Great Variation In Size Research Articles

Abstract 090: Outcomes of Hypertensive Crises as Predicted by Red Cell Distribution Width

Background: Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of the variability in size of erythrocytes. A high RDW value indicates greater variation in size between individual erythrocytes and has been shown to be an independent predictor of mortality in patients with coronary artery disease, heart failure and in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of RDW in predicting clinical outcomes in patients with hypertensive crisis. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 465 consecutive patients from January 2007 to March 2010 who presented with hypertensive crisis. Hypertensive crisis was defined as systolic BP >180 and/or diastolic BP >110mmHg with impending or progressive end organ dysfunction requiring inpatient hospitalization. The study sample consisted of 465 patients (38.9% men (181 of 465); mean age 59.6 ± 15.9). Baseline levels of RDW were measured at time of admission and analyzed as continuous and categorical variables (elevated RDW was defined as >14.5%). Multivariable regression analysis was performed for development of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, new-onset heart failure (defined as first time hospital admission for heart failure), stroke and MACE (MI, new-onset heart failure and stroke) at 2 years. Results: RDW > 14.5% was a strong independent predictor of all-cause mortality at 2 years (OR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.1-3.3, p <0.05). Elevated RDW was also found to be an independent predictor of new-onset heart failure at 2 years (OR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.1-3.7, p <0.05). Elevated RDW was not a predictor of MI, PCI or stroke at 2 years. Conclusions: Elevated RDW level in patients with hypertensive crisis was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality and new-onset heart failure in patients with hypertensive crisis.

Chromosomal localization of 45S rDNA, sex-specific C values, and heterochromatin distribution in Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt.

Coccinia grandis is a widely distributed dioecious cucurbit in India, with heteromorphic sex chromosomes and X-Y sex determination mode. The present study aids in the cytogenetic characterization of four native populations of this plant employing distribution patterns of 45S rDNA on chromosomes and guanine-cytosine (GC)-rich heterochromatin in the genome coupled with flow cytometric determination of genome sizes. Existence of four nucleolar chromosomes could be confirmed by the presence of four telomeric 45S rDNA signals in both male and female plants. All four 45S rDNA sites are rich in heterochromatin evident from the co-localization of telomeric chromomycin A (CMA)(+ve) signals. The size of 45S rDNA signal was found to differ between the homologues of one nucleolar chromosome pair. The distribution of heterochromatin is found to differ among the male and female populations. The average GC-rich heterochromatin content of male and female populations is 23.27 and 29.86 %, respectively. Moreover, the male plants have a genome size of 0.92 pg/2C while the female plants have a size of 0.73 pg/2C, reflecting a huge genomic divergence between the genders. The great variation in genome size is owing to the presence of Y chromosome in the male populations, playing a multifaceted role in sexual divergence in C. grandis.

A Place-Oriented, Mixed-Level Regionalization Method for Constructing Geographic Areas in Health Data Dissemination and Analysis

Similar geographic areas often have great variations in population size. In health data management and analysis, it is desirable to obtain regions of comparable population by decomposing areas of large population (to gain more spatial variability) and merging areas of small population (to mask privacy of data). Based on the Peano curve algorithm and modified scale-space clustering, this research proposes a mixed-level regionalization (MLR) method to construct geographic areas with comparable population. The method accounts for spatial connectivity and compactness, attributive homogeneity, and exogenous criteria such as minimum (and approximately equal) population or disease counts. A case study using Louisiana cancer data illustrates the MLR method and its strengths and limitations. A major benefit of the method is that most upper level geographic boundaries can be preserved to increase familiarity of constructed areas. Therefore, the MLR method is more human-oriented and place-based than computer-oriented and space-based.

Proliferation of Levanderina fissa and Polykrikos hartmannii (dinophyceae: Gymnodiniales) in Bahía de La Paz, Gulf of California, México.

On 19–20 August 2014, a moderate proliferation of dinoflagellates was detected in the southwestern part of Bahía de La Paz. The phytoplankton community within this red tide was composed of 60 microalgae taxa and was characterized by the presence of unarmored dinoflagellates such as Levanderina fissa and Polykrikos hartmannii. The proliferation occurred during low tide after a period of windy and rainy days. Densities of L. fissa varied from 163 to 265 × 103 cells L–1 and for P. hartmannii varied from 16 to 33 × 103 cells L–1. Low densities were estimated on September and October samplings. Both species showed a great variation both in size and form. As part of the phytoplankton species composition during this proliferation, two taxa of dinoflagellates are new records for the Pacific coast of Mexico (Ankistrodinium semilunatum and Sclerodinium calyptroglyphe), one in the Gulf of California (Pronoctiluca acuta), and one in the Bahía de La Paz (Prorocentrumrobustum). Cyanobacteria were an important group observed during this proliferation. The symbiotic association between a cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp., the stramenopile protist Solenicola setigera, and the diatom Leptocylindrus mediterraneus was observed for the first time in this bay.

