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Climate change (CC) represents an increasing threat to mangroves worldwide and can amplify impacts caused by local anthropogenic activities. The direct effects of CC on mangrove forests have been extensively discussed, but indirect impacts such as the alteration of ecological processes driven by specific functional groups of the biota are poorly investigated. Ecological roles of key functional groups (FGs) in mangroves from the Atlantic–Caribbean–East Pacific (ACEP) and Indo-West Pacific (IWP) regions are reviewed, and impacts from CC mediated by these FGs are explored. Disruption by CC of ecological processes, driven by key FGs, can reinforce direct effects and amplify the loss of ecological functionality and further degradation of mangrove forests. Biogeochemistry mediator microbiotas of the soil, bioturbators, especially semiterrestrial crabs (Ocypodoids and Grapsoids) and herbivores (crustaceans and Insects), would be the most affected FG in both regions. Effects of climate change can vary regionally in the function of the combination of direct and indirect drivers, further eroding biodiversity and mangrove resilience, and impairing the predictability of ecosystem behaviour. This means that public policies to manage and conserve mangroves, as well as rehabilitation/restoration programs, should take into consideration the pressures of CC in specific regions and the response of key FGs to these pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research is devoted to the study of the functional role structure of the interaction of the company's top management. The subject area of the study includes projects of digital transformation of business processes. The functional role status of IT directors for such positions as CIO, CDO, CDTO, CTO, CA was investigated. The analysis of the most frequently used models of interaction of IT directors was carried out and the optimal model was determined. The study was conducted using the Delphi expert assessment and the hierarchy analysis method. For the established optimal model related to the integration type of management, the organisational features of its application are described. Solutions are proposed to improve the quality of functional-role interaction of IT directors, which consider personal effectiveness, interaction style, ability to adopt technologies. The results of the study inform scientists about new data in the field of organisational behaviour for companies implementing digital initiatives. Practitioners can use the results of our research to adapt their organisational structure in such a way as to reduce the risks of the human factor during the implementation of the digital transformation strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significance: Ample evidence has demonstrated an important role for autophagy as either a protective mechanism or a cause for hepatotoxicity, denoting the likely potentials for targeting autophagy in the prevention or treatment of hepatotoxicity. Recent Advances: The functional role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of hepatotoxicity has been gradually recognized. Mechanistically, the autophagy-mediated protective or promoting effect on hepatotoxicity is attributed to its functions in regulation of oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, lipid metabolism, iron homeostasis, inflammatory response, and programmed cell death. Targeting autophagy as a novel strategy for fighting against hepatotoxicity has demonstrated encouraging efficacy in a number of models. Critical Issues: Clarifying the precise functional role of autophagy in different types of hepatotoxicity is essential for developing a type-specific autophagy-based intervention. Identification of molecular targets and novel agents for effectively and accurately manipulating autophagy is needed for better utilization of an autophagy-based approach to exert beneficial effects on hepatotoxicity. Future Directions: Well-designed clinical trials are needed to validate the efficacy of an autophagy-targeting intervention strategy for hepatotoxicity. Further studies should be also focused on developing novel autophagy-targeting agents that can accurately regulate autophagy based on the characteristics of each type of hepatotoxicity. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 38, 1082–1100. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Arctic ecosystems, fungi are crucial for interactions between soil and plants, the cycling of nutrients, and the transport of carbon. To date, no studies have been conducted to thoroughly examine the mycobiome and its functional role in various habitats of the High Arctic region. The aim was to unravel the mycobiome in the nine habitats (i.e., soil, lichen, vascular plant, moss, freshwater, seawater, marine sediment, dung, and marine alga) in the Ny-Ålesund Region (Svalbard, High Arctic) using a high-throughput sequencing approach. A total of 10,419 ASVs were detected. Among them, 7535 ASVs were assigned to unidentified phyla, while the remaining 2884 ASVs were assigned to 11 phyla, 33 classes, 81 orders, 151 families, 278 genera, and 261 species that were known. The distribution of the mycobiome was driven by habitat specificity, indicating that habitat filtering is a crucial factor influencing the fungal assemblages at a local scale in this High Arctic region. Six growth forms and 19 fungal guilds were found. The ecological guild (e.g., lichenized, ectomycorrhizal) and growth form (e.g., yeast, thallus photosynthetic) varied significantly among various habitats. In addition, the occurrence of 31 fungal species that are considered to be potential pathogens was determined. These results will increase our understanding of fungal diversity and its functional significance in this distinctive High Arctic area and thereby establish the groundwork for prediction about how the mycobiome will alter in various environments as a result of anticipated climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinoblastoma (RB), the most common malignant retinal tumor among children under 3 years old, is lethal if left untreated. Early diagnosis, together with timely and effective treatment, is important to improve retinoblastoma-related outcomes. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a new class of non-coding RNAs with the capacity to regulate cellular activities, have great potential in retinoblastoma diagnosis and treatment. Recent studies have identified circular RNAs that regulate multiple cellular processes involved in retinoblastoma, including cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, migration, and invasion. Six circular RNAs (circ-FAM158A, circ-DHDDS, circ-E2F3, circ-TRHDE, circ-E2F5, and circ-RNF20) promote disease progression and metastasis in retinoblastoma and function as oncogenic factors. Other circular RNAs, such as circ-TET1, circ-SHPRH, circ-MKLN1, and circ-CUL2, play tumor suppressive roles in retinoblastoma. At present, the studies on the regulatory mechanism of circular RNAs in retinoblastoma are not very clear. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent studies on the functional roles and molecular mechanisms of circular RNAs in retinoblastoma and highlight novel strategies for retinoblastoma diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies at local spatial scales have shown that the generalist honeybee Apis mellifera L. can strongly affect the structural organization and properties of pollination networks. However, there is still little knowledge on how the connectivity of the honeybee within networks (i.e., interactive role) could affect pollination networks at a global scale. To fill this gap, we evaluated how the interactive role of A. mellifera could affect niche overlap, specialization, and robustness of pollination networks. We used 109 weighted pollination networks spread across about 94 degrees of latitude and 227 degrees of longitude. We developed a new standardized framework based on species removal to assess the impact of the honeybee on plant-pollinator networks. We found that when the honeybee was removed from the networks, plant species had less niche overlap (i.e., shared fewer interactions via their pollinators) and the networks became more specialized and more robust to species extinctions. Our findings indicate that A. mellifera's effects on pollination networks vary geographically and could influence several ecological and evolutionary factors acting at local scales, including pollination services. We hope this contribution will stimulate new macroecological studies involving abundant and generalist species and their functional roles within ecological communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent an important group of endogenous RNAs with limit protein-encoding capability, with a length of more than 200 nucleotides. Emerging evidence have demonstrated that lncRNAs are greatly involved in multiple cancers by playing critical roles in tumor initiation and progression. Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 460 (LINC00460), a novel cancer-related lncRNA, exhibits abnormal expression and oncogenic function in multiple cancers, and positively correlates with poor clinical characteristics of cancer patients. LINC00460 has also been shown to be a promising biomarker for diagnosis as well as prognostic evaluation in cancer patients. In this review, we briefly summarized recent knowledge on the expression, functional roles, molecular mechanisms, and diagnostic and prognostic values of LINC00460 in human malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typically, termites are treated as a single guild, which ignores important internal diversity, including diverse feeding and nesting traits. These termite traits are crucial for both ecosystem‐level fluxes and trophic webs, with implications for vertebrate species. Despite their ecological importance, the large‐scale distribution of termite feeding and nesting traits and the relationship with termite diversity is largely unknown. We investigated whether functional diversity, species richness and feeding (wood, litter, grass and dung) and nesting trait (aboveground mound, belowground nest, inside tree or outside tree nest) distributions of termites were climatically controlled. To address this gap, we assembled a continental‐scale database of termite traits and occurrence in Australia and modelled termite nesting and feeding traits in response to macroclimate. Functional richness and evenness increased primarily with temperature. Australia showed multiple hotspots of termite diversity with each hotspot showing a distinct guild composition. The large‐scale distribution of nesting traits showed that aboveground nesting species were the most common nesting guild in the dry and wet tropics, while belowground nesting dominated in seasonally cold arid environments, demonstrating a strong climatic control on nesting strategy. Given their large biomass and many interactions with other species, the macroecology of termite traits may be especially important in predicting shifts in other species' distributions at continental and global scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying organisms that play an important role in maintaining ecosystem function is a key aspect of resilience‐based management. For Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR), we found that the recovery ability of shallow exposed fore‐reefs is more than 14 times higher when tabular Acropora are present. The disproportionate role that tabular Acropora play appears to be driven by a combination of traits including high recruitment, high growth rate and, importantly, large maximum colony sizes. Despite this key role, tabular Acropora are highly sensitive to most pressures. We compile evidence suggesting that if tabular corals were to decline or disappear on the GBR, the potential for reef recovery on exposed fore‐reefs would be considerably slowed. We then consider the merits of placing special emphasis on the protection of tabular Acropora within the management of the GBR. Importantly, we recognise that an analysis of costs and benefits of such recognition is vital before any change is implemented. Actions might include targeted crown‐of‐thorns starfish control, anchoring restrictions and protection for tabular corals on reefs identified as essential for their larval dispersal. In addition, targeted communications about the critical importance of these highly recognisable corals may boost community support and participation in their protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific insights into what it means to manage on‐farm trees by local farmers, is an essential step towards documenting local ecological knowledge for sustainable landscape management. A study was therefore conducted in the Kumawu Forest District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana to assess how farmers conceptualise on‐farm tree management and develop local knowledge for it. Using a case study approach, data were collected through informal interviews and focus group discussions with 120 farmers drawn from 15 communities who were involved in the management of three cropping systems; cocoa, maize and cassava‐cocoyam‐plantain mix. It was observed that the farmers regard on‐farm tree management as a continuous process which occurs in three phases of the farming cycle; land preparation, crop cultivation and fallow management. For each of the three phases, farmers are guided by specific principles that ensure enough light penetration in‐between tree crowns in the land preparation phase, suitable spacing between trees and crops in the crop cultivation phase and adequate tree regeneration in the fallow phase. The decisions made during the selection of tree species, spacing of trees adjudged suitable for any particular cropping system and recruitment of saplings prior to the fallow phase of farming constitute tree management. Farmers develop tree management knowledge by studying the physical characteristics of species, matching them to ecological functions they could perform and how they are likely to respond to treatments meant to control or enhance their development. Species are then subjected to trial and recommended or otherwise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ongoing climate change is shifting the geographic distributions of some species, potentially imposing rapid changes in local community structure and ecosystem functioning. Besides changes in population‐level interspecific interactions, such range shifts may also cause changes in functional structure within the host assemblages, which can result in losses or gains in ecosystem functions. Because consumer‐resource dynamics are central to community regulation, functional reorganization driven by introduction of new consumer species can have large consequences on ecosystem functions. Here we experimentally examine the extent to which the recent poleward range expansion of the intertidal grazer limpet Scurria viridula along the coast of Chile has altered the role of the resident congeneric limpet S. zebrina, and whether the net collective impacts, and functional structure, of the entire herbivore guild have been modified by the introduction of this new member. We examined the functional role of Scurria species in controlling ephemeral algal cover, bare rock availability, and species richness and diversity, and compared the effects in the region of range overlap against their respective "native" abutted ranges. Experiments showed depression of per capita effects of the range‐expanded species within the region of overlap, suggesting environmental conditions negatively affect individual performance. In contrast, effects of S. zebrina were commonly invariant at its range edge. When comparing single species versus polycultures, effects on bare rock cover were altered by the presence of the other Scurria species, suggesting competition between Scurria species. Importantly, although the magnitude of S. viridula effects at the range overlap was reduced, its addition to the herbivore guild seems to complement and intensify the role of the guild in reducing green algal cover, species richness and increasing bare space provision. Our study thus highlights that range expansion of an herbivore can modify the functional guild structure in the recipient community. It also highlights the complexity of predicting how functional structure may change in the face of natural or human‐induced range expansions. There is a need for more field‐based examination of regional functional compensation, complementarity, or inhibition before we can construct a conceptual framework to anticipate the consequences of species range expansions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cisplatin treatment results in acute kidney injury (AKI) by the phosphorylation of mixed lineage kinase domain‐like protein (MLKL). The knockout of MLKL, which is a principle mediator of necroptosis, is believed to alleviate the AKI symptoms. The present study was aimed to improve the therapeutic efficacy in AKI. For this purpose, miR‐500a‐3P was identified as appropriate miRNA therapeutics and loaded in liposome delivery carrier. The authors have showed that the miR‐LIP directly controls the expression of RIPK3 and MLKL – a modulator of necroptosis and thereby reduces the severity