Dissimilar Environments Research Articles

CpG methylation frequency of TET2, GRIA2, and CDKN2A genes in the North Atlantic fin whale varies with age and between populations

AbstractRecovery rates for baleen whales that were decimated by exploitation vary between species and populations. Age determination is critical for the understanding of recovery trends and population structure, but determining age in free‐ranging individuals remains challenging. Recent research has suggested that the methylation level of some genes in skin samples may provide age determinations with accuracy. We selected nine CpG sites from three genes (TET2, CDKN2A, and GRIA2) and analyzed them in 40 skin samples from known‐age individuals pertaining to two different populations of fin whales from the North Atlantic. We observed significant correlations with age in five CpG sites. We used three of these CpG sites to perform an epigenetic age estimation. Predictions had a standard deviation of 2.94, but regression between observed and predicted ages showed a clear underestimation for older fin whales. For further development, we suggest: (1) screening for new CpG sites associated with age that exhibit higher variability between individuals, and (2) including older animals whenever the sampling allows it. We also observed subtle, but significant differences between the two populations studied in one of the CpG sites (TET2_CpG + 21). We attributed these differences to genetic differences or to the dissimilar environments that affect both populations.

The Hippocampus Converts Volatile Entorhinal Inputs into Stable Spatial Maps

The medial entorhinal cortex (MEC)-hippocampal network plays a key role in the processing, storage and recall of spatial information. However, how the spatial code provided by MEC inputs relates to spatial representations generated by principal cell assemblies within hippocampal subfields remains enigmatic. To investigate this coding relationship, we employed two-photon calcium imaging in mice navigating through dissimilar virtual environments. Imaging large MEC bouton populations revealed spatially tuned activity patterns. MEC inputs drastically changed their preferred spatial field locations between environments, whereas hippocampal cells showed lower levels of place field reconfiguration. Decoding analysis indicated that higher place field reliability and larger context-dependent activity-rate differences allow low numbers of principal cells, particularly in the DG and CA1, to provide a more rapid and accurate information about location and context than MEC inputs. Thus, conversion of volatile MEC inputs into stable spatial hippocampal maps may enable fast encoding and efficient recall of spatio-contextual information.

Functionalized CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots for Intracellular pH Measurements by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy.

pH is an important biomarker for many human diseases and great efforts are being made to develop new pH probes for bioimaging and biomedical applications. Here, the use of three different CdSe/ZnS QDs, functionalized with d-penicillamine and small peptides, as pH probes for fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) is investigated. The fluorescence pH sensitivity of the nanoparticles is analyzed in different experimental media: aqueous solution, synthetic intracellular medium, and mesenchymal C3H10T1/2 and tumoral SK-MEL-2 cell lines. Different experiments along with theoretical calculations are conducted to unravel the mechanisms causing pH sensitivity of the nanoparticles and the effect of the length and composition of the peripheral branches on their photophysical properties. Absolute intracellular pH values measured in live cells with FLIM using a fluorescent probe based on a QD are reported here for the first time (intracellular pH values of 7.0 and 7.1 for C3H10T1/2 and SK-MEL-2 cells, respectively). These fluorescent nanoprobes can also be used to distinguish between different types of cells in cocultures on the basis of their different fluorescence lifetimes in dissimilar intracellular environments.

Comparison of fine particulate matter level, chemical content and oxidative potential derived from two dissimilar urban environments

Urban airborne particles contain a wide spectrum of components, known to have harmful effects on human health. This study reports a detailed investigation of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), chemical content and oxidative potential derived from two different urban environments. During summer and winter, 20-day campaigns were conducted at Belgrade city center (urban-background site – UB) and Bor (urban-industrial site – UI). Using various analytical techniques, carbonaceous compounds, water-soluble inorganic ions, major and trace elements were determined, while the oxidative potential of PM2.5 was estimated by dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay (OPDCFH values).The mean PM2.5 concentrations in both urban environments were above the recommended daily value, and the dominant PM2.5 mass contributor was organic matter (29–55%). The OC/EC ratio was significantly higher at UB site during winter, which was an indication of a considerable contribution of secondary organic carbon to the overall organic carbon (OC). Water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) was also higher at UB than at UI site, and it probably came from the same sources as OC. In general, the different partition of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in warm and cold periods affected the number of organic components. Sulfates and nitrates were the most abundant ions at both sites and they counted approximately 40% (summer) and 50% (winter) of total ions. Further, the concentrations of the most elements, particularly some potentially carcinogenic elements such as As, Cd and Pb were significantly higher at UI, due to the emissions from the copper smelter complex in the vicinity. The mean OPDCFH values were similar during the summer at both sampling sites, whereas a statistically significant difference between sites was noticed in favor of UB environment in winter.

