Search

Violence seems to have been a constant in Egyptian history, as attested by documentary sources. The material culture also reflects this state of violence; however, anthropological findings, although present, are not as numerous as might be expected. In the present study, we analyze the injuries found in three crania (New Kingdom, 1500–1070 BCE) from the necropolis of Qubbet el‐Hawa, near the island of Elephantine (Aswan, Egypt). All three cases are adult males with several injuries caused by a sharp‐edged weapon, with no signs of survival. The macroscopic analysis of the wounds was combined with archaeological and historical data to provide an explanation of the possible weapon used and the possible scenarios (intergroup or intragroup violence) where these deaths could have occurred. These cranial injuries leave no doubt as to the intentionality and repetition in the act of causing death. These findings offer clear evidence and reliable information that contributes to the understanding of interpersonal violence and its potential causes in ancient Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyploidisation has played an important role in plant diversification, and variation in ploidy level may be found not only between species of the same genus, but also within a single species. Although establishing the adaptive significance of polyploidy to explain the geographic distribution of cytotypes is challenging, the occurrence of different cytotypes in different ecological niches may suggest an adaptive role of genome duplication., We studied the adaptive significance of the geographic distribution of cytotypes across the entire distribution range of the endemic Erysimum mediohispanicum (Brassicaceae). For that, we have used climate variables, population elevation and soil properties to model ecological niches for the different cytotypes. In addition, we analysed the effect that ploidy level has on the floral phenotype., We found a clear geographic pattern in the distribution of cytotypes, with diploid individuals occurring in the southernmost part of the distribution range, while tetraploids were found in the northern area. A contact (mosaic) zone between both cytotypes was identified, but diploids and tetraploids occur in sympatry in only one population (although in a highly unbalanced proportion). Gene flow between different cytotypes seems to be negligible, as evident from an almost complete absence of triploids and other minority cytotypes. Niches occupied by both cytotypes showed subtle, but significant differences, even in the contact zone. Precipitation was higher in regions occupied by tetraploid individuals, which present wider corolla tubes and thinner but taller stalks than diploids., Our findings highlight the potential role of polyploidy in the ecological adaptation of E. mediohispanicum to both abiotic factors and biotic interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flower specialisation of angiosperms includes the occluded corollas of snapdragons ( Antirrhinum and some relatives), which have been postulated to be one of the most efficient structures to physical limit access to pollinators. The Iberian Peninsula harbours the highest number of species (18 Iberian of the 20 species of Antirrhinum) that potentially share similar pollinator fauna., Crossing experiments with 18 Iberian species from this study and literature revealed a general pattern of self-incompatibility ( SI) - failure in this SI system has been also observed in a few plants - which indicates the need for pollinator agents in Antirrhinum pollination., Field surveys in natural conditions (304 h) found flower visitation (>85%) almost exclusively by 11 species of bee ( Anthophora fulvitarsis, Anthophora plumipes, Anthidium sticticum, Apis mellifera, Bombus hortorum, Bombus pascuorum, Bombus ruderatus, Bombus terrestris, Chalicodoma lefebvrei, Chalicodoma pyrenaica and Xylocopa violacea). This result covering the majority of Antirrhinum species suggests that large bees of the two long-tongued bee families (Megachilidae, Apidae) are the major pollinators of Antirrhinum., A bipartite modularity analysis revealed two pollinator systems of long-tongued bees: (i) the long-studied system of bumblebees ( Bombus spp.) associated with nine primarily northern species of Antirrhinum; and (ii) a newly proposed pollinator system involving other large bees associated with seven species primarily distributed in southern Mediterranean areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between plants and flower visitors has been historically proposed as a main factor driving the evolutionary change of both flower and pollinator phenotypes. The considerable diversity in floral morphology within the tribe Antirrhineae has been traditionally related to pollinator types. We used empirical data on the flower visitors from 59 Antirrhineae taxa from the literature and our own field surveys, which provide an opportunity to test whether flower phenotypes are reliable predictors of visitors and pollinator niches., The degree of adjustment between eight key floral traits and actual visitors was explored by testing the predictive value of inferred pollinator syndromes ( i.e. suites of floral traits that characterise groups of plant species related to pollination). Actual