Host resistance and tolerance to parasitism: development-dependent fitness consequences in Common Hourglass Tree Frog (Polypedates cruciger) tadpoles exposed to two larval trematodes

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (11) ◽  
pp. 1021-1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.U.K. Pathirana ◽  
M. Meegaskumbura ◽  
R.S. Rajakaruna
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Parasite Load ◽  
Tree Frog ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Defense Strategies ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Fitness Consequences ◽  
Effect Model ◽  
Age Dependent ◽  
Late Stages

Tolerance and resistance to parasites are defense strategies of host organisms. Here, we tested the development-dependent tolerance and resistance of Polypedates cruciger Blyth, 1852 tadpoles to trematode infection. We exposed the tadpoles at Gosner stages 27, 28–29, and 30–31 to two types of cercariae (furcocercous and pleurolophocercous cercariae of Acanthostomum burminis (Bhalerao, 1926)) under laboratory conditions. To determine tolerance (the ability of a host to limit health effects of a given parasite load), we exposed the tadpoles until all cercariae penetrated the host. As a measure of determining resistance, we exposed tadpoles to cercariae for a limited time and counted the number of cercariae penetrating the tadpoles. The survival of tadpoles exposed at early stages was significantly lower than that of tadpoles exposed at later stages (mixed-effect model, p < 0.05), suggesting an age-dependent tolerance to parasitism. Tadpoles exposed at early stages were also smaller, took longer to metamorphosis, showed lower resistance to parasitism (ANOVA, p < 0.001), and developed axial malformations. In the resistance experiment, fewer parasites penetrated later stage tadpoles than early stage tadpoles. Tadpoles of P. cruciger showed a development-dependent tolerance and resistance to parasitism, resulting in greater survival and fewer malformations when parasitism occurs at late stages.

scholarly journals Research of the Effect of Tourism Economic Contact on the Efficiency of the Tourism Industry

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 5652
Author(s):  
Yongquan Li ◽  
Rui Li ◽  
Wenqi Ruan ◽  
Chih-Hsing Liu
Keyword(s):  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Regional Tourism ◽  
Effect Model ◽  
Tourism Resources ◽  
Transportation Development ◽  
Regional Tourism Cooperation

Following regional tourism cooperation, the promotion of balanced sustainable development has begun to play a vital role in the tourism industry. Using the West Coast of the Strait urban agglomeration, China, as an example, this study uses a data envelopment analysis (DEA) to analyzes the nonlinear relationship between tourism economic contact intensity and tourism industry efficiency by constructing a mixed effect model. The results show the following: (1) In the early stage of regional tourism cooperation, the efficiency of the tourism industry will decrease with an increase in the intensity of tourism economic contact. As regional cooperation tends towards a stable stage, the efficiency of the tourism industry will continue to increase with the strengthening of the intensity of tourism economic contact. (2) The regional economic level harms the efficiency of the tourism industry. The urbanization level has a positive effect on the efficiency of the tourism industry. (3) The level of opening up and transportation development in the region will not only bring tourism resources or tourists, but also lead them to flow out. They have no significant impacts on the efficiency of the tourism industry.

scholarly journals MegaLMM: Mega-scale linear mixed models for genomic predictions with thousands of traits

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Runcie ◽  
Jiayi Qu ◽  
Hao Cheng ◽  
Lorin Crawford
Keyword(s):  
Genomic Prediction ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Human Genetics ◽  
Linear Mixed Effect Model ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Statistical Framework ◽  
Effect Model ◽  
Plant Data ◽  
Genetic Value

AbstractLarge-scale phenotype data can enhance the power of genomic prediction in plant and animal breeding, as well as human genetics. However, the statistical foundation of multi-trait genomic prediction is based on the multivariate linear mixed effect model, a tool notorious for its fragility when applied to more than a handful of traits. We present , a statistical framework and associated software package for mixed model analyses of a virtually unlimited number of traits. Using three examples with real plant data, we show that can leverage thousands of traits at once to significantly improve genetic value prediction accuracy.

scholarly journals Ghost QTL and hotspots in experimental crosses: novel approach for modeling polygenic effects

Genetics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Wallin ◽  
Małgorzata Bogdan ◽  
Piotr A Szulc ◽  
R W Doerge ◽  
David O Siegmund
Keyword(s):  
Recombinant Inbred Lines ◽  
Simultaneous Detection ◽  
Selection Strategy ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Effect Model ◽  
Multiple Qtl ◽  
Sample Correlation ◽  
False Discoveries