The site mapping of Kakucs-Turján by the means of horizontal and vertical proxies: Combining field and basic laboratory methods of geoarchaeology and archaeological prospection

The homogenous cultural identity that emerged during the Middle Bronze Age (2000–1450 cal BC) in the central territory of the Carpathian Basin is identified uniformly as the Vatya culture. The Vatya people created multi-layered tells, open air horizontal, as well as fortified settlements along the western and eastern bank of the Danube river. These archaeological sites are significant elements of both the cultural and natural heritage of the Carpathian Basin. Their significance does not only lie within the possibility to reconstruct the life, society and material culture of Vatya populations, but the buried soils and anthropogenic sediments hold significant information on prehistoric human-environment interactions, and on site formation processes that occurred after the abandonment of the individual settlements. Geophysical prospection methods and field walking helped to locate and identify the tripartite structure of Kakucs-Turján archaeological site within the territory of the Danube–Tisza Interfluve. The settlement was established on the border of different geographical micro-regions and at the conjunction of dissimilar natural geographical environments. The stratigraphy of the site was described by the means of high resolution and focused series of hand auger observations, as well as on the basis of basic soil physical and chemical parameters. The detailed macro-morphological description of the soil core profiles aimed at precisely identifying the soilscape of the site and its vicinity, the stratigraphy of the anthropogenic and natural sediments of the settlement, but also to facilitate our understanding of the site formation process. Data gained by the means of geoarchaeological methods not only form the basis of environmental historical conclusions, but reveals mosaics of the interaction between ancient human populations and their environment.

Benthic ctenophore (Order Platyctenida) reproduction, recruitment, and seasonality in south Florida

AbstractReproductive structures, modes, and seasonal patterns of size–class abundances are examined in two benthic platyctene (Family Coeloplanidae) ctenophore species present in dissimilar shallow marine environments in subtropical southeast Florida. Coeloplana waltoni, a minute (1–3 mm body length) epizoic associate of octocorals, occurs in exposed environments often under turbulent conditions, and Vallicula multiformis (2–10 mm) commonly occurs epiphytically on macroalgae in protected, calm‐water environments. Reproductive activity in C. waltoni is most active during the warm‐water summer season (June–October); gonadal development in V. multiformis occurs year‐round, and is most pronounced during sea‐warming periods in late spring (May) and late summer to early autumn (August–October), with release of cydippid larvae. Both species are hermaphroditic brooders, exhibiting paedogenesis (early gonadal development) at body lengths approximately one‐third (Coeloplana) to one‐sixth (Vallicula) of maximum adult size. Juvenile individuals (<0.6 mm) increased in abundance in C. waltoni during the summer reproductive period, and large (≥1 mm) pink‐colored individuals comprised 50% or more of samples from July through September. Seasonal abundance of gravid individuals and the timing of cydippid larval release in V. multiformis did not correspond closely with juvenile or adult population densities. Asexual fragmentation occurred in both ctenophore species, but was observed more frequently in individuals of V. multiformis. This asexual mode of reproduction probably accounted in part for the discordance between ctenophore abundances and larval recruitment events by sexual means. Morphological structures and behaviors associated with reproduction are described in this study. Uncommon images of reproductive products (gametes, embryos, larvae), spawning events, brooding, and asexual fragmentation are included, some for the first time in the published literature.

