Tokorhabditis n. gen. (Rhabditida, Rhabditidae), a comparative nematode model for extremophilic living

Life in extreme environments is typically studied as a physiological problem, although the existence of extremophilic animals suggests that developmental and behavioral traits might also be adaptive in such environments. Here, we describe a new species of nematode, Tokorhabditistufae, n. gen., n. sp., which was discovered from the alkaline, hypersaline, and arsenic-rich locale of Mono Lake, California. The new species, which offers a tractable model for studying animal-specific adaptations to extremophilic life, shows a combination of unusual reproductive and developmental traits. Like the recently described sister group Auanema, the species has a trioecious mating system comprising males, females, and self-fertilizing hermaphrodites. Our description of the new genus thus reveals that the origin of this uncommon reproductive mode is even more ancient than previously assumed, and it presents a new comparator for the study of mating-system transitions. However, unlike Auanema and almost all other known rhabditid nematodes, the new species is obligately live-bearing, with embryos that grow in utero, suggesting maternal provisioning during development. Finally, our isolation of two additional, molecularly distinct strains of the new genus—specifically from non-extreme locales—establishes a comparative system for the study of extremophilic traits in this model.

Sweet cherry fruit cracking: follow-up testing methods and cultivar-metabolic screening

Background: Rain-induced fruit cracking is a major physiological problem in most sweet cherry cultivars. For an in vivocracking assay, the ‘Christensen method’ (cracking evaluation following fruit immersion in water) is commonly used; however, this test does not adequately simulate environmental conditions.Herein, we have designed and evaluated a cracking protocol, named ‘Waterfall method’, in which fruits are continuously wetted under controlled conditions. Results: The application of this method alone, or in combination with ‘Christensen method, was shown to be a reliable approach to characterize sweet cherry cracking behavior. Seventeen cherry cultivars were tested for their cracking behavior using both protocols, and primary as well as secondary metabolites identification was performed in skin tissue using a combined GC-MS and UPLC-MS/MS platform. Significant variations of some of the detected metabolites were discovered and important cracking index–metabolite correlations were identified. Conclusions: We have established an alternative/complementary method of cherry cracking characterization alongside to Christiansen assay.

Sweet cherry fruit cracking: follow-up testing methods and cultivar-metabolic screening

Background: Rain-induced fruit cracking is a major physiological problem in most sweet cherry cultivars. For an in vivo cracking assay, the ‘Christensen method’ (cracking evaluation following fruit immersion in water) is commonly used; however, this test has been questioned. Herein, we have designed and evaluated a cracking protocol, named ‘Waterfall method’, in which fruits are continuously wetted under controlled conditions. Results: The application of this method alone, or in combination with ‘Christensen method, was shown to be a reliable approach to characterize sweet cherry cracking behavior. Seventeen cherry cultivars were tested for their cracking behavior using both protocols, and primary as well as secondary metabolites identification was performed in skin tissue using a combined GC-MS and UPLC-MS/MS platform. Significant variations of some of the detected metabolites were discovered and important cracking index–metabolite correlations were identified. Conclusions: We have established an efficient cracking protocolwhich may facilitate breeding for new sweet cherry cultivars with high resistance tocracking.

Komunikasi Fatik Komunitas Public speaking dalam Persuasi Kompetensi Komunikasi

Inadequate communication competence among some participants in communication might perform as an obstacle in delivering and receiving messages. This physiological problem was the reason underlying the establishment of public speaking community in Trunojoyo University of Madura. The community educates and enhances members’ interests and talents related to their communication competence. This study aims to gain an understanding of the methods used by the public speaking community in initiating members' communication competences. This research approaches phenomena in the perspective of a constructivist paradigm. The research method uses qualitative descriptive approach. Primary data collection is done by interviewing management and community members. Secondary data is obtained by using intertextuality from the literatures. Triangulation methods are carried out by observing community activities. The results showed that phatic communication was used in the public speaking community to persuade the affective dimensions of developing communication competencies among members. It is in addition to the context of delivering educational and intellectual material as well as for developing emotional closeness between members in the community. The discussion used perspective of the theory of interpersonal communication, phatic communication, and communication competence. This research could be the initial literature in the study of communication competencies and phatic communication. Further research can examine the dimensions of communication competence in contributing to the effectiveness of communication in the positivistic paradigm

Imagen Corporal y Obesidad mediante las Siluetas de Stunkard en Niños y Adolescentes Indios de 8 a 15 Años