of kidney injury. The miR‐LIP significantly controlled the phosphorylation of MLKL compared to that of CDDP‐treated HK2 cells. Similar results are observed with RIPK3. The miR‐LIP has also been demonstrated to control the inflammatory response in tubular cells. Western blot analysis further revealed that the phosphorylation of P‐65 was mainly responsible for the inflammatory response and miR‐LIP significantly decreased the CDDP‐induced NF‐kB phosphorylation. Overall, the present study explored the molecular mechanism behind the necroptosis in AKI and potential of miRNA in targeting MLKL pathways. Study further highlights the potential advantage of liposome as a delivery carrier for miRNA therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cell is a key concept, and accurate knowledge of it is essential for understanding many phenomena and biological processes, as well as the overall functioning of living beings. However, learning about this concept is not simple. Regarding this concept, we examined the views concerning problems that could be encountered by Master's students training to become future teachers of natural science, compared to the difficulties suffered by a group of students in their last two years of high school. The results show the students' learning about the cell appeared to be negatively influenced by the methodology used in classroom, being this type of difficulties the most reported by the high-school students, followed by difficulties with matters associated with the functional role of the cell. However, the methodology limitations have been the least considered by future teachers. By contrast, they consider the structural aspects of the cell as more likely to be problematic for students, followed by the functional ones. Problems concerning sizes and scales arose similarly in both cases, implying a widespread problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Five new variants of 17β-HSD14 characterized by crystallography and enzyme kinetics. • Tyr253′ from the adjacent monomer ties the two monomers together. • Disulfide bridge formed by Cys255 and Cys255′ is not crucial for dimer stabilization. • Gln148 restricts in size the access tunnel of the substrate. 17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 14 (17β-HSD14) catalyzes the conversion of highly active estrogens and androgens into their less active oxidized forms in presence of NAD+ as cofactor. The crystal structure of 17β-HSD14 has been determined, however, the role of individual amino acids likely involved in the enzymatic function remains poorly understood. Objective of this study was to further characterize the enzyme by site-directed mutagenesis considering five amino acids next to the catalytic center. The tools used for the characterization of the enzyme variants are X-ray crystallography and enzyme kinetics. Lys158 was confirmed to belong to the catalytic triad. Tyr253′, located on the C -terminal loop of the adjacent monomer, enters into the active site of the neighboring monomer and interacts with the catalytic Tyr154. Therefore, Tyr253′ helps to tie the two monomers together. Cys255, located at the interface between both monomers, can form a disulfide bridge with the Cys255′ from the adjacent monomer. In contrast to the contact provided by Tyr253, the latter interaction is not crucial for dimer formation. His93 and Gln148 are located at the rim of the substrate binding pocket. His93 does not interact directly with the ligand in the active site. However, it influences the turnover of the enzyme. The Gln148 restricts in size the access tunnel of the substrate to the binding pocket. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological effects of alien species can be dramatic, but management and prevention of negative impacts are often hindered by crypticity of the species or their ecological functions. Ecological functions can change dramatically over time, or manifest after long periods of an innocuous presence. Such cryptic processes may lead to an underestimation of long-term impacts and constrain management effectiveness. Here, we present a conceptual framework of crypticity in biological invasions. We identify the underlying mechanisms, provide evidence of their importance, and illustrate this phenomenon with case studies. This framework has potential to improve the recognition of the full risks and impacts of invasive species. Highlights Crypticity of biological invasions may blur invasion impacts and reduce their predictability. The impacts are often only detected in retrospect, and understood with delay, long after control measures would have been effective. Crypticity of biological invasions can be driven by inherent crypticity of alien species and their ecological functions and by time lags, spatio-temporal variability, and anthropogenic impacts. Considering crypticity in biological invasions would strongly enhance efficiency of monitoring and management planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Teleost fishes are the most diverse group of vertebrates on Earth. On tropical coral reefs, their species richness exceeds 6000 species; one tenth of total vertebrate biodiversity. A large proportion of this diversity is composed of cryptobenthic reef fishes (CRFs): bottom‐dwelling, morphologically or behaviourally cryptic species typically less than 50 mm in length. Yet, despite their diversity and abundance, these fishes are both poorly defined and understood. Herein we provide a new quantitative definition and synthesise current knowledge on the diversity, distribution and life history of CRFs. First, we use size distributions within families to define 17 core CRF families as characterised by the high prevalence (>10%) of small‐bodied species (<50 mm). This stands in strong contrast to 42 families of large reef fishes, in which virtually no small‐bodied species have evolved. We posit that small body size has allowed CRFs to diversify at extremely high rates, primarily by allowing for fine partitioning of microhabitats and facilitation of allopatric reproductive isolation; yet, we are far from understanding and documenting the biodiversity of CRFs. Using rates of description since 1758, we predict that approximately 30 new species of cryptobenthic species will be described per year until 2050 (approximately twice the annual rate compared to large fishes). Furthermore, we predict that by the year 2031, more than half of the described coral reef fish biodiversity will consist of CRFs. These fishes are the ‘hidden half’ of vertebrate biodiversity on coral reefs. Notably, global geographic coverage and spatial resolution of quantitative data on CRF communities is uniformly poor, which further emphasises the remarkable reservoir of biodiversity that is yet to be discovered. Although small body size may have enabled extensive diversification within CRF families, small size also comes with a suite of ecological challenges that affect fishes' capacities to feed, survive and reproduce; we identify a range of life‐history adaptations that have enabled CRFs to overcome these limitations. In turn, these adaptations bestow a unique socio‐ecological role on CRFs, which includes a key role in coral reef trophodynamics by cycling trophic energy provided by microscopic prey to larger consumers. Although small in body size, the ecology and evolutionary history of CRFs may make them a critical component of coral‐reef food webs; yet our review also shows that these fishes are highly susceptible to a variety of anthropogenic disturbances. Understanding the consequences of these changes for CRFs and coral reef ecosystems will require us to shed more light on this frequently overlooked but highly diverse and abundant guild of coral reef fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lianas (woody climbers) have a greater amount of leaves relative to basal area or standing biomass than trees, and very wide vessels that permit efficient water transport. These features suggest that lianas possibly consume proportionally more water through transpiration than trees. Despite their potential importance, researchers have made only limited attempts to evaluate effects of lianas on forest water dynamics., We conducted sap flow measurements for 1 year using a thermal dissipation method for four species each of lianas and trees in a liana-rich, warm-temperate forest in Japan and estimated the contribution of lianas to stand canopy transpiration., Based on a calibration measuring water uptake rates from cut-stem ends, the actual sap flux ( Fd) in liana stems was several times greater than those estimated from the original calibration provided for the method. In the field, lianas showed an average of 