Scaling Up Social Enterprise: Predicament or Prospect in a Comparative Perspective

This article focuses on the intricate nature of scaling practices in social enterprise organizations (SEOs). The research is based on case study methodology in two different institutional environments, the Netherlands and Cambodia. Comparing and contrasting these cases, the article raises questions about ways in which the institutional environments affect scaling practices. Whilst Dutch and Cambodian SEOs upscale to address market deficiencies in dissimilar institutional environments, the dominant strategy in both cases is to scale for depth impact. Under neoliberal market logic, both institutional environments converge in creating obstacles for SEOs to fully develop their entrepreneurial potential and contribute to social innovation.

Genetic correlations and their dependence on environmental similarity-Insights from livestock data.

Genetic correlations for a trait across environments are predicted to decrease as environments diverge. However, estimates of genetic correlations from natural populations are typically defined across a limited environmental range and prone to very large standard errors, making it difficult to test this prediction. We address the importance of environmental distance on genetic correlations by employing data from domestic cattle in which abundant and accurate estimates are available from a wide range of environments. Three production traits related to milk yield show a clear decrease in genetic correlations with increasing environmental divergence. This pattern was also evident for growth traits and other yield traits but not for traits related to reproduction, morphology, physiology, or disease. We suspect that this reflects weaker selection on these latter trait classes compared to production traits, or alternatively the effects of selection are constrained by unfavorable genetic correlations between traits. The results support the notion that traits that historically have been under strong directional selection in a small range of frequently encountered environments will evolve high genetic correlations across these environments, while exposure to uncommon (and dissimilar) environments lead to a reranking of gene effects and a decrease in genetic correlations across environments.

Personality in captive killer whales (Orcinus orca): A rating approach based on the five-factor model.

The comparative study of animal personality has received great interest in recent years. Some studies have analyzed personalities in cetaceans (exclusively in dolphins), but none have analyzed the factorial structure of personality of any species in this order. Our objective was to evaluate a sample of captive killer whales (n = 24) adapting one of the most widely used models of personality in humans and nonhuman animals: the five-factor model. A total of 38 personality descriptive adjectives were rated by 55 raters (mainly trainers and curators). Principal components analysis and regularized exploratory factor analysis revealed four statistically significant factors with acceptable standards of interrater reliability and validity, accounting for 49.85% of the variance. The first factor indicated an Extraversion factor, the second one revealed a combined factor of Conscientiousness and Agreeableness, the third one yielded in a Dominance factor, and the fourth one reflected a Careful factor very close to a combination of Conscientiousness and Agreeableness factor. The results were compared with the results obtained for humans and chimpanzees in prior studies. The similarities could be explained as a result of convergent adaptive traits despite a deep evolutionary divergence, adaptation to physically dissimilar environments, and very different neuroanatomical organization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Growing Nanoscale Model Surfaces to Enable Correlation of Catalytic Behavior Across Dissimilar Reaction Environments

Development of catalytic materials that can effectively facilitate currently challenging chemical transformations requires enhanced understanding of reaction mechanisms and insight into the structure and composition of optimal active site geometries. New methods for translating fundamental insights obtained in highly controlled environments to industrially viable catalysts that function under dramatically different operating conditions can accelerate the catalyst design process. This Perspective highlights the application of noble metal nanoparticles with well-defined surfaces as nanoscale experimental models that open up opportunities to correlate fundamental reactivity and catalytic performance across reaction environments of increasing complexity. Recent advances in synthetic control over both nanoparticle shape and composition allow for the generation of specific active site geometries of interest in materials that can be stable in both ultrahigh vacuum and elevated pressure gas-phase environments and potentially in solution-phase and electrocatalytic systems as well. Coupled with significant recent developments in surface science techniques, including operando spectroscopy methods, the use of nanoscale model surfaces represents a promising approach to establishing principles of reactivity and catalytic behavior in these diverse environments.

On the Performance of Power Splitting Energy Harvested Wireless Full-Duplex Relaying Network with Imperfect CSI over Dissimilar Channels

The energy harvesting amplify-and-forward full-duplex relaying network over the dissimilar fading environments in imperfect CSI condition is investigated. In this system model, the energy, and information are transferred from the source to the relay nodes by the power splitting protocol with helping of the full-duplex relay node. Firstly, the outage probability, achievable throughput, and the optimal power splitting factor in terms of the analytical mathematical expressions were proposed, analyzed, and demonstrated. Furthermore, the system performance of the proposed model on the connection with all system parameters is rigorously studied. Finally, the numerical results demonstrated and convinced one that the analytical and the simulation results are matched well with each other for all system parameter values using Monte-Carlo simulation. The results show that the system performance degrades significantly but is still in a permissible interval while the channel estimation error increases and the system performance of the mixing scenarios is better in comparison with the Rayleigh-Rayleigh scenario.

