scholarly journals The Microtubule-severing Proteins Spastin and Katanin Participate Differently in the Formation of Axonal Branches

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 1485-1498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenqian Yu ◽  
Liang Qiang ◽  
Joanna M. Solowska ◽  
Arzu Karabay ◽  
Sirin Korulu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Cultured Neurons ◽  
Local Concentration ◽  
Microtubule Severing ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Branch Formation

Neurons express two different microtubule-severing proteins, namely P60-katanin and spastin. Here, we performed studies on cultured neurons to ascertain whether these two proteins participate differently in axonal branch formation. P60-katanin is more highly expressed in the neuron, but spastin is more concentrated at sites of branch formation. Overexpression of spastin dramatically enhances the formation of branches, whereas overexpression of P60-katanin does not. The excess spastin results in large numbers of short microtubules, whereas the excess P60-katanin results in short microtubules intermingled with longer microtubules. We hypothesized that these different microtubule-severing patterns may be due to the presence of molecules such as tau on the microtubules that more strongly shield them from being severed by P60-katanin than by spastin. Consistent with this hypothesis, we found that axons depleted of tau show a greater propensity to branch, and that this is true whether or not the axons are also depleted of spastin. We propose that there are two modes by which microtubule severing is orchestrated during axonal branch formation, one based on the local concentration of spastin at branch sites and the other based on local detachment from microtubules of molecules such as tau that regulate the severing properties of P60-katanin.

scholarly journals Risk of pre-term births and major birth defects resulting from paternal intake of COVID-19 medications prior to conception

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Rizzi ◽  
Maarten J. Wensink ◽  
Rune Lindahl-Jacobsen ◽  
Lu Tian ◽  
Ying Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Birth Outcomes ◽  
Birth Defects ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
The Other ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Adverse Birth Outcomes ◽  
Term Birth ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Term Births

Abstract Objective With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, large numbers of people will receive one of the several medications proposed to treat COVID-19, including patients of reproductive age. Given that some medications have shown adverse effects on sperm quality, there might be a transgenerational concern. We aim at examining the association between drugs proposed to treat COVID-19 when taken by the father around conception and any pre-term birth or major birth defects in offspring in a nation-wide cohort study using Danish registry data. Offspring whose father filled at least one prescription of the following medications in the 3 months preceding conception were considered exposed: chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, losartan, azithromycin, naproxen, dexamethasone and prednisone. Results For azithromycin and naproxen, large numbers of offspring were exposed (> 1800 offspring), and we found no association with adverse birth outcomes. For chloroquine, losartan and dexamethasone, exposure was intermediate (~ 900 offspring), and there was no statistically significant association with birth defects. For hydroxychloroquine and prednisone, exposure was limited (< 300 offspring). Our evidence suggests that azithromycin and naproxen are safe with respect to pre-term birth and birth defects. For the other drugs investigated larger exposures are needed for conclusive statements.

Beta-Blocker Attenuates Cardiotoxicity Related Anthracycline Usage

2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (8) ◽  
pp. 1389-1392
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Beta Blocker ◽  
The Other ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Therapy Effectiveness ◽  
Chemotherapy Agents

To summarize the recent trials and studies of the role of beta-blocker on the treatment for cancer patients treated with anthracycline to decrease morbidity and mortality rate. Good management of cancer will result in large numbers of cancer survivors. On the other hand, cancer therapy also has side effects, one of which is cardiotoxicity. Cardiotoxicity could reduce therapy effectiveness, hence, increase disease progression and mortality rate. Anthracyclines is one of the chemotherapy agents with cardiotoxicity as a side effect. Beta-blocker has the ability to reduce cardiotoxicity due to anthracyclines usage. Keywords: Beta-blocker; Cardiotoxicity; Anthracyclines

scholarly journals Note: Recording of Some Beetles in Honey Bee Colonies

2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.F. Abou-Shaara ◽  
M.E. Ahmad ◽  
J. Háva
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
The Other ◽  
Beetle Species ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
The World ◽  
Bee Bread ◽  
Small Hive Beetles ◽  
Bee Colonies ◽  
Different Parts

Abstract Honey bees are very valuable to human. These social insects contribute in the pollination of many crops. Also, the products from honey bee colonies have many nutritional and medicinal benefits. Thus, keeping honey bees are very valuable and can be considered as source of income to many families. There are many diseases and pests that attack honey bee colonies. The pests attack bee colonies include: hornets, wax moths, bee-eater birds, and beetles. Such challenges can impact the survival and productivity of honey bee colonies. In this study, some beetle species belong to Fam. Nitidulidae, Dermestidae and Mycetophagidae were detected in honey bee colonies in Egypt, during spring. Despite the presence of many beetle species in the agricultural environment, only few species preferred the invasion of the colonies for feeding. These beetles do not attack stages of honey bees. They only feed on stored pollen or bee bread, especially those fallen on the bottom of the beehives. This is an alarm to follow the feeding behavior and distribution of these beetles. These beetles’ species can be considered as potential pests to weak honey bee colonies, housed in old or damaged beehives. The presence of large numbers of these beetles in weak colonies may disturb the activities of the bees and may passively impact the survival of the colonies. Listing these beetles is very important to better understanding the interaction between honey bees and beetles. On the other side, small hive beetles were not detected in the colonies. These beetles are currently one of the major problems facing honey bees in different parts of the world. This study confirms the absence of small hive beetles from Egypt.