Abstract Ghost quantitative trait loci (QTL) are the false discoveries in QTL mapping, that arise due to the “accumulation” of the polygenic effects, uniformly distributed over the genome. The locations on the chromosome that are strongly correlated with the total of the polygenic effects depend on a specific sample correlation structure determined by the genotypes at all loci. The problem is particularly severe when the same genotypes are used to study multiple QTL, e.g. using recombinant inbred lines or studying the expression QTL. In this case, the ghost QTL phenomenon can lead to false hotspots, where multiple QTL show apparent linkage to the same locus. We illustrate the problem using the classic backcross design and suggest that it can be solved by the application of the extended mixed effect model, where the random effects are allowed to have a nonzero mean. We provide formulas for estimating the thresholds for the corresponding t-test statistics and use them in the stepwise selection strategy, which allows for a simultaneous detection of several QTL. Extensive simulation studies illustrate that our approach eliminates ghost QTL/false hotspots, while preserving a high power of true QTL detection.

scholarly journals Altered speech patterns in subjects with post-traumatic headache due to mild traumatic brain injury

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine D. Chong ◽  
Jianwei Zhang ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Teresa Wu ◽  
Gina Dumkrieger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Speaking Rate ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Effect Model ◽  
Vowel Space ◽  
Post Traumatic

Abstract Background/objective Changes in speech can be detected objectively before and during migraine attacks. The goal of this study was to interrogate whether speech changes can be detected in subjects with post-traumatic headache (PTH) attributed to mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and whether there are within-subject changes in speech during headaches compared to the headache-free state. Methods Using a series of speech elicitation tasks uploaded via a mobile application, PTH subjects and healthy controls (HC) provided speech samples once every 3 days, over a period of 12 weeks. The following speech parameters were assessed: vowel space area, vowel articulation precision, consonant articulation precision, average pitch, pitch variance, speaking rate and pause rate. Speech samples of subjects with PTH were compared to HC. To assess speech changes associated with PTH, speech samples of subjects during headache were compared to speech samples when subjects were headache-free. All analyses were conducted using a mixed-effect model design. Results Longitudinal speech samples were collected from nineteen subjects with PTH (mean age = 42.5, SD = 13.7) who were an average of 14 days (SD = 32.2) from their mTBI at the time of enrollment and thirty-one HC (mean age = 38.7, SD = 12.5). Regardless of headache presence or absence, PTH subjects had longer pause rates and reductions in vowel and consonant articulation precision relative to HC. On days when speech was collected during a headache, there were longer pause rates, slower sentence speaking rates and less precise consonant articulation compared to the speech production of HC. During headache, PTH subjects had slower speaking rates yet more precise vowel articulation compared to when they were headache-free. Conclusions Compared to HC, subjects with acute PTH demonstrate altered speech as measured by objective features of speech production. For individuals with PTH, speech production may have been more effortful resulting in slower speaking rates and more precise vowel articulation during headache vs. when they were headache-free, suggesting that speech alterations were related to PTH and not solely due to the underlying mTBI.

scholarly journals Platelets as messengers of early-stage cancer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siamack Sabrkhany ◽  
Marijke J. E. Kuijpers ◽  
Mirjam G. A. oude Egbrink ◽  
Arjan W. Griffioen
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Angiogenesis ◽  
Blood Test ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Human Studies ◽  
Early Stage Cancer ◽  
Reciprocal Interaction ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
New Strategy ◽  
Mrna Content

AbstractPlatelets have an important role in tumor angiogenesis, growth, and metastasis. The reciprocal interaction between cancer and platelets results in changes of several platelet characteristics. It is becoming clear that analysis of these platelet features could offer a new strategy in the search for biomarkers of cancer. Here, we review the human studies in which platelet characteristics (e.g., count, volume, protein, and mRNA content) are investigated in early-stage cancer. The main focus of this paper is to evaluate which platelet features are suitable for the development of a blood test that could detect cancer in its early stages.

scholarly journals Limited not lazy: a quasi-experimental secondary analysis of evidence quality evaluations by those who hold implausible beliefs

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristy A. Martire ◽  
Bethany Growns ◽  
Agnes S. Bali ◽  
Bronte Montgomery-Farrer ◽  
Stephanie Summersby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Linear Mixed Effect Model ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
High Quality Evidence ◽  
Effect Model ◽  
Evidence Quality ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Quality Evidence