Spatiotemporal Aspects of Big Data

Abstract Data has evolved into a large-scale data as big data in the recent era. The analysis of big data involves determined attempts on previous data. As new era of data has spatiotemporal facts that involve the time and space factors, which make them distinct from traditional data. The big data with spatiotemporal aspects helps achieve more efficient results and, therefore, many different types of frameworks have been introduced in cooperate world. In the present research, a qualitative approach is used to present the framework classification in two categories: architecture and features. Frameworks have been compared on the basis of architectural characteristics and feature attributes as well. These two categories project a significant effect on the execution of spatiotemporal data in big data. Frameworks are able to solve the real-time problems in less time of cycle. This study presents spatiotemporal aspects in big data with reference to several dissimilar environments and frameworks.

Morpho-physiological Characteristics and Molecular Markers of Maize Crosses Under Multi-location Evaluation

The superior lines A1, A2, B1 and B2, which were developed from honeycomb evaluation in two different environments (A and B), were crossed in the field in environment A to obtain the following six crosses A1×A2, A1×B1, A1×B2, A2×B1, A2×B2 and B1×B2. Measurements performed in a RCB design included quantitative and quality characteristics and molecular data based on ISSR molecular markers. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of variation of quantitative, quality and molecular characteristics among crosses of superior selected lines that developed after multi-location selection. 
 
 Principal component and cluster analyses were used for grouping genotypes, while correlations were performed to investigate relations between all quantitative and quality characteristics. According to PCA analysis, the six newly-developed crosses, which were evaluated in different environments, showed measurable distances between the identical lines (B1×B2 (A) and B1×B2 (B)) suggesting genotype-environment interaction. Also, cluster analysis showed that some crosses, such as A1×B2 (A) and A1×B2 (B), are grouped in separate and distinct clusters indicating that dissimilar developmental environments may cause changes in quantitative traits. This may be due to the origin of the selected lines, since they were developed in different locations. Lines developed in the same location gave crosses that had similar behavior in the two locations. Also, it is clear that a kind of gene fixation is apparent from the C3 cycle in A1xA2 cross, since it is close (and similar) to the C4 cross. Crosses including A2 line showed a greater stability in both environments.

Clinical international experiences during medical school: medical students’ perspective

Migration and cultural interconnection has been one of the major contributors to globalization of disease. This is often a challenge physicians face as they encounter illnesses that they have not seen before while working in dissimilar environments to their training. Given this, international experiences are trending among medical professionals to be cognizant and proficient in dealing with such situations. In this paper, we will briefly reflect on our international exchange experiences as students and how such experiences can contribute to developing stronger global health knowledge and enrich our medical education experience as future physicians. We will also discuss some of the challenges medical students face while pursuing such opportunities, and how such challenges could be overcome.

Modulating Electrocatalysis on Graphene Heterostructures: Physically Impermeable Yet Electronically Transparent Electrodes.

The electronic properties and extreme thinness of graphene make it an attractive platform for exploring electrochemical interactions across dissimilar environments. Here, we report on the systematic tuning of the electrocatalytic activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) via heterostructures formed by graphene modified with a metal underlayer and an adlayer consisting of a molecular catalyst. Systematic voltammetric testing and electrochemical imaging of patterned electrodes allowed us to confidently probe modifications on the ORR mechanisms and overpotential. We found that the surface configuration largely determined the ORR mechanism, with adlayers of porphyrin molecular catalysts displaying a higher activity for the 2e- pathway than the bare basal plane of graphene. Surprisingly, however, the underlayer material contributed substantially to lower the activation potential for the ORR in the order Pt > Au > SiO x, strongly suggesting the involvement of the solution-excluded metal on the reaction. Computational investigations suggest that ORR enhancements originate from permeation of metal d-subshell electrons through the graphene layer. In addition, these physically impermeable but electronically transparent electrodes displayed tolerance to cyanide poisoning and stability toward long-term cycling, highlighting graphene as an effective protection layer of noble metal while enabling electrochemical interactions. This work has implications in the mechanistic understanding of 2D materials and core-shell-type heterostructures for electrocatalytic reactions.