Investigating spatial variation and temperature effects on maturity of female winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) using generalized additive models

Generalized additive models were used to investigate fine-scale spatial variation in female maturity across the three United States’ winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) stocks. The effect of temperature on maturity was also investigated. Maturity models explicitly incorporating spatial structure performed better than “traditional” methods incorporating spatial effects by aggregating data according to predefined stock boundaries. Models including temperature explained more of the variability in maturity than those based only on fish size or age but did not improve fit over models incorporating spatial structure. Based on the size- and age-at-maturity estimates from the spatially explicit models, distinct subareas were objectively identified using a spatially constrained clustering algorithm. The results suggested greater variation in size- and age-at-maturity within than between existing stock areas. The approach outlined here provides a method for identifying areas with different vital rates without the need to presume subjective boundaries.

Sustainable drainage system (SuDS) ponds in Inverness, UK and the favourable conservation status of amphibians

Amphibians are suffering global declines in populations, and urban habitats are becoming increasingly important for the survival of several species. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in Inverness (Highlands, UK) were studied over 3 years to assess their role in supporting breeding amphibians. Amphibians were found in seven of the 12 SuDS ponds surveyed in 2010 and eight of the same 12 in 2011 and 2012. Of the eight, common frog Rana temporaria bred in every pond and common toad Bufo bufo bred in two of them. Palmate newts Lissotriton helveticus were found in one pond in 2012. Chemical analysis (pH and for ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate and chloride ions) showed none of the ponds contained pollutants at levels known to have adverse effects on amphibians. Nutrient levels in Inverness SuDS are lower than those found in a previously published sample of lowland British ponds: six of the 12 SuDS ponds had NO3 concentrations <0.5 mg/l N and phosphate <0.05 mg/l P (i.e. below levels which would normally be considered eutrophic). The suitability of SuDS for the nationally scarce great crested newt Triturus cristatus was also evaluated. The Inverness SuDS had higher great crested newt Habitat Suitability Indices than ponds in the wider countryside and exhibited a greater variation in size than previous studies of urban ponds in the UK, which may increase their ability to support a range of species.

A double challenge transplant—horseshoe kidney meets obesity. First case of horseshoe kidney transplantation after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

/10.10 14 A ence: lant a , 6020 nn.pra Kidney transplantation is facing challenges on both the donor and recipient side. In an era of growing organ shortage, the donor pool is constantly expanded, among others to kidneys with congenital anatomic anomalies. The horseshoe kidney is the most frequently observed anatomic variation of the kidney with an incidence of 1 in 600–800. It results from accidental fusion of the metanephrogenic caps during weeks 4–6 of gestation. The isthmus connecting the lower poles usually contains functional parenchyma and is rarely crossed by the collecting system. The vascular anatomy of horseshoe kidneys is usually complex showing great variation in origin, number and size of the arteries and veins [1,2]. A rising dilemma in kidney transplant candidate selection is obesity. Parallel to the obesity epidemic in the general population, the prevalence of obesity in end-stage renal disease patients is increasing. To the current state of knowledge, obesity is associated with worse outcomes in terms of delayed graft function, graft failure, surgical site infection, cardiovascular disease, prolonged hospital stay, and costs compared to normal weight recipients. On the other hand, observational studies suggest that obese patients, like nonobese end-stage renal disease patients, benefit from kidney transplantation in terms of lower long-term mortality and cardiovascular risk compared with continuing on dialysis [3].

Abnormal spore morphology and wall ultrastructure in Anemia tomentosa var. anthriscifolia and A. tomentosa var. tomentosa (Anemiaceae)

The spores of Anemia tomentosa var. anthriscifolia and A. tomentosa var. tomentosa were studied focusing the attention on their abnormalities. The study was based on fresh and herbarium material and the spores were examined with light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Normal, abnormal and abortive spores were observed in both taxa. The normal spores were trilete, triangular in polar view, and the ornamentation consisted of parallel ridges separated by narrow and smooth grooves. The spores were observed in monads, dyads, triads and tetrads. The abnormal spores were monolete, trilete, tetralete or alete with great variations in size. In fact, some spores were almost double the size of the normal ones. Some differences were also found in the ornamentation of the spores. Aborted and not completely developed spores were also observed in the specimens. The wall ultrastructure of the taxa was studied for the first time. The exospore was two-layered with numerous cavities inside its structure, and the perispore was also two-layered. The results revealed that the sporoderm ultrastructure of both normal and abnormal spores of the taxa analyzed was very similar.

