Ozone Induces Distress Behaviors in Fig Wasps with a Reduced Chance of Recovery

Among anthropogenic environmental risks, air pollution has the potential to impact animal and plant physiology, as well as their interactions and the long-term survival of populations, which could threaten the functioning of ecosystems. What is especially alarming is that the concentration of tropospheric ozone (O3) has dramatically increased since pre-industrial times. However, the direct effects of O3 on the behavior of pollinators themselves have not been investigated so far even though insect behavior is key to their ecological interactions, which underpin the stability of ecological networks responsible for species biodiversity in ecosystems. In this study, we aim to determine the potential effects of O3 episodes at different field-realistic concentrations (0, 40, 80, 120, and 200 ppb for 60 min) on the behavior of the fig wasp Blastophaga psenes by monitoring exposed individuals hourly for 5 h after exposure. We found that ozone episodes induced major changes in insect behavior, which were already significant at 80 ppb with individuals displaying abnormal motility. The tracking over time clearly showed that exposed individuals might only have a reduced chance of recovery, with a decreasing proportion of active fig wasps despite the cessation of an O3 episode. These findings illustrate that O3 episodes can affect pollinator behavior, which may have detrimental implications for pollination systems. It is, therefore, of importance to assess the effects of O3 on insect behavior in order to predict how it could modify ecological interactions and species biodiversity in ecosystems.

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An investigation of reconstituted terlipressin infusion stability for use in hepatorenal syndrome

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-78044-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Thi Ngoc Nhieu Bui ◽

Su Sandar ◽

Giuseppe Luna ◽

Jasmine Beaman ◽

Bruce Sunderland ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatorenal Syndrome ◽

Colour Change ◽

First Line ◽

Term Survival ◽

Advanced Cirrhosis ◽

Elimination Half ◽

Stability Data ◽

The Stability

AbstractHepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a fatal complication of renal dysfunction associated with ascites, liver failure and advanced cirrhosis. Although the best option for long-term survival is liver transplantation, in the critical acute phase, vasoconstrictors are considered first-line supportive agents. Terlipressin is the most widely used vasoconstrictor globally but owing to its short elimination half-life, it is usually administered six hourly by slow intravenous bolus injection. This requires patients to remain in hospital, increasing hospital bed costs and affecting their quality of life. An alternative option for administration of terlipressin is as a continuous infusion using an elastomeric infusor device in the patient’s home. However, stability data on terlipressin in elastomeric infusor devices is lacking. This research aimed to evaluate the stability of terlipressin reconstituted in infusor devices for up to 7 days at 2–8 °C and subsequently at 22.5 °C for 24 h, to mimic home storage and administration temperatures. We report that terlipressin was physically and chemically stable under these conditions; all reconstituted infusor concentrations retained above 90% of the original concentration over the test conditions. No colour change or precipitation in the solutions were evident.

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Diet segregation of fig wasps and the stability of fig-fig wasp mutualism

Biodiversity Science ◽

10.3724/sp.j.1003.2008.08216 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. 525 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Sun Baofa ◽

Wang Ruiwu ◽

Hu Zhong

Keyword(s):

Fig Wasp ◽

Fig Wasps ◽

The Stability

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The European Cartel Office (ECO) revisited

10.31228/osf.io/x4bg8 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Florian Idelberger

Keyword(s):

Law Enforcement ◽

Relevant Literature ◽

Competition Law ◽

Critical Examination ◽

Term Survival ◽

Competition Law Enforcement ◽

Normative Evaluation ◽

Comprehensive Picture ◽

The Stability

The stability and long-term survival of EU institutions should not be taken for granted, not even for a successful institution such as DG Competition. This point was underlined by the on-going crisis. Thus, it makes sense to evaluate alternative concepts of governance and policy. To this end, this paper analyses in how far the concept and prospects of an ECO are still viable today. Through critical examination of relevant literature, the past developments in this regard are analysed. Furthermore, a model of aspects that are important for competition law enforcement is used to draw a comprehensive picture of aspects important for competition law enforcement and its institutions, such as goals, independence, competition economics, procedural issues, caseload and structure. Finally a normative evaluation of a prospective independent agency is done, which shows a possible solution for an independent European Cartel Office. This institution would be quite similar to DG Competition in some aspects, but potentially quite different, especially with regard to procedure.

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Caspases and apoptosis

Essays in Biochemistry ◽

10.1042/bse0380009 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 38 ◽

pp. 9-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 121

Author(s):

Guy S Salvesen

Keyword(s):

Cysteine Proteases ◽

Signalling Pathways ◽

Term Survival ◽

Mature Adult ◽

Intracellular Signalling Pathways ◽

Adult Cell ◽

Caspase Family ◽

Cell Fragments ◽

Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

The ability of metazoan cells to undergo programmed cell death is vital to both the precise development and long-term survival of the mature adult. Cell deaths that result from engagement of this programme end in apoptosis, the ordered dismantling of the cell that results in its 'silent' demise, in which packaged cell fragments are removed by phagocytosis. This co-ordinated demise is mediated by members of a family of cysteine proteases known as caspases, whose activation follows characteristic apoptotic stimuli, and whose substrates include many proteins, the limited cleavage of which causes the characteristic morphology of apoptosis. In vertebrates, a subset of caspases has evolved to participate in the activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and thus members of the caspase family participate in one of two very distinct intracellular signalling pathways.

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