Volcanic sources and diagenetic alteration of Permian–Triassic boundary K-bentonites in Guizhou Province, South China

Terrestrial Permian–Triassic boundary (PTB) sequences in South China usually contain one to three ash beds (K-bentonites), which provide evidence of a possible trigger for the terrestrial mass extinction and are useful as a distinct marker for correlation of the PTB boundary interval from terrestrial to marine areas. Here, we investigate the clay mineralogy and geochemistry of ash beds in the Zhejue and Jiucaichong sections, representing paludal and lacustrine environments, respectively, in order to better understand the source(s) and preservation of these ash beds. The two Zhejue K-bentonites exhibit similar compositions that are distinctly different from that of the Jiucaichong K-bentonite. The former contain mainly clay minerals with minor quartz, anatase, and lepidocrocite, and the clay minerals in these layers are mainly R1 and R3 mixed-layer illite/smectite (I/S) and well-crystallized to poorly-crystallized kaolinite, whereas the latter consists mainly of R3 I/S with minor quartz, feldspars, and anatase. The former have higher CIA values (92.2 and 93.8) than the latter (79.4), indicating more intense chemical weathering that may have been related to deposition in a paludal setting with high organic acid concentrations in pore fluids. These K-bentonites also exhibit differences in major-element chemistry (MgO and K2O contents are higher at Jiucaichong due to lesser weathering intensity and, possibly, early diagenetic uptake from pore fluids), REE chemistry (Jiucaichong exhibits a larger Eu anomaly), and Nd isotopic compositions (Zhejue K-bentonites have 143Nd/144Nd ratios of 0.512436 and 0.512400, higher than the 0.512190 ratio for Jiucaichong). Although some of these compositional differences may be related to the dissimilar chemical environments in which diagenesis occurred (i.e., paludal vs lacustrine), the differences in Eu anomalies and Nd isotopic compositions imply heterogeneous volcanic ash sources. The source of these K-bentonites was probably a continental volcanic arc located on the paleo-southern margin of the South China Craton, within which multiple volcanic vents may have been active concurrently.

Ln8 (Ln= Gd, Ho, Er, Yb) Butterfly Core‐Exhibiting Magnetocaloric Effect and Field‐Induced SMM Behavior for Er Analouge

AbstractIn this article, we report four pyridyl‐pyrazolyl based polynuclear cluster complexes with Ln8 {Ln=[GdIII8(μ3‐OH)4(L1)4(DEA)4Cl4](DMF)2(MeOH)(1), [HoIII8(μ3‐OH)4(L1)4(DEA)4Cl4](2), [ErIII8(μ3‐OH)4(L1)4(DEA)4Cl4](DMF)(MeOH)(H2O)(3), [YbIII8(μ3‐OH)4(L1)4(DEA)4Cl4](DMF)(MeOH)(4) [DEA = Diethanolamine] cores. The impetus for this study was to explore the magnetic behaviour of lanthanide ions which are often ignored or overlooked. X‐ray crystal analysis show that these complexes are isostructural and exhibit an interesting butterfly like topology. The semi‐rigidity and asymmetric nature of the ligand led to different coordination environment around the metal centres. The lanthanide ions adopt two types of geometry, a bicapped trigonal prism and a distorted square antiprismatic geometry around the metal center. Such dissimilar coordination environments around the lanthanide centre can have profound effects on their magnetic behaviour. Indeed, the magnetic measurements revealed significant magnetocaloric effect for octanuclear gadolinium complex 1 with magnetic entropy change (−ΔSm ) of 31.4 J kg−1 K−1 for ΔH = 9 T at T = 3 K whereas Er analogue complex 3 displayed SMM behavior.

Contributions of Academic Emergency Medicine Programs to U.S. Health Care: Summary of the AAAEM-AACEM Benchmarking Data.