visitors and inferred pollinator niches (categorisation of visitors' association using a modularity algorithm) were also explored using Linear Discriminant Analysis ( LDA)., The bee pollinator niche is correctly classified for flowers with dull corolla colour, without nectar guides, as the most important predictor. Both predictive value and statistical classification prove useful in classifying Antirrhineae taxa and the bee pollinator niche, mostly as a consequence of the high proportion of genera and taxa with occluded corollas primarily visited by bees. Our predictive approach rendered a high Positive Predictive Value ( PPV) of floral traits in the diagnosis of visitors/pollinator niches. In particular, a high PPV was found for bees as both visitors and forming pollinator niches. In addition, LDA showed that four pollinator niches are well defined based on floral traits., The large number of species visited by bees irrespective of pollinator syndromes leads us to hypothesise their generalist pollinator role, despite the phenotypically specialised flowers of Antirrhineae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isolation-by-distance model ( IBD) predicts that genetic differentiation among populations increases with geographic distance. Yet, empirical studies show that a variety of ecological, topographic and historical factors may override the effect of geographic distance on genetic variation. This may particularly apply to species with narrow but highly heterogeneous distribution ranges, such as those occurring along elevational gradients. Using nine SSR markers, we study the genetic differentiation of the montane pollination-generalist herb, Erysimum mediohispanicum. Because the effects of any given factor may depend on the geographic scale considered, we investigate the contribution of different environmental and historical factors at three different spatial scales. We evaluate five competing models that put forward the role of geographic distance, local environmental factors [biotic interactions ( IBEb) and climatic variables ( IBEa)], landscape resistance ( IBR) and phylogeographic patterns ( IBP), respectively. We find significant IBD regardless of the spatial scale and the genetic distance estimator considered. However, IBEa and IBP also play a prominent role in shaping genetic differentiation patterns at the larger spatial scales, and IBR is significant at the fine spatial scale. Overall, our results highlight the importance of combining different estimators, statistical approaches and spatial scales to disentangle the relative importance of the various ecological factors contributing to the shaping of genetic divergence patterns in natural populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Human-Computer Interaction, the adaptation of the content and the way of how this content is communicated to the users in interactive sessions is a critical issue to promote the acceptability and usability of any computational system. We present a user-adapted interactive platform to identify and provide an early intervention for symptoms of depression and suicide. In particular, we describe the work performed to assess users' system acceptability and usability. An empathic Virtual Agent is the main interface with the user, and it has been designed to generate the appropriate dialogues and emotions during the interactions according to the detected user's specific needs. This personalization is based on a dynamic user model nurtured with clinical, demographical and behavioural information. The evaluation was performed with 60 participants from the university community. The obtained results were promising, allowing the execution of a further clinical trial. The system's usability score was 75.7%, and the score of the user-adapted content and the emotional responses of the Virtual Agent was 70.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Crescentic glomerulonephritis ( CGN) is a histological finding that implies rapid deterioration of renal function and can be related to different diseases, such as type 1 or anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody ( Goodpasture) disease, type 2 or immune complex CGN and type 3 or pauci-immune disease. Aim The present study describes CGN and its characteristics based on the data from the Spanish Glomerulonephritis Registry. Methods An analysis was made of all native renal biopsies obtained from patients during 1994-2013 and classified as CGN. A patient epidemiological and clinical data questionnaire was completed by the 120 centres involved. Results A total of 21 774 biopsies was performed, of which 2089 (8.1%) corresponded to CGN (211 type 1, 177 type 2 and 1701 type 3). Renal function was poorer in type 1 compared with types 2 and 3, and proteinuria was higher in type 2 compared to types 1 and 3. Patients diagnosed with CGN type 3 were older than those with types 1 and 2, but less hypertensive than the type 2 patients. No differences in the urine test findings were found between types 1 and 2. Microhaematuria was the most frequent feature in general, as well as in type 3 compared with types 1 and 2. The main indication for biopsy was acute renal injury. Age was the only difference between type 1 patients with and without alveolar haemorrhage (53 [33-67] vs 64 [46-73], P = 0.008). Conclusion Although classified as the same entity, the different types of CGN have different features that must be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current s.c. allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) leads to amelioration of IgE-mediated allergy, but it requires numerous allergen injections over several years and is frequently associated with severe side-effects. The aim of this study was to test whether modified recombinant allergens can improve therapeutic efficacy in SIT while reducing allergic side-effects. Methods: The major cat allergen Fel d 1 was fused to a TAT-derived protein translocation domain and to a truncated invariant chain for targeting the MHC class II pathway (MAT-Fel d 1). The immunogenicity was evaluated in mice, while potential safety issues were assessed by cellular antigen stimulation test (CAST) using basophils from cat-dander-allergic patients. Results: MAT-Fel d 1 enhanced induction of Fel d 1-specific IgG2a antibody responses as well as the secretion of IFN-γ and IL-2 from T cells. Subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy of mice using the modified Fel d 1 provided stronger protection against anaphylaxis than SIT with unmodified Fel d 1, and MAT-Fel d 1 caused less degranulation of human basophils than native Fel d 1. Conclusion: MAT-Fel d 1 allergen enhanced protective antibody and Th1 responses in mice, while reducing human basophil degranulation. Immunotherapy using MAT-Fel d 1 allergen therefore has the potential to enhance SIT efficacy and safety, thus, shortening SIT. This should increase patient compliance and lower treatment costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a potent proinflammatory cytokine whose role in human obesity has recently been suggested. The aim of our study was to analyse in morbidly obese patients undergoing gastric bypass, the relationship of IL-18 with insulin resistance and with proinflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-α receptors, sTNFR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and with adiponectin. Design Observational and prospective study. Patients Sixty-five morbidly obese patients, aged 45 ± 8·9 years, were studied before and 12 months after gastric bypass. Measurements We analysed plasma concentrations of IL-18, sTNFR, CRP and adiponectin. Results Plasma concentrations of sTNFR2, IL-18 and CRP were decreased and adiponectin significantly increased after bypass surgery. In the multiple regression analysis, preoperative values of IL-18 remained significantly associated with preoperative triglycerides (β = 0·47, P = 0·005) and TNFR2 (β = 0·47, P = 0·004). R2 for the model = 0·38. Postoperative IL-18 concentrations in the multiple regression analysis were significantly associated with postoperative homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (β = 0·092, P = 0·019) and triglycerides (β = 0·40, P = 0·036). R2 for the model = 0·46. IL-18 did not correlate with body mass index, fat mass, fat-free mass or body fat. No relationship was either found between adiponectin and IL-18, TNFR1 and -2 and CRP. Conclusions Massive weight loss induced by gastric bypass reduces IL-18, TNFR2 and CRP. IL-18 might be a marker of the chronic inflammatory process underlying insulin resistance but its lack of association with anthropometric and body composition parameters does not support a major secretion by human adipocytes. IL-18 and sTNFR1 and -2 do not play a main role in the inhibition of the secretion of adiponectin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the implementation of online hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) in a dialysis unit. The series of standards for OL-HDF is summarized. The specifications for the quality of water used in OL-HDF are enumerated. It also discusses the use of ultrapure dialysis liquid in OL-HDF. The difference between OL-HDF monitor and conventional monitors is addressed.

1. This paper explores the idea that functional heterogeneity (variability of a system property affecting ecological processes) is only a fraction of the available structural heterogeneity (variability of a property measured without reference to ecological effects) caused by non-random propagule dispersal. We report the effect of acorn dispersal by jays on the light environment experienced by Holm Oaks (Quercus ilexL.) during early recruitment in a Mediterranean montane forest.2. Four light variables were estimated by studying hemispherical photographs: direct site factor (DSF); indirect site factor (ISF); and potential direct radiation during April (PDRApril) and August (PDRAugust). Means and variances of these variables were compared before and after the dispersal of acorns by jays.3. The landscape occupied by Holm Oaks was very heterogeneous, which translated into differences in the available light among microhabitats of up to one order of magnitude.4. Because of the spatial pattern of acorn dispersal, the light environment of the oaks during their establishment was much more homogeneous than that in the whole landscape.5. This demonstrates that the heterogeneity relevant for plant recruitment is not necessarily that of the landscape as a whole.Functional Ecology(2004)18, 787–792 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]