Nonrandom variation of morphological traits across environmental gradients in a land snail

Morphological variation is often attributed to differential adaptations to diverse habitats, but adaptations to a similar environment do not necessarily result in similar phenotypes. Adaptations for water and heat budget are crucial for organisms living in arid habitats, and in snails, variation in shell morphology has been frequently attributed to selection by stressful environmental factors. However, their phenotypic divergence often is not accompanied by a relevant niche differentiation and consistent relationships with environmental correlates are lacking. In the pulmonate genus Albinaria, there is great size and shape variation between and within species, and there are two major shell sculpture morphotypes, ribbed and smooth. We used 62 populations of 28 Albinaria species, taking into account their phylogeny, to examine the variation of shell traits (sculpture, size, shape), their effect on water and heat budget, and their association with geographical and climatic gradients. We found unambiguous size and shape discrimination between the two morphotypes. Ribbed shells are lighter, taller, and slimmer and have a smaller aperture than the smooth ones. Moreover, significant correlations between shell traits and heat/moisture budget and climate/geography were revealed. Ribbed and taller shells retain more water on their shell surface, and on the other hand, smooth shells exhibit lower water permeability. Therefore, two strategies are being used to prevent water loss, active retention or resistance to loss. Consequently, different alternative solutions evolved and were retained as responses to the same stressful factor by the two distinct shell morphotypes. Larger shells occur in southern latitudes, mostly on islands, and at sites where there is a shortage of rainfall. Therefore, the variation of the examined traits is nonrandom with respect to location and to climate and their evolution can be attributed to selection by environmental factors, with water availability being the key driving agent of body-size variation.

OrganellarGenomeDRAW—a suite of tools for generating physical maps of plastid and mitochondrial genomes and visualizing expression data sets

Mitochondria and plastids (chloroplasts) are cell organelles of endosymbiotic origin that possess their own genetic information. Most organellar DNAs map as circular double-stranded genomes. Across the eukaryotic kingdom, organellar genomes display great size variation, ranging from ∼15 to 20 kb (the size of the mitochondrial genome in most animals) to >10 Mb (the size of the mitochondrial genome in some lineages of flowering plants). We have developed OrganellarGenomeDraw (OGDRAW), a suite of software tools that enable users to create high-quality visual representations of both circular and linear annotated genome sequences provided as GenBank files or accession numbers. Although all types of DNA sequences are accepted as input, the software has been specifically optimized to properly depict features of organellar genomes. A recent extension facilitates the plotting of quantitative gene expression data, such as transcript or protein abundance data, directly onto the genome map. OGDRAW has already become widely used and is available as a free web tool (http://ogdraw.mpimp-golm.mpg.de/). The core processing components can be downloaded as a Perl module, thus also allowing for convenient integration into custom processing pipelines.

Life History Changes in Coral Fluorescence and the Effects of Light Intensity on Larval Physiology and Settlement in Seriatopora hystrix

Fluorescence is common in both coral adult and larval stages, and is produced by fluorescent proteins that absorb higher energy light and emit lower energy light. This study investigated the changes of coral fluorescence in different life history stages and the effects of parental light environment on larval fluorescence, larval endosymbiotic dinoflagellate abundance, larval size and settlement in the brooding coral Seriatopora hystrix. Data showed that coral fluorescence changed during development from green in larvae to cyan in adult colonies. In larvae, two green fluorescent proteins (GFPs) co-occur where the peak emission of one GFP overlaps with the peak excitation of the second GFP allowing the potential for energy transfer. Coral larvae showed great variation in GFP fluorescence, dinoflagellate abundance, and size. There was no obvious relationship between green fluorescence intensity and dinoflagellate abundance, green fluorescence intensity and larval size, or dinoflagellate abundance and larval size. Larvae of parents from high and low light treatments showed similar green fluorescence intensity, yet small but significant differences in size, dinoflagellate abundance, and settlement. The large variation in larval physiology combined with subtle effects of parental environment on larval characteristics seem to indicate that even though adult corals produce larvae with a wide range of physiological capacities, these larvae can still show small preferences for settling in similar habitats as their parents. These data highlight the importance of environmental conditions at the onset of life history and parent colony effects on coral larvae.