The societal contribution of emergency care in the United States has been described. The role and impact of academic emergency departments (EDs) has been less clear. Our report summarizes the results of a benchmarking effort specifically focused on academic emergency medicine (EM) practices. From October through December 2016, the Academy of Academic Administrators of Emergency Medicine (AAAEM) and the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine (AACEM) jointly administered a benchmarking survey to allopathic, academic departments and divisions of emergency medicine. Participation was voluntary and nonanonymous. The survey queried various aspects of the three components of the tripartite academic mission: clinical care, education and research, and faculty effort and compensation. Responses reflected a calendar year from July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016. Of 107 eligible U.S. allopathic, academic departments and divisions of emergency medicine, 79 (74%) responded to the survey overall, although individual questions were not always answered by all responding programs. The 79 responding programs reported 6,876,189 patient visits at 97 primary and affiliated academic clinical sites. A number of clinical operations metrics related to the care of these patients at these sites are reported in this study. All responding programs had active educational programs for EM residents, with a median of 37 residents per program. Nearly half of the overall respondents reported responsibility for teaching medical students in mandatory EM clerkships. Fifty-two programs reported research and publication activity, with a total of $129,494,676 of grant funding and 3,059 publications. Median faculty effort distribution was clinical effort, 66.9%; education effort, 12.7%; administrative effort, 12.0%; and research effort, 6.9%. Median faculty salary was $277,045. Academic EM programs are characterized by significant productivity in clinical operations, education, and research. The survey results reported in this investigation provide appropriate benchmarking for academic EM programs because they allow for comparison of academic programs to each other, rather than nonacademic programs that do not necessarily share the additional missions of research and education and may have dissimilar working environments.

Comparative analysis of the microbial communities in raw milk produced in different regions of Korea.

ObjectiveThe control of psychrotrophic bacteria causing milk spoilage and illness due to toxic compounds is an important issue in the dairy industry. In South Korea, Gangwon-do province is one of the coldest terrains in which eighty percent of the area is mountainous regions, and mainly plays an important role in the agriculture and dairy industries. The purposes of this study were to analyze the indigenous microbiota of raw milk in Gangwon-do and accurately investigate a putative microbial group causing deterioration in milk quality.MethodsWe collected raw milk from the bulk tank of 18 dairy farms in the Hoengseong and Pyeongchang regions of Gangwon-do. Milk components were analyzed and the number of viable bacteria was confirmed. The V3 and V4 regions of 16S rRNA gene were amplified and sequenced on an Illumina Miseq platform. Sequences were then assigned to operational taxonomic units, followed by the selection of representative sequences using the QIIME software package.ResultsThe milk samples from Pyeongchang were higher in fat, protein, lactose, total solid, and solid non-fat, and bacterial cell counts were observed only for the Hoengseong samples. The phylum Proteobacteria was detected most frequently in both the Hoengseong and Pyeongchang samples, followed by the phyla Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. Notably, Corynebacterium, Pediococcus, Macrococcus, and Acinetobacter were significantly different from two regions.ConclusionAlthough the predominant phylum in raw milk is same, the abundances of major genera in milk samples were different between Hoengseong and Pyeongchang. We assumed that these differences are caused by regional dissimilar farming environments such as soil, forage, and dairy farming equipment so that the quality of milk raw milk from Pyeongchang is higher than that of Hoengseong. These results could provide the crucial information for identifying the microbiota in raw milk of South Korea.

Unprecedented Inequivalent Metal Coordination Environments in a Mixed‐Ligand Dicobalt Complex

Bimetallic complexes of the transition metals containing mixed diimine and dithiolate ligands are of fundamental interest on account of their intriguing electronic properties. Almost always, such complexes are isolated as species in which both the metal centers are in identical coordination environments – this means that the two metals often have identical redox properties. In contrast, mixed‐diimine/dithiolate bimetallic complexes of the first row transition metals where the two metals are in dissimilar coordination environments are exceedingly rare, and are only known for nickel. Herein, we report the first ever example of a mixed‐diimine/dithiolate dicobalt complex where the two cobalt centers are in different coordination environments. The synthesis of this compound is straightforward, and produces a complex in which the two cobalt centers display very different redox properties.