Este artículo se centra en estudiar la imagen corporal y la sobrecarga ponderal (sobrepeso y obesidad) en niños y adolescente de India. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 395 participantes de 8-15 años de Karbi Anglong, Assam (212 de sexo masculino y 183 de sexo femenino). El instrumento utilizado fue el de las siluetas de Stunkard. El 37.3% de hombres y el 22,4% de mujeres fueron clasificados en la categoría de sobrepeso/obesidad ( =13,033; p=,001; d=0,63). Respecto a la imagen corporal, el 82,3% presentó insatisfacción con su cuerpo, destacando aquellos a los que les gustaría ser más grandes (hombres 62,7% y mujeres 49,7%). Por tanto, el problema psicológico de la insatisfacción corporal tuvo una mayor prevalencia que el problema fisiológico de la obesidad. Se recomienda implementar programas de actividad física para mejorar la imagen corporal y la composición corporal de los niños y adolescentes de Assam. The present study focused on the study of body image and overweightand obesityin Indian children and adolescents. This investigation involved 395 participants (212 males and 183 females) from Karbi Anglong, Assam,aged between 8 and 15 years (12.16 ± 2.01). The instrument used was Stunkard’s et al. silhouettes. 37.3% men and 22.4% women were classified as overweight/obese (!"#=13.033; p=.001; d=0.63). Regarding body image, 82.3% were dissatisfied with their body, highlighting those who would like to be larger (men 62.7% and women 49.7%). Therefore, the problem of body dissatisfaction had a higher prevalence than the physiological problem of obesity. It is recommended to implement physical activity programs to improve body image and body composition of children and adolescents in Assam.

Análisis de imagen corporal y obesidad mediante las siluetas de Stunkard en niños y adolescentes españoles de 3 a 18 años

<p>This paper is focused on the study of body image and excess weight and obesity in Spanish children and adolescents. This investigation involved 1082 children and adolescents (541 males and 541 females) from the Region of Murcia, aged between 3 and 18 years. The instrument used was Stunkard’s silhouettes. 34% of men and 17.9% of women were classified as overweight/obese (<em> </em> = 26.936; p=0.000; d=0.65). Regarding body image, 61.2% were dissatisfied with their body, highlighting those who would like to be thinner (men 44.7% and women 46%). Therefore, the psychological problem of body dissatisfaction had a higher prevalence than the physiological problem of obesity. It is recommended to implement physical activity programs to improve body image and body composition of children and adolescents in the Region of Murcia.</p>

ANALYTICAL SOLUTIONS IN THE MODELING OF THE LOCAL RF ABLATION

Coupled mathematical models for the radiofrequency (RF) ablation performed in biomedical sciences have been developed based on the bioheat transfer theory. The heat exchange problem is important to be analytically studied in order to control the size of the necrosis zone caused by RF ablation. This lesion size in the tissue may be predicted by the knowledge of the internal tissue temperature. We propose an analytical solution for the Pennes heat transfer equation in bi- and tri-region domains, applicable to the RF ablation of cancerigeneous tissue — a clinical relevant problem. The model consists of two partial differential equations describing the spatio-temporal interactions between the electric and thermic effects. The aim is to find simple algebraic expressions of analytical solutions that may allow to generate quantitative results which in turn may be interpreted (including uncertainties). The dependence of the temperature as function of the electrothermal parameters in both diseased and surrounding healthy tissues is pointed out. Two cases, namely the tumor–tissue and tumor–tissue–skin systems, are graphically computed, and important findings include the fact that the presence of tissue with smaller value parameters protects somehow healthy cells. Moreover, the graphical representations are conducted to highlight the link of the profile of current density distribution in the physiological problem with the (neither oval nor circular) shape of the temperature isoclinic lines.

Active review sessions can advance student learning

Traditional review sessions are intended to help students learn and prepare for upcoming exams. Most sessions are passive question and answer sessions that look backward at content deficits rather than advancing student learning. By incorporating active and cooperative learning approaches during a review session, students are able to recognize critical concepts and better prepare for physiological problem solving. Active review sessions help students prioritize the knowledge and develop the thinking skills will be required of them on the exam.

Preliminary report on the use of biotechnology in sweet and sour cherry research

The goal of this investigation was to determine genetic differences between autochthonous and introduced cultivars of sweet cherry and between cultivars and types of sour cherry, and to find and optimize a method for the rapid recovery of clonal material. A great number of cherry cultivars and types within the population of cv. Oblačinska sour cherry exist in Croatia and the selection of autochthonous cultivars based on special visible properties for further investigation has been done in previous research. Differences were found in a number of important agronomic traits within the populations of cv. Oblacinska sour cherry. It is suspected that autochthonous sweet cherry cultivars are synonyms for known old cultivars, which were introduced randomly and naturalized under local names. In this approach difficulties arise from the effect of non-genetic factors on the expression of certain traits. The genetic/physiological problem of S allele autoincompatibility exists within sweet cherry cultivars. The detection of S alleles is required to determine compatible cultivar pairs in the orchard. Biotechnological methods based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) facilitate faster virus detection compared with classical serological methods and indexing. Thermotherapy and tissue culture make it possible to recover valuable clone material for introduction in the premultiplication process.