scholarly journals Frugal innovation: doing more with less for more

2017 ◽  
Vol 375 (2095) ◽  
pp. 20160372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaideep Prabhu
Keyword(s):  
Global Economy ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
The Other ◽  
Market Mechanisms ◽  
Frugal Innovation ◽  
Developed Economies ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Demand Reduction ◽  
The One

The global economy will face significant challenges over the next few decades. On the one hand, it must meet the needs of 7 billion consumers (growing to 9 billion by 2050), including the currently unmet basic needs of large numbers in developing countries in areas such as food, energy, housing and health. On the other hand, it must achieve this growth without exceeding the resources available on the planet or causing environmental devastation. This paper argues that such change is possible through a systemic shift to a frugal economy that involves radical, frugal innovation across sectors. Such a transformation will involve the participation of large and small firms, consumers and governments alike. The paper introduces the notion of frugal innovation—the creation of faster, better and cheaper solutions for more people that employ minimal resources—and discusses strategies and examples of such change already taking place in core sectors like manufacturing, food, automotive and energy in developing and developed economies. It also outlines the role of the interaction between large and small firms as well as between firms and consumers in making change possible, as well as the role of governments in driving change where market mechanisms alone will not suffice. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Material demand reduction’.

On the Structure and Life-histories of British Fresh-water Larval Trematodes

Parasitology ◽  
1929 ◽  
Vol 21 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 189-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. F. Harper
Keyword(s):  
Fresh Water ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
The Other ◽  
Trematode Species ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Double Infection ◽  
Activity Duration ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Limnaea Stagnalis ◽  
First Time

A large number of fresh-water Invertebrates has been examined and the parasites obtained from them include examples of the commoner groups to be met with in any area surveyed. Six larval Trematodes have been described in detail, and by means of direct animal experiment two of them have been definitely related to known adults. Of these two one is the larva of Notocotylus seineti Fuhr., and is doubtfully Cercaria monostomi v. Linst., while the other is the larva of Echinoparyphium recurvatum v. Linst., and is described here in detail for the first time. The four xiphidiocercariae described are new. Data relating to the activity, duration of free life, and process of encystment of cercariae within the bodies of secondary intermediate hosts is also given.Effect of the parasite on the host. The disruption of the tissues brought about by the presence of sporocysts or rediae in the liver of a mollusc injures the host, and in many cases brings about its death. The gonads also are often attacked and completely destroyed. This latter feature of parasitic castration has been observed by Giard (1888) among certain species of Limnaea, Planorbis and Paludina attacked by sporocysts. Brown (1926) states that the gonads are rarely infected. As regards the encysted stages of cercariae these appear to do very little harm to their hosts even when present in large numbers. These observations are in agreement with those of Lebour (1912) for the sporocyst, rediae, and encysted stages of marine Trematodes.Double infection. I have found no instance of a double infection among the species described. In the literature, several records show the parasitism of two or more species of cercariae, within one and the same host. The occurrence of two species is most commonly met with, and as a rule one is in predominance. Sewell (1922) states that double infection is not common in India. Faust (1917), on the other hand, has found as many as four trematode species within the same host individual (Planorbis trivolis). Hesse (1923) states that “every large Limnaea peregra examined was heavily infected with sporocysts of either of the two species, but it was rare to find both together.” Brown (1926) in the neighbourhood of Birmingham has found three examples of associated xiphidiocercariae and furcocercariae, one example of xiphidiocercariae and echinostome cercariae, and two examples of echinostome cercaria, all from Limnaea stagnalis L.

scholarly journals NOTES ON PREDACEOUS HETEROPTERA, WITH PROF. UHLER'S DESCRIPTION OF TWO SPECIES

1897 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 115-118
Author(s):  
A. H. Kirkland
Keyword(s):  
Gypsy Moth ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
The Other ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Porthetria Dispar ◽  
The Common ◽  
Tent Caterpillars ◽  
Tent Caterpillar

During the month of May, 1896, while making field observations in Malden and Medford, Mass., upon the insects known to attack the gypsy moth (Porthetria dispar), I found that many of the common predaceous bugs upon emerging from hibernation greedily availed themselves of the food supply offered by the tent caterpillar and destroyed large numbers of this insect. Podisus placidus, P. serieventris, P. modestus, Dendrocoris humeralis, Euschistus fissilis, E. tristigmus, E. ictericus, E. politus n. sp., Menecles insertus and Diplodus lividus were often found feeding upon partially grown tent caterpillars. Podisus placidus and P. serieventris enter the tents and prey upon the inmates, but the other species generally attacked the larvæ while they were feeding. The species of Euschistus are the least predaceous and it is probable that they naturally feed more upon plants than upon insects.

scholarly journals Use of Passage Cues in Answering of Questions: Investigation of the Effects of an Explicit External Criterion on Adults' Studying Behavior