AbstractPast research suggests that an uncritical or ‘lazy’ style of evaluating evidence may play a role in the development and maintenance of implausible beliefs. We examine this possibility by using a quasi-experimental design to compare how low- and high-quality evidence is evaluated by those who do and do not endorse implausible claims. Seven studies conducted during 2019–2020 provided the data for this analysis (N = 746). Each of the seven primary studies presented participants with high- and/or low-quality evidence and measured implausible claim endorsement and evaluations of evidence persuasiveness (via credibility, value, and/or weight). A linear mixed-effect model was used to predict persuasiveness from the interaction between implausible claim endorsement and evidence quality. Our results showed that endorsers were significantly more persuaded by the evidence than non-endorsers, but both groups were significantly more persuaded by high-quality than low-quality evidence. The interaction between endorsement and evidence quality was not significant. These results suggest that the formation and maintenance of implausible beliefs by endorsers may result from less critical evidence evaluations rather than a failure to analyse. This is consistent with a limited rather than a lazy approach and suggests that interventions to develop analytical skill may be useful for minimising the effects of implausible claims.

scholarly journals The expression of microRNA-331-3p and microRNA-23b3 in Egyptian patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis C-related liver cirrhosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Reham A. Aboelwafa ◽  
Walid Ismail Ellakany ◽  
Marwa A. Gamaleldin ◽  
Marwa A. Saad
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Group Iii ◽  
Real Time Quantitative Pcr ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Group I ◽  
Egyptian Patients ◽  
Cirrhotic Patients

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis C are strongly associated. The current work aimed to study the expression levels of microRNA-331-3p and microRNA-23b-3p as propable biomarkers for detecting liver cancer (HCC) at its early stages in patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis. The current prospective study included two hundred participants, divided into three groups: group I, 100 patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis; group II, 50 HCC patients at early stages; and group III, 50 apparentlyhealthy controls. All patients had routine laboratory workup and ultrasound hepatic assessment. Values of microRNA-331-3p and microRNA-23b-3p were measured by real-time quantitative PCR. Results Levels of miR-331-3p were significantly higher in HCC patients than in cirrhotic patients and controls (p < 0.001), while levels of miR-23b-3p were significantly lower in HCC patients compared to cirrhotics and controls (p < 0.001). ROC curve revealed that miR-23b-3p had 80% sensitivity and 74% specificity, miR-331-3p had 66% sensitivity and 61% specificity, and AFP had 64% sensitivity and 61% specificity of 61% in discrimination between HCC patients from controls. Conclusion Serum miR-23b-3p is a more effective predictor than miR-331-3p and AFP for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis C (HCV)-related cirrhotic patients.

scholarly journals Association between Anxiety Levels and Weight Change in the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Rieke ◽  
Ramon Durazo-Arvizu ◽  
Kiang Liu ◽  
Erin D. Michos ◽  
Amy Luke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Change ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Effect Model ◽  
Lower Baseline ◽  
Multiethnic Cohort ◽  
Baseline Weight ◽  
Study Population ◽  
The Relationship

Objective. To examine the association between anxiety and weight change in a multiethnic cohort followed for approximately 10 years.Methods. The study population consisted of participants of the multiethnic study of atherosclerosis who met specified inclusion criteria (n= 5,799). Weight was measured at baseline and four subsequent follow-up exams. Anxiety was analyzed as sex-specific anxiety quartiles (QANX). The relationship between anxiety level and weight change was examined using a mixed-effect model with weight as the dependent variable, anxiety and time as the independent variables, and adjusted for covariates.Results. Average annual weight change (range) was −0.17 kg (−6.04 to 4.38 kg) for QANX 1 (lowest anxiety), −0.16 kg (−10.71 to 4.45 kg) for QANX 2, −0.15 kg (−8.69 to 6.39 kg) for QANX 3, and −0.20 kg (−7.12 to 3.95 kg) for QANX 4 (highest anxiety). No significant association was noted between QANX and weight change. However, the highest QANX was associated with a −2.48 kg (95% CI = −3.65, −1.31) lower baseline weight compared to the lowest QANX after adjustment for all covariates.Conclusions. Among adults, age 45–84, higher levels of anxiety, defined by the STPI trait anxiety scale, are associated with lower average baseline weight but not with weight change.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document