The Role of Photobionts as Drivers of Diversification in an Island Radiation of Lichen-Forming Fungi

Speciation in oceanic islands has attracted the interest of scientists since the 19th century. One of the most striking evolutionary phenomena that can be studied in islands is adaptive radiation, that is, when a lineage gives rise to different species by means of ecological speciation. Some of the best-known examples of adaptive radiation are charismatic organisms like the Darwin finches of the Galapagos and the cichlid fishes of the great African lakes. In these and many other examples, a segregation of the trophic niche has been shown to be an important diversification driver. Radiations are known in other groups of organisms, such as lichen-forming fungi. However, very few studies have investigated their adaptive nature, and none have focused on the trophic niche. In this study, we explore the role of the trophic niche in a putative radiation of endemic species from the Macaronesian Region, the Ramalina decipiens group. The photobiont diversity was studied by Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the ITS2 region of 197 specimens spanning the phylogenetic breadth and geographic range of the group. A total of 66 amplicon sequence variants belonging to the four main clades of the algal genus Trebouxia were found. Approximately half of the examined thalli showed algal coexistence, but in most of them, a single main photobiont amounted to more than 90% of the reads. However, there were no significant differences in photobiont identity and in the abundance of ITS2 reads across the species of the group. We conclude that a segregation of the trophic niche has not occurred in the R. decipiens radiation.

Community of Practice as a teaching approach in a postgraduate environment. An insider ethnography of a higher education institution in South Africa

This auto-ethnographic description of the experiences in the development of the teaching and learning approach, at the postgraduate level, introduces the impact of the community of practice in the development of the learning processes in South Africa, with an international view. The principles of community of practice are outlined and the theoretical grounding is provided in terms of the notion of assemblage theory, the definitions of fundamental and derivative epistemic authority, as well as the assemblage boundary and the personal intents of the community of practice members. The theoretical grounding is then applied through several iterations of the community of practice between 2006 and present. The adaptive nature of the community of practice as an assemblage and the function as a sociology-of-knowledge system are outlined.

Clinical characteristics and cellular immunity in children with rotavirus infection

Objective. To determine clinical course and state of cellular immunity in young children with rotavirus infection.Children characteristics and research methods. The scientists examined children without infectious pathology and with rotavirus infection (20 patients in each group) using general clinical methods. Rotavirus infection was diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction and immunochromatography. Cellular immunity parameters were determined by flow cytometry.Results. All the children under observation had a moderate form of the disease with symptoms of exsicosis of the II degree. Changes in the immune status were mainly of a regulatory, adaptive nature, which contributed to the favorable course of rotavirus infection in children, however, the dynamics of the number of cells expressing Toll-like receptors indicates the immunosuppressive properties of rotavirus.Conclusion. Currently, rotavirus infection in young children is typical with watery diarrhea as the most pronounced and long-lasting clinical symptom. Shifts in immunogram indices in general indicate a deficiency of the cellular link of immunity and a violation of its regulation with simultaneous activation of the immune system in an effort to achieve the eradication of the rotavirus with immunosuppressive properties.

The Importance of Conformity Between Various Schools of Islamic Jurisprudence in Contemporary Era (In the Light of Jurisprudential Conflicts)

Ijtihad is a unique feature of Islam which testifies to the adaptive nature of Islam. Imam Abdul Wahab Sha’rani and Shah Wali Ullah are iconic personalities, who have contributed immensely for the reformation of Islam. In this write up, arguments of Imam Sha’rani and Shah Wali Ullah have been discussed and compared to create jurisprudential conformity which is crucial to create unanimity in Muslim societies, to solve present sectarian issues, development of mutual respect and eradication of narrow-mindedness and intolerance. There should be guiding principles for establishing conformity among the jurisprudential schools of thought there should be effort for making a collective Jurisprudence.

The Role of Decorin and Biglycan Signaling in Tumorigenesis

The complex and adaptive nature of malignant neoplasm constitute a major challenge for the development of effective anti-oncogenic therapies. Emerging evidence has uncovered the pivotal functions exerted by the small leucine-rich proteoglycans, decorin and biglycan, in affecting tumor growth and progression. In their soluble forms, decorin and biglycan act as powerful signaling molecules. By receptor-mediated signal transduction, both proteoglycans modulate key processes vital for tumor initiation and progression, such as autophagy, inflammation, cell-cycle, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Despite of their structural homology, these two proteoglycans interact with distinct cell surface receptors and thus modulate distinct signaling pathways that ultimately affect cancer development. In this review, we summarize growing evidence for the complex roles of decorin and biglycan signaling in tumor biology and address potential novel therapeutic implications.

Estetyka ewolucyjna: między uniwersalizmem a adaptacją

The publication of Jerzy Luty’s book is a very good opportunity to look at the achievements of contemporary evolutionary aesthetics. In Jerzy Luty’s book one can find not only a successful and accurate presentation of the views of E. Dissaneyake and D. Dutton, but also the discussion of a number of difficult problems arising from the analysis of the nature and function of art from the evolutionary point of view. One such problem is undoubtedly the problem of the universalism of art, while another is the problem of art as adaptation. In the paper, I discuss and analyse the original solutions to the problems of universalism and the adaptive nature of art proposed by the author of the discussed book.