1981 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 335-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Garner ◽  
Patricia Alexander
Keyword(s):  
Classroom Practice ◽  
Question Answering ◽  
The Other ◽  
Adult Readers ◽  
Satisfaction Scale ◽  
External Criterion ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
External Cues

Thirty proficient adult readers were directed to read a passage of about 4200 words under one of two treatments. Half read; responded to a reader-based question; and were given an explicit, external criterion for completing a text-based question. The other 15 subjects read; responded to the same reader-based question; but were given no criterion for completion of the text-based question. All subjects completed a response satisfaction scale and chose either to stop the task at that point or to reanswer the questions with text pages available as external cues. The adults given the criterion treatment—despite superior question-answering performance to their non-criterion peers—expressed dissatisfaction with responses, and chose in large numbers (14 of 15) to reanswer the questions; no non-criterion treatment subjects chose to exercise the same option. Criterion subjects who did choose to reread and reanswer generally selected highly informative pages to assist in work on the text-based questions and improved their answers substantially. Implications from the findings are drawn for classroom practice in the area of “studying.”

Abundance and Relative Importance of Caterpillars Attacking Cabbage in Eastern Ontario

1955 ◽  
Vol 87 (9) ◽  
pp. 400-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Harcourt ◽  
R. H. Backs ◽  
L. M. Cass
Keyword(s):  
Trichoplusia Ni ◽  
Pieris Rapae ◽  
Diamondback Moth ◽  
Economic Importance ◽  
The Other ◽  
Cabbage Looper ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Four Seasons ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Eastern Ontario

Cabbage and related crops are attacked every year throughout Ontario by caterpillars of three species, namely, the imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae (L.), the diamondback moth, Plutella maculipennis (Curt.), and the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hbn.). The imported cabbageworm is generally regarded as the most abundant of the three species and is reported as doing damage of considerable economic importance each year. The cabbage looper does not occur in large numbers until late in the season, but in most years it is believed to be second only in importance to the imported cabbageworm. The diamondback moth is generally considered to be much less important than the other two species (Caesar, 19i8). As previously reported (Matthewman et al., 1952), these beliefs were not borne our by observations of field populations at Ottawa in 1950. Whereas populations of the cabbage looper were strikingly low, those of the diamondback moth were much higher than the literature indicated. This paper is a summary of four seasons' experiments, 1951-1954, undertaken to assess the abundance and relative importance of the three species in eastern Ontario.

Adaptative Radiation of the Retina in Galaxiidae (Salmoniformes)

1990 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 173 ◽  
Author(s):  
MA Ali ◽  
S Sakurai ◽  
SP Collin
Keyword(s):  
Light Microscopy ◽  
The Other ◽  
Ecological Constraints ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
The Common ◽  
Retinal Structure

The retinas of seven galaxiid species collected from different habitats in Tasmania were investigated by light microscopy. There are remarkable differences between Galaxias and Paragalaxias species. The retinas of Galaxias species are characterised by a less dense retinal epithelial pigment (REP), large numbers of short and long rods, the presence of a tapetum, and stable (non-responsive) single cones in dark-adapted specimens. On the other hand, the common retinal features in Paragalaxias species include few large rods and many cones, the presence of a tapetum, lower summation and a pattern of retinomotor responses not unlike that of most other teleosts. There is no striking retinal feature that could be related to differences in their clear or turbid habitats. In spite of its probably being nocturnal, the retinal structure of P. dissimilis is basically similar to that of other diurnal Paragalaxias species. Some of the ecological constraints placed upon these species are also discussed.

Feeding behaviour and host preferences of British mosquitoes

1971 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 653-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. W. Service
Keyword(s):  
Blood Meal ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Culex Pipiens ◽  
Natural Host ◽  
The Other ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Host Preferences ◽  
Large Numbers

The arrival of mosquitoes at human bait under natural conditions could be divided into three behavioural phases, the exploratory, the penetration and feeding periods. The duration of these periods was recorded in Mansonia richiardii (Fie), Anopheles plumbeus Steph., Aedes punctor (Kby.), Ae. detritus (Hal.), Ae. cinereus Mg. and Ae. cantans (Mg.). Adults of M. richiardii took the longest (about 4 min) and those of Ae. cinereus the shortest (about 2 min) time to obtain a blood-meal. Penetration by the mosquitoes' mouthparts was felt in about 17% of the feeds, and irritation was caused by about 18% of the mosquitoes during feeding. The natural host preferences of these, and 11 other species, were determined by precipitin tests on blood engorged mosquitoes. Adults of Culex pipiens L., C. torrentium Mart, Culiseta morsitans (Theo.) and C. litorea (Shute) were essentially avian feeders; three adults of the latter two species had also fed on unidentified reptiles. Most adults of the other species had fed mainly on mammals. There were few multiple feeds. Although the ability of a mosquito to take a blood-meal quickly from a host was recognised as important, other phenomena such as uninterrupted feeding, simultaneous feeding by large numbers of mosquitoes and host desensitisation to bites were also considered important in contributing to the success or failure of a mosquito in obtaining a blood-meal.

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