trematode infection was 73.7 %. Th ere were 10 trematode species: Bilharziella polonica, Apatemon gracilis, Echinoparyphium aconitum, E. cinctum, Echinostoma revolutum group, Hypoderaeum conoideum, Notocotylus attenuatus, Parastrigea robusta, Prosthogonimus ovatus, P. cuneatus.Th e prevalence of nematode infection was 7.9 %. Th ere were four nematode species: Capillaria anatis, Capillariidae gen. sp., Eucoleus contorta, Tetrameres fi ssispina. Th e prevalence of an acanthocephalan Filicollis anatis was 18.4 %. Th e most common species of helminths were A. furcigera, B. polonica, A. gracilis, Echinostoma revolutum group, F. fasciolaris, H. conoideum. Th e helminth faunas of Mallards from the territory of Ukrainian Polissia and from the Black Sea Region of Ukraine were compared. Th e results of comparison demonstrated a high level of their qualitative similarity.

The parasitic fauna of the European bison (Bison bonasus) (Linnaeus, 1758) and their impact on the conservation. Part 2 The structure and changes over time

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Grzegorz Karbowiak ◽  
Aleksander Demiaszkiewicz ◽  
Anna Pyziel ◽  
Irena Wita ◽  
Bożena Moskwa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Parasite Fauna ◽  
Trematode Species ◽  
European Bison ◽  
Bison Bonasus ◽  
Parasite Species Richness ◽  
Ruminant Species

AbstractDuring the last century the recorded parasite fauna of Bison bonasus includes 88 species. These are 22 species of protozoa, 4 trematode species, 4 cestode species, 43 nematode species, 7 mites, 4 Ixodidae ticks, 1 Mallophaga species, 1 Anoplura, and 2 Hippoboscidae flies. There are few monoxenous parasites, the majority of parasites are typical for other Bovidae and Cervidae species and many are newly acquired from Cervidae. This is an evident increased trend in the parasite species richness, in both the prevalence and intensity of infections, which is associated with the bison population size, host status (captive breeding or free-ranging) and the possibility of contact with other ruminant species. In light of the changes to parasite species richness during the last decades, special emphasis shall be given to new parasite species reported in European bison, their pathogenicity and potential implications for conservation.

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