2-4 times greater Fd than trees throughout the year. Except for this difference, diurnal and seasonal patterns of relative changes of Fd were similar in both groups. The whole-plant transpiration ( Qt) of sample plants was exponentially related to basal diameter for both lianas and trees; Qt of lianas increased more steeply with basal diameter than that of trees. By extrapolating the relationships between Qt and basal diameter to the inventory data of the study plot, we estimated that lianas contributed 12·8% to the annual stand canopy transpiration while comprising 2·3% of stand basal area, which probably reflected the top-heavy architecture of lianas., Our results indicate that the contribution of lianas to forest water dynamics may be several times greater than their contribution to forest basal area. This implies that a slight increase of liana abundance might have greater effects on water dynamics and, through competitions with trees for limited water, the carbon sequestration capacity of forests than expected from the increase in basal area. This study underlines the necessity of evaluating the relative importance of lianas to forest water dynamics in forests world-wide., A is available for this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is a metalloenzyme that performs interconversion between CO and the bicarbonate ion (HCO ). CAs appear among all taxonomic groups of three domains of life. Wide spreading of CAs in nature is explained by the fact that carbon, which is the major constituent of the enzyme's substrates, is a key element of life on the Earth. Despite the diversity of CAs, they all carry out the same reaction of CO/HCO interconversion. Thus, CA obviously represents a universal enzyme of the carbon-based life. Within the classification of CAs, here we proposed the existence of an extensive family of CA-related proteins ( γCA-RPs)-the inactive forms of γ-CAs, which are widespread among the Archaea, Bacteria, and, to a lesser extent, in Eukarya. This review focuses on the history of CAs discovery and integrates the most recent data on their classification, catalytic mechanisms, and physiological roles at various organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is among the most disabling chronic psychiatric disorders and has a significant negative impact on multiple domains of quality of life. For patients suffering from severe refractory OCD, deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) has been applied. Reviewing the literature of the last years we believe that through its central position within the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuits, the STN has a coordinating role in decision-making and action-selection mechanisms. Dysfunctional information-processing at the level of the STN is responsible for some of the core symptoms of OCD. Research confirms an electrophysiological dysfunction in the associative and limbic (non-motor) parts of the STN. Compared to Parkinson׳s disease patients, STN neurons in OCD exhibit a lower firing rate, less frequent but longer bursts, increased burst activity in the anterior ventromedial area, an asymmetrical left-sided burst distribution, and a predominant oscillatory activity in the δ-band. Moreover, there is direct evidence for the involvement of the STN in both checking behavior and OCD symptoms, which are both related to changes in electrophysiological activity in the non-motor STN. Through a combination of mechanisms, DBS of the STN seems to interrupt the disturbed information-processing, leading to a normalization of connectivity within the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuits and consequently to a reduction in symptoms. In conclusion, based on the STN׳s strategic position within cortico-basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuits and its involvement in action-selection mechanisms that are responsible for some of the core symptoms of OCD, the STN is a mechanism-based target for DBS in OCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Animal evidence and genetic studies suggest that HOMER1 (homer homolog 1) is involved in the etiology of suicidal behavior and major depression disorder (MDD). However, most of genetic studies were performed in Caucasians and the potentially functional role of associated polymorphisms in HOMER1 was seldom reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of a HOMER1 polymorphism rs2290639 with suicide attempts (SA) and MDD in Hong Kong Chinese, and then briefly elucidate the potentially functional role of the associated polymorphism. Methods: NEO personality inventory, impulsiveness and depression rating scales were completed by the subjects. The association studies of HOMER1 rs2290639 with SA or MDD were performed by case-control association studies. The bioinformatics analyses were adapted to predict potential transcription factors binding sites for the associated polymorphism. Results: The association studies and meta-analysis suggested that the HOMER1 rs2290639 was significantly associated with susceptibility to SA but seemed not to be associated with MDD in Hong Kong Chinese. This polymorphism might affect the transcription of the HOMER1 gene through interacting with a reliable transcription factor as found by three of four bioinformatics tools. In addition, close correlations between impulsiveness and NEO personality five factors were found in SA and MDD patients, which provide a possible way to assess the impulsiveness of patients through subjects' personality profiles for Hong Kong Chinese. Conclusions: The HOMER1 rs2290639 polymorphism was significantly associated with susceptibility to SA in Hong Kong Chinese affected by psychiatric disorders, which might be explained by the potentially functional role of this polymorphism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bungarus multicinctus (many-banded krait) and Naja atra (Chinese cobra) are widely distributed and medically important venomous snakes in China; however, their venom proteomic profiles have not been fully compared. Here, we fractionated crude venoms and analyzed them using a combination of proteomic techniques. Three-finger toxins (3-FTx) and phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) were most abundant in both species, respectively accounting for 32.6% and 66.4% of total B. multicinctus venom, and 84.3% and 12.2% of total N. atra venom. Venoms from these two species contained one common protein family and six less abundant species-specific protein families. The proteomic profiles of B. multicinctus and N. atra venoms and analysis of toxicological activity in mice suggested that 3-FTx and PLA 2 are the major contributors to clinical symptoms caused by envenomation. The venoms differed in enzymatic activity, likely the result of inter-specific variation in the amount of related venom components. Antivenomics assessment revealed that a small number of venom components (3-FTxs and PLA 2 s in B. multicinctus , and 3-FTxs in N. atra ) could not be immunocaptured completely, suggesting that we should pay attention to enhancing the immune response of these components in designing commercial antivenoms for B. multicinctus and N. atra . Biological significance The proteomic profiles of venoms from two medically important snake species – B. multicinctus and N. atra – have been explored. Quantitative and qualitative differences are evident in both venoms when proteomic profiles and transcriptomic results are compared; this is a reminder that combined approaches are needed to explore the precise composition of snake venom. Two protein families (3-FTx and PLA 2 ) of high abundance in these snake venoms are major players in the biochemical and pharmacological effects of envenomation. Elucidation of the proteomic profiles of these snake venoms is helpful in understanding composition-function relationships and will facilitate the clinical application of antivenoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional brain imaging studies reported activation of the left dorsal premotor cortex (PMd), that is, a main area in the writing network, in reading tasks. However, it remains unclear whether this area is causally relevant for written stimulus recognition or its activation simply results from a passive coactivation of reading and writing networks. Here, we used chronometric paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to address this issue by disrupting the activity of the PMd, the so-called Exner's area, while participants performed a lexical decision task. Both words and pseudowords were presented in printed and handwritten characters. The latter was assumed to be closely associated with motor representations of handwriting gestures. We