Ripple Effects Mapping: Capturing the Wider Impacts of Systems Change Efforts in Public Health

Background: Systems approaches are currently being advocated and implemented to address complex challenges in Public Health. These approaches work by bringing multi-sectoral stakeholders together to develop a collective understanding of the system, and then to identify places where they can leverage change across the system. Systems approaches are unpredictable, where cause-and-effect cannot always be disentangled, and unintended consequences – positive and negative – frequently arise. Evaluating such approaches is difficult and new methods are warranted. Methods: Ripple Effects Mapping (REM) is a qualitative method which can capture the wider impacts, and adaptive nature, of a systems approach. Using a case study example from the evaluation of a physical activity systems approach in Gloucestershire, we: a) introduce the adapted REM method; b) describe how REM was applied in the example; c) explain how REM outputs were analysed; d) provide examples of how REM outputs were used; and e) describe the strengths, limitations, and future uses of REM based on our reflections. Results: Ripple Effects Mapping is a participatory method that requires the active input of programme stakeholders in data gathering workshops. It produces visual outputs (i.e., maps) of the programmes activities and impacts, which are mapped along a timeline to understand the temporal dimension of systems change efforts. The REM outputs from our example were created over several iterations, with data collected every 3-4 months, to build a picture of activities and impacts that have continued or ceased. Workshops took place both in person and online. An inductive content analysis was undertaken to describe and quantify the patterns within the REM outputs. Detailed guidance related to the preparation, delivery, and analysis of REM are included in this paper. Conclusion: REM may help to advance our understanding and evaluation of complex systems approaches, especially within the field of Public Health. We therefore invite other researchers, practitioners and policymakers to use REM and to continuously evolve the method to enhance its application and practical utility.

Changes in the cellular composition of guinea pig’s distal airways epithelium in the dynamics of experimental ovalbumin-induced allergic inflammation

The problem of studying the processes of restructuring of airways epithelium of humans and animals of adaptive nature under the influence of various factors on the body remains the subject of scientific discussions. The aim of this work is to study morphometric changes in the cellular composition guinea pig’s distal airways epithelium in the dynamics of experimental ovalbumin-induced allergic inflammation. We studied lung of 48 male guinea pigs, using histological, morphometric and statistical methods, under conditions of experimental ovalbumin-induced allergic inflammation, simulated by subcutaneous sensitization and subsequent intranasal inhalation with ovalbumin. The average number of epithelial cells of small bronchi and terminal bronchioles was determined: basal epithelium cells, ciliated cells, goblet cells and exocrine bronchiolar cells per unit area of 10000 μm2. We have shown the most significant reactive morphometric changes on the 23rd and 30th days of the experiment. We demonstrated a decrease of the number of basal cells (by 1.5 times compared to the control, p*/**<0.01) and ciliated cells (by 1.6 times compared to the control, p*/**<0.001) and an elevation of the average number of goblet cells (by 2.6 times compared to the control, p*/**<0.01) in bronchioles, a decrease of the average number of exocrine bronchiolar cells (by 1.6 times compared to the control, p*/**<0.01) in terminal bronchioles. These changes are the morphological confirmation of the development of bronchial hyperreactivity as a result of the action of the allergen. Sensitization and allergization with ovalbumin cause statistically significant morphological changes in the cellular composition of small bronchi and terminal bronchioles of an alterative nature in the early period and adaptive – in the late period of allergic inflammation, corresponding to the main morphological manifestations of allergic inflammation.

ZNF598 co-translationally titrates poly(GR) protein implicated in the pathogenesis of C9ORF72-associated ALS/FTD

C9ORF72-derived dipeptide repeat proteins have emerged as the pathogenic cause of neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (C9-ALS/FTD). However, the mechanisms underlying their expression are not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that ZNF598, the rate-limiting factor for ribosome-associated quality control (RQC), co-translationally titrates the expression of C9ORF72-derived poly(GR) protein. A Drosophila genetic screen identified key RQC factors as potent modifiers of poly(GR)-induced neurodegeneration. ZNF598 overexpression in human neuroblastoma cells inhibited the nuclear accumulation of poly(GR) protein and decreased its cytotoxicity, whereas ZNF598 deletion had opposing effects. Poly(GR)-encoding sequences in the reporter RNAs caused translational stalling and generated ribosome-associated translation products, sharing molecular signatures with canonical RQC substrates. Furthermore, ZNF598 and listerin 1, the RQC E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase, promoted poly(GR) degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. An ALS-relevant ZNF598R69C mutant displayed loss-of-function effects on poly(GR) expression, as well as on general RQC. Moreover, RQC function was impaired in C9-ALS patient-derived neurons, whereas lentiviral overexpression of ZNF598 lowered their poly(GR) expression and suppressed proapoptotic caspase-3 activation. Taken together, we propose that an adaptive nature of the RQC-relevant ZNF598 activity allows the co-translational surveillance to cope with the atypical expression of pathogenic poly(GR) protein, thereby acquiring a neuroprotective function in C9-ALS/FTD.

An Overview of Probabilistic Dimensioning of Frequency Restoration Reserves with a Focus on the Greek Electricity Market

The dynamic dimensioning of frequency restoration reserves based on probabilistic criteria is becoming increasingly relevant in European power grid operations, following the guidelines of European legislation. This article compares dynamic dimensioning based on k-means clustering to static dimensioning on a case study of the Greek electricity market. It presents a model of system imbalances which aims to capture various realistic features of the stochastic behavior of imbalances, including skewed distributions, the dependencies of the imbalance distribution on various imbalance drivers, and the contributions of idiosyncratic noise to system imbalances. The imbalance model was calibrated in order to be consistent with historical reserve requirements in the Greek electricity market. The imbalance model was then employed in order to compare dynamic dimensioning based on probabilistic criteria to static dimensioning. The analysis revealed potential benefits of dynamic dimensioning for the Greek electricity market, which include a reduction in average reserve requirements and the preservation of a constant risk profile due to the adaptive nature of probabilistic dimensioning.