found that TMS over the PMd in relatively early time-windows, i.e., between 60 and 160 ms after the stimulus onset, increased reaction times to pseudoword without affecting word recognition. Interestingly, this result pattern was found for both printed and handwritten characters, that is, regardless of whether the characters evoked motor representations of writing actions. Our result showed that under some circumstances the activation of the PMd does not simply result from passive association between reading and writing networks but has a functional role in the reading process. At least, at an early stage of written stimuli recognition, this role seems to depend on a common sublexical and serial process underlying writing and pseudoword reading rather than on an implicit evocation of writing actions during reading as typically assumed. Hum Brain Mapp 37:1531-1543, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variation within species is an often-overlooked aspect of community ecology, despite the fact that the ontogenetic structure of populations influences processes right up to the ecosystem level. Accounting for traits at the individual level is an important advance in the implementation of trait-based approaches in understanding community structure and function., We incorporate individual- and species-level traits into one succinct assemblage structure metric, fractional size, which is calculated as the length of an individual divided by its potential maximum length. We test the implementation of fractional size in demersal fish assemblages along a depth gradient in the deep sea. We use data from an extensive trawl survey at depths of 300-2030 m on the continental slope of the Rockall Trough, Northeast Atlantic, to compare changes in fractional size structure along an environmental gradient to those seen using traditional taxonomic and trait-based approaches., The relationship between fractional size and depth was particularly strong, with the overall pattern being an increase with depth, implying that individuals move deeper as they grow. Body size increased with depth at the intraspecific and assemblage levels. Fractional size, size structure and species composition all varied among assemblages, and this variation could be explained by the depth that the assemblage occupied., The inclusion of individual-level traits and population fractional size structure adds to our understanding at the assemblage level. Fractional size, or where an individual is in its growth trajectory, appears to be an especially important driver of assemblage change with depth. This has implications for understanding fisheries impacts in the deep sea and how these impacts may propagate across depths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In their efforts to provide a naturalistic account of mental representation, both cognitive researchers and philosophers have failed to properly address an important distinction between two core dimensions of representation: the functional role of representing on the one hand, and the content associated with that role on the other hand. Instead, accounts of representation tend to either conflate these two or ignore the functional role aspect altogether. Here it is argued that by properly separating these two dimensions, we can gain a better understanding of the actual challenge we confront in explaining mental representation. Moreover, it is suggested that certain theories that have traditionally been viewed as competing accounts of representation should instead be treated as complementary accounts of these different dimensions. It is shown that by adopting this perspective, we can overcome certain traditional problems and also improve our understanding of empirical models of cognition, such as those that invoke cognitive maps in the hippocampus of animal brains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protecting essential habitats through the implementation of area closures has been recognized as a useful management tool for rebuilding overfished populations and minimizing habitat degradation. School shark (Galeorhinus galeus) have suffered significant stock declines in Australia; however, recent stock assessments suggest the population may have stabilized and the protection of closed nursery areas has been identified as a key management strategy to rebuilding their numbers. Young-of-the-year (YOY) and juvenile G. galeus were acoustically tagged and monitored to determine ontogenetic differences in residency and seasonal use of an important protected nursery area (Shark Refuge Area or SRA) in southeastern Tasmania. Both YOY and juvenile G. galeus showed a distinct seasonal pattern of occurrence in the SRA with most departing the area during winter and only a small proportion of YOY (33%) and no juveniles returning the following spring, suggesting areas outside the SRA may also be important during these early life-history stages. While these behaviors confirm SRAs continue to function as essential habitat during G. galeus early life history, evidence of YOY and juveniles emigrating from these areas within their first 1 -2 years and the fact that few YOY return suggest that these areas may only afford protection for a more limited amount of time than previously thought. Determining the importance of neighbouring coastal waters and maintaining the use of traditional fisheries management tools are therefore required to ensure effective conservation of G. galeus during early life history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbivory is of great importance to reef system dynamics and structures because of the role primary consumers play in shaping benthic communities at various scales. In this work, the consumption and the feeding selectivity of the fish assemblage towards a set of macroalgae was evaluated through remotely filmed multiple-choice feeding assays. Macroalgal species showed a variable susceptibility to consumption, with Spyridia hypnoides and Amphiroa sp. being the most consumed and Plocamium brasiliense and Codium intertextum the least consumed among the 11 options. Eighteen herbivorous and omnivorous fish species were recorded taking bites from the feeding trial and only six were responsible for about 90% of the total number of mass standardized bites. Nominally herbivorous species (mainly Sparisoma tuiupiranga and Acanthurus chirurgus ), as well as omnivorous species like Stephanolepis hispidus and Diplodus argenteus , were important in terms of macroalgal consumption. These observed patterns are likely to be driven by different food processing modes employed by fishes and nutritional and defensive properties of algae. Moreover, these results evidence a great potential for macroalgae consumption on subtropical rocky reefs and suggest the existence of elements of both redundancy and complementarity on macroalgal selectivity by herbivorous and omnivorous fishes in these environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines two explanations Sellars gives, at successive stages of his career, of how semantic vocabulary (paradigmatically ‘means that … ’ and ‘is true if and only if … ’) lets us relate linguistic expressions to extra-linguistic reality. Despite their differences, both explanations reveal a distinctive pragmatist approach. According to Sellars, we do not use semantic vocabulary todescribelanguage-world relations. Rather, our taking language to relate to the world is implicit in themoves(inferential or non-inferential) licensed by our semantic assertions. I argue that Sellars's discussions of the function of semantic vocabulary point to an overlooked position regarding the relation between the concepts of meaning and truth. According to him, the function of meaning ascriptions cannot be explained independently of the function of truth ascriptions. That is because the function of meaning ascriptions essentially involves licensing claims about the world when combined with truth ascriptions. If he is right, this poses a challenge to deflationary accounts of the function of truth talk. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Background context: The functional role of rectus capitis posterior minor (RCPm) muscles is not well defined. To the best of our knowledge, electromyographic (EMG) data from RCPm muscles in humans have never been collected and analyzed. Purpose: To test the null hypothesis that there will be no difference in normalized levels of EMG activity measured from RCPm muscles with the head in a neutral position and with the head in a retracted position. Study design: A repeated measures design intended to quantify normalized levels of EMG activity measured from RCPm muscles. Methods: Disposable 25-gauge, bipolar fine wire hooked electrodes were used to collect EMG data from both right and left RCPm muscles from 17 asymptomatic subjects. Data were collected while subjects performed five trials with the head maintained in a neutral position; performed three maximal voluntary isometric contraction efforts; performed four trials with the head maintained in a retracted position. Mixed effects beta regression models were used to analyze the data. Results: Normalized EMG activity of RCPm muscles collected with the subject's head held in a retracted position was significantly higher (p<.0001) than normalized EMG activity collected with the subject's head held in a self-selected, neutral position. Conclusions: Rectus capitis posterior minor muscles are active when the head is held in a neutral position and show a significant increase in activity when the head is held in a retracted position. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Living plant diversity (excluding the litter issue) may affect below-ground properties and processes, which is critical to obtaining an integrated biodiversity-ecosystem functioning theory. However, related patterns and underlying mechanisms have rarely been examined, especially lacking long-term evidence. We conducted a factorial crossed sample survey to examine the effects of plant diversity on soil stability over succession based on space-for-time substitution in the Songnen Steppes, North-Eastern China. The results indicate that, under natural colonizing conditions, species-poor systems achieved lower soil stability than species-rich systems, regardless of successional stage. However, soil stability was significantly regulated by plant species richness (number), composition (identity), density (abundance), and functional roles. Our results confirm that a long-term positive plant diversity-soil stability relationship exists in steppe succession. In particular, this enhanced effect of biodiversity on soil stability may operate via diversifying plant root traits. Our results may underpin an integrated biodiversity-ecosystem functioning theory, and improve human use and conservation management of natural resources at an integrated ecosystem level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use spatially explicit indicators for biodiversity conservation status and opportunity costs of conservation to evaluate the role of voluntary forest conservation in a mix of policy instruments distributed across a landscape. We define a spatially explicit evaluation of a policy mix as a “policyscape analysis.” A policyscape analysis includes a comparison of (1) actual spatial overlap of instruments, (2) “functional overlap” of instruments in a cost-effectiveness space, and (3) complementary spatial targeting of instruments as computed by reserve site selection models. To illustrate, we evaluate the actual spatial coverage in cost-effectiveness space of Norway's public protected areas and private voluntary forest conservation. We use proxies for conservation value and opportunity cost—a national Nature Index for forests and forest productivity classes. We conclude by discussing the empirical challenges of our “policyscape analysis.” These have bearing on future “return-on-investment” analysis and reserve site selection modeling in Norway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) mRNA overexpression is an established poor prognostic marker, its function, however, is poorly understood. Measuring extracellular LPL enzymatic activity and protein, we found no difference between levels in CLL patients and those of controls, both before and after heparin treatment in vivo and in vitro. Investigating LPL knock down effects, we determined five potential downstream targets, of which one gene, STXBP3, reportedly is involved in fatty acid metabolism. While possibly reflecting an epigenetic switch towards an incorrect transcriptional program, LPL overexpression by itself does not appear to significantly influence CLL cell survival. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In Persian, the word ‘ke’ has a variety of grammatical functions. It functions as ‘a relative pronoun’, ‘a complementizer’, ‘a conjunction meaning when’, and ‘a conjunction meaning because’. In addition to the above mentioned grammatical functions, it has a different functional behaviour. It can be used after any constituent in a sentence—NP, AdjP, PP, and VP—and it can also be used after subject, direct object, indirect object, verb, comparative adjective complement, subject complement, object complement, different adjuncts, negative adjunct, and non-verbal part of compound verb. In this functional role, ‘ke’ is used in order to focalize the constituent and make it prominent. If it is deleted, the sentence remains grammatical and its propositional meaning doesn't change, while its information structure regarding prominence/focus alters. It is generally believed that in order for an element to be focalized, it is necessary to be preposed to the beginning of the sentence. This study shows that focalization occursin situ; that is, in Persian, through the use of ‘ke’ as a focus marker, elements can receive prominencein situand any movement to the beginning of the sentence is just for topicalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keith Lehrer distinguishes three kinds of questions about consciousness: scientific questions, metaphysical questions, and epistemological questions. He leaves the scientific questions to the scientists. He articulates and answers the peculiar epistemological questions posed by consciousness. And he boldly contends that no metaphysical questions about consciousness remain, once the epistemological questions have been answered. This is an astonishing claim. What happened to the metaphysical questions? Were they pseudo-questions? Were they epistemological questions masquerading as metaphysical ones? And isn't it possible that Lehrer's epistemological account of consciousness raises metaphysical questions of its own? I will argue that Lehrer's account of consciousness does leave a metaphysical remainder. To deal with this remainder, Lehrer could try to expand his explanatory framework-but this would involve to a substantial revision of his current views. I end with a speculative proposal that might allow Lehrer acknowledge all the points raised in this paper, but without forcing him to revise his account of consciousness in a substantial way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the lived experience of anorexia nervosa from the perspective of those who use pro-recovery websites for eating disorders. Fourteen people participated in an online focus group or an e-interview. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Participants described their disorder as a functional tool for avoiding and coping with negative emotions, changing their identity and obtaining control. A central theme was the experience of an ‘anorexic voice’ with both demonic and friendly qualities. This voice felt like an external entity that criticised individuals and sometimes dominated their sense of self, particularly as anorexia nervosa got worse. Applying dialogical theory suggests a new model of anorexia nervosa, where the anorexic voice is a self-critical position, which disagrees with and attempts to dominate the more rational self. It is suggested that to move on from anorexia nervosa, the individual needs to address his/her anorexic voice and develop a new dominant position that accepts and values his/her sense of self. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Soil fauna are considered to be an important determinant of the litter decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the contributions of soil macrofauna and mesofauna to litter decomposition in semi-arid environments are not well-recognized. In this paper, litterbags with different mesh sizes (4.7 mm, 2 mm and 0.01 mm) were employed to examine the intraspecific differences in the decomposition of Stipa baicalensis, Achnatherum avinoides, Lespedeza davurica and Agropyron cristatum. In addition, the effects of soil macrofauna and mesofauna on litter decomposition were determined in Songnen sandy land. The results of this study showed that Prostigmata, Psocidae and Oribatida were dominant fauna in the litterbags. Significant intraspecific differences were found in litter decomposition rates, and the process of litter decomposition can be separated into two apparent stages. Ac. avinoides exhibited the highest contribution rate to litter decomposition, followed by Ag. cristatum, L. davurica and S. baicalensis. Contribution rates of macrofauna and mesofauna to litter decomposition were different. The rate of litter decomposition was positively correlated with the group density of fauna. Our results suggested that both macrofauna and mesofauna could accelerate litter decomposition and, consequently, nutrient cycling in semi-arid ecosystems, although their functional roles were different in litter decomposition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Intellectualist theories attempt to assimilate know how to propositional knowledge and, in so doing, fail to properly explain the close relation know how bears to action. I develop here an anti-intellectualist theory that is warranted, I argue, because it best accounts for the difference between know how and mere 'armchair knowledge.' Know how is a mental state characterized by a certain world-to-mind direction of fit (though it is non-motivational) and attendant functional role. It is essential of know how, but not propositional knowledge, that it makes possible performance errors and has the functional role of guiding action. The theory is attractive, in part, because it allows for propositional, non-propositional and perhaps even non-representational varieties of know how. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional roles may explain the learning performance of groups. Detecting a functional role is critical for promoting group learning performance in computer-supported collaborative learning environments. However, it is not easy for teachers to identify the functional roles played by students in a web-based learning group, or the relationship between roles and group performance. In a web learning system, interactions among group members can be recorded as a large corpus for further analysis. Tools can then be developed to assist teachers to recognise the roles played by group members and determine the best intervention strategy to support group learning. This study designed a method to identify automatically the role played by students, through an analysis of their online collaborative learning interactions. A regression prediction strategy was proposed to predict group performance according to identified functional roles. Experimental results from a study of 82 students showed that the accuracy of detecting functional roles was acceptable, and the prediction of learning performance is useful for most functional roles except opinion-giver and harmoniser. Finally, three grouping strategies for collaborative learning are proposed from the perspective of functional role-distribution. Teachers can, therefore, recognise the status of group members' participation by identifying roles and reorganising the group to increase learning performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report direct underwater observations of the pom pom anemone Liponema multicornis at sites in the western Gulf of Maine. The paucity of records from historic collections as well as recent studies suggest this species is widespread but numerically rare across the region. We found this species hosts high numbers of the commensal amphipod Stenothoe brevicornis amongst the tentacles. In addition, pandalid shrimp were observed using the anemone for shelter by occupying space around the distal edges of the tentacles and as a food source by feeding on bits of mucous. Krill were also observed feeding on amphipods occurring amongst the tentacles. A long history of using bottom contact fishing gear in the region may have reduced abundance, thereby reducing the functional role of L. multicornis as a source for refuge and prey of several crustacean species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In Northern Mexico, long-term grazing has substantially degraded semiarid landscapes. In semiarid systems, ecological and hydrological processes are strongly coupled by patchy plant distribution and biological soil crust (BSC) cover in plant-free interspaces. In this study, we asked: 1) how responsive are BSC cover/composition to a drying/wetting cycle and two-year grazing removal, and 2) what are the implications for soil erosion? We characterized BSC morphotypes and their influence on soil stability under grazed/non-grazed conditions during a dry and wet season. Light- and dark-colored cyanobacteria were dominant at the plant tussock and community level. Cover changes in these two groups differed after a rainy season and in response to grazing removal. Lichens with continuous thalli were more vulnerable to grazing than those with semi-continuous/discontinuous thalli after the dry season. Microsites around tussocks facilitated BSC colonization compared to interspaces. Lichen and cyanobacteria morphotypes differentially enhanced resistance to soil erosion; consequently, surface soil stability depends on the spatial distribution of BSC morphotypes, suggesting soil stability may be as dynamic as changes in the type of BSC cover. Longer-term spatially detailed studies are necessary to elicit spatiotemporal dynamics of BSC communities and their functional role in biotically and abiotically variable environments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Food preferences, feeding attributes, trophic guilds, and ontogenetic changes in diet compositions of 45 fish species collected along coastal waters in the southern areas of the South China Sea, Thailand were examined. Most species had high food intake and fed on specific ranges of food types. Shrimp was the most important food (31.7%), followed by calanoid copepod (16.8%), fish (12.7%) and gammarid amphipod (8.3%). These fishes can be categorized into six different trophic guilds and further divided into four categories namely; piscivore, zooplanktivore, zoobenthivore and miscellaneous/opportunist. Numbers of feeding guilds at each depth vary between four and five. Four of these are consistently found throughout the year at all zones; shrimp predator, piscivore, calanoid copepod feeder and a combination of polychaete and other food feeders. Ontogenetic studies indicate that fishes are more likely to group according to species rather than size. This scientific information is important when examining the complex association between fishes and identifying groups of species using similar resources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Potassium-current inactivation and recovery kinetics are pivotal in sustaining dynamic processing of time-varying sensory signals in hair cells. We report a detailed analysis of K+-currents in isolated hair cells from the frog crista ampullaris. The single components were dissected using a novel procedure based on their differential kinetic properties: The fast IA component exhibited two processes of inactivation removal; the persistent IKD component ( IKV + IKCa), unexpectedly displayed partial inactivation, removed by negative potentials with particularly slow, delayed kinetics. The physiological relevance of these observations was investigated by imposing sinusoidal membrane potential changes to mimic receptor response to hair bundle deflection. The excitatory phase elicited extra-currents (hysteresis) only if the off phase went sufficiently negative to remove IA inactivation. Native, resting hair cells are depolarised by receptor current; thus, voltage continuously modulates IKD, whereas IA only transiently ensues when the receptor current vanishes (zero-current potential ≈−70 mV) and polarisation removes IA inactivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Despite the wide range of functional roles performed by marine sponges they are still poorly represented in many research, monitoring and conservation programmes. The aim of this review is to examine recent developments in our understanding of sponge functional roles in tropical, temperate and polar ecosystems. Functions have been categorised into three areas: (a) impacts on substrate (including bioerosion, reef creation, and substrate stabilisation, consolidation and regeneration); (b) bentho-pelagic coupling (including carbon cycling, silicon cycling, oxygen depletion and nitrogen cycling); and (c) associations with other organisms (facilitating primary production, secondary production, provision of microhabitat, enhanced predation protection, survival success, range expansions and camouflage though association with sponges, sponges as a settlement substrate, disrupting near-boundary and reef level flow regimes, sponges as agents of biological disturbance, sponges as releasers of chemicals and sponges as tools for other organisms). The importance of sponges on substrate, sponge bentho-pelagic coupling, and sponge interactions and associations is described. Although the scientific evidence strongly supports the significance and widespread nature of these functional roles sponges still remain underappreciated in marine systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The crystal structure of human HPRT reveals the involvement of E196 side chain at the A-B dimer interface. Interference by valine substitution at this position (E196V), as identified in patients with Lesch-Nyhan disease, nearly abolishes enzymatic activity. Kinetic analysis of the active mutants (E196A, E196D, E196Q, and E196R) suggests that interaction between K68 and E196 side chains contributes to stabilization of cis-configuration during the catalytic cycle. The study also provides further insight into the role of A-B dimer interactions relating to K68 in the regulation of cis-trans isomerization that potentially governs the rate-limiting steps in the HPRT reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Freshwater mussels are the dominant consumer biomass in many fluvial systems. As filter feeding grazers, mussels can remove large amounts of particulate matter from the water column and transfer these resources to the substrate as biodeposits (agglutinated mussel faeces and pseudofaeces). Mussel biodeposits are a nutrient rich and easily assimilated food source and therefore may have significant relevance to benthic community structure. This study examines the functional role of Margaritifera falcata in the South Fork Eel River, California. 2. We addressed two main questions: (i) Do mussels increase benthic resources in this system? (ii) If so, does this alter macroinvertebrate community structure? 3. Measurements and enclosure experiments in the South Fork Eel River show that mussels can play a significant role in local food webs by increasing available fine particulate matter (both organic and inorganic) on the substrate. We document increased benthic macroinvertebrate biomass for predators and collectors (Leptophlebidae) in the presence of mussels, but only in late summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present investigation was to explore whether and how the amplitude and/or duration parameters of anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) affect the upward propulsive force (ΔFZamp) during rising on tiptoes from upright standing position. Seven subjects initiated the movement of rising on tiptoe from a strictly regulated initial body position at various velocities at the subjects’ own spontaneous pace. In this experiment, electromyographic (EMG) activities of the muscles in the tibialis anterior (TA) and soleus, the goniogram in the ankle joint, and the anteroposterior and vertical ground reaction forces were simultaneously recorded. The average amplitude and the duration of the EMG activities and ground reaction force were measured, and the displacement of the center of body mass and the center of foot pressure (CP) were calculated and reported as the mean value plus its standard deviation. ΔFZamp correlated positively and significantly with the maximum backward CP shift, the average amplitude of the backward loading and the average EMG amplitude in the TA in the anticipation phase, whereas ΔFZamp did not correlate positively or significantly with the anticipatory duration of the backward CP shift of the backward loading and of the EMG activity in the TA. These results suggest that the amplitude parameters of the APAs associated with rising on tiptoes are dependent on the upward propulsive force, and that APAs may be directly involved not only with compensation of postural disturbance but also with increasing performance of the focal movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aims: Partial genetic characterization of several chromosomal regions on 35 16SrI-B phytoplasma strains maintained in periwinkle and collected in different geographical areas from plants of diverse species. Methods and Results: Genes coding for ribosomal protein rpL22, elongation factor EF-Tu and random cloned sequences amplified with primers AY19p/m, G35p/m and BB88F1/R1 after RFLP analyses showed a high degree of polymorphism among the strains studied. The ribosomal protein (rp) subgroups B and K, and an undescribed subgroup designated N, were identified. Amplicons obtained with primers AY19p/m and BB88F1/R1, revealed a high and a low degree of polymorphism, respectively. Conclusions: A probable spacer role could be attributed to the AY19p/m sequence and a possible coding function to the BB88F1/R1 sequence. No relationship was found among genetic polymorphisms, identified by statistical analyses, and epidemiological or biological parameters. Significance and Impact of the Study: The analyses of five different genomic sequences of the 35 strains belonging to subgroup 16SrI-B allowed a finer distinction among them, confirming that the polymorphism level of 16S rDNA is too low to be adopted as unique parameter for classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed an entirely sequence-based method that identifies and integrates relevant features that can be used to assign proteins of unknown function to functional classes, and enzyme categories for enzymes. We show that strategies for the elucidation of protein function may benefit from a number of functional attributes that are more directly related to the linear sequence of amino acids, and hence easier to predict, than protein structure. These attributes include features associated with post-translational modifications and protein sorting, but also much simpler aspects such as the length, isoelectric point and composition of the polypeptide chain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

1. The feeding ecology of the crayfish Paranephrops planifrons in streams draining catchments in native forest and pastoral land was investigated using analyses of both stomach contents and stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen. We aimed to (1) identify the energy sources of crayfish, (2) determine whether these were affected by ontogeny or land use change, and (3) assess the functional and trophic roles of crayfish in New Zealand hill-country streams. 2. In native forest streams, crayfish stomach contents were dominated volumetrically by leaf detritus (>60%), but in pasture streams aquatic invertebrates constituted more than 40% of stomach volumes and leaf detritus <30%. Stable isotope analyses revealed that crayfish from both native forest and pasture streams incorporated energy from aquatic invertebrates into their body tissue but did not appear to utilize detritus for growth. Therefore, deforestation had little impact on crayfish energy sources. 3. In native forest streams, adult crayfish (≥20 mm orbit-carapace length (OCL)) consumed greater amounts of leaf detritus than juvenile crayfish, but a corresponding change in stable isotope signatures was not detected. Ontogenetic shifts in diet were not consistent between land use suggesting that change in local habitat and food resources, as a result of land use change, affect crayfish food choice more than factors related solely to age or size. 4. Crayfish appear to occupy the trophic position of a predator, but by functioning as omnivores, they have dual roles as both predators and processors of organic matter. The use of gut content analysis in conjunction with stable isotope analyses revealed that the functional and trophic roles of P. planifrons differed, with implications for the interpretation of diet studies and understanding of the role of omnivores in food webs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frontal aslant tract (FAT) mainly connects the supplementary motor area (SMA) and inferior frontal gyrus. The left FAT is involved in language-related functions, while the functional role of the right FAT is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the function of the right FAT by dividing it into three segments according to the anatomical structure. A total of 34 right frontal gliomas who had undergone surgery were studied. Participants were assessed for the acute and chronic phases of several neuropsychological and motor functions. FAT was reconstructed into the anterior, middle, and posterior segments according to the cortical connections as the medial prefrontal cortex, pre-SMA, and SMA proper, respectively. The relationships between the damaged severity of each FAT segment and behavioral scores were analyzed. A significant relationship was observed only in the acute phase motor function and posterior segment of the FAT. The middle segment was involved in motor function, but it did not have a sufficient significance level compared to the posterior segment. Our study revealed that the right FAT can be divided into three segments and that its posterior segment is related to acute phase motor function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]