Bloom of Cochlodinium polykrikoides (Dinophyceae: Gymnodiniales) in Bahía de La Paz, Gulf of California

As part of a continuing toxic microalgae monitoring program, phytoplankton samples were collected on 16–17 August 2012 at several sampling sites in the southern part of the Bahía de La Paz. A bloom of the dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides was detected. Abundance of C. polykrikoides ranged from 73 to 276×103cellsL−1 on the first day to 980–1425×103cellsL−1 on the second day. Study of live specimens showed great variation in cell size and form, mainly as single cells or chains of two cells. Live cells were 30–47μm long and 20–35μm wide (n=30). Seawater temperature during the bloom was 29–30°C. Low densities of Cochlodinium convolutum, Cochlodinium helicoides, and Cochlodinium shuettii were also found in the samples of the bloom event. These high densities of C. polykrikoides did not lead to fish die-offs in the bay.

Tradeoffs in the Evolution of Caste and Body Size in the Hyperdiverse Ant Genus Pheidole

The efficient investment of resources is often the route to ecological success, and the adaptability of resource investment may play a critical role in promoting biodiversity. The ants of the “hyperdiverse” genus Pheidole produce two discrete sterile castes, soldiers and minor workers. Within Pheidole, there is tremendous interspecific variation in proportion of soldiers. The causes and correlates of caste ratio variation among species of Pheidole remain enigmatic. Here we test whether a body size threshold model accounts for interspecific variation in caste ratio in Pheidole, such that species with larger body sizes produce relatively fewer soldiers within their colonies. We evaluated the caste ratio of 26 species of Pheidole and found that the body size of workers accounts for interspecific variation in the production of soldiers as we predicted. Twelve species sampled from one forest in Costa Rica yielded the same relationship as found in previously published data from many localities. We conclude that production of soldiers in the most species-rich group of ants is regulated by a body size threshold mechanism, and that the great variation in body size and caste ratio in Pheidole plays a role in niche divergence in this rapidly evolving taxon.

A SEMIOTIC APPROACH ON INDONESIAN MEGALITHS STUDY

Megalithic structures in Indonesia have their own unique characteristics, compared with elsewhere, because of the influences of Indian, Arabic, and European cultures, as well as local developments . They exhibit great variation in shape, size and degree of complexity. Perry (1918), Hoop (1935), Geldern (1945), Heekeren (1958) and Soejono (1984) have identified stone tables (dolmen), slabs, coffins, menhirs, enclosures (watu kandang/- watu temu gelang), statues, pits (batu dakon), paved paths, upright statues, terraced platforms, jars, seats, elliptical coffins, rectangular coffins, chamber graves, cubic coffins (waruga), vat coffins and thrones (pelinggih) . Geldern (1945, p . 149) concluded that there were two main waves of megalithic culture in Indonesia . He connected the first wave, during the Neolithic period from 2500 to 1500 BC with Austronesian speakers, who utilized the quadrangular adze . These people constructed megalithic tables, menhir, terraced platforms, pits, and seats . The second wave, during the Bronze-Iron period from 300 to 100 BC, produced slab, elliptical, cubic and rectangular coffins, chamber graves and statues. While accepting Heine- Geldern's basic hypothesis, later researchers suggested that the two main waves of megalithic culture became intermingled and developed local variations (Heekeren 1958, p . 44) .

Plastid division and morphology in the genus Peperomia

We have investigated several factors determining plastid size and number in Peperomia, a genus in the Piperaceae family whose species naturally display great interspecific variation in chloroplast size and number per cell. Using microscopic techniques, we show that chloroplast size and number are differently regulated in the palisade parenchyma and the spongy parenchyma, suggesting that chloroplast division in these cell types is controlled in different ways. Microscopic studies of iodine-stained root cells revealed a correlation between amyloplast size in root cells and chloroplast size in palisade parenchyma cells. However, despite substantial variation in chloroplast number in leaf mesophyll cells, amyloplast number in root cells was very similar in all species. The results suggest that organelle size and number are regulated in a tissue-specific manner rather than in dependency on the plastid type. We also demonstrate that plastid size determines the size but not the number of starch grains in root amyloplasts.

Regulation of Jaw Size During Development and Evolution

The jaw shows great evolutionary variation in size. Our recent work demonstrates that skeletal cells derived from neural crest mesenchyme (NCM) control jaw size. Yet mechanisms by which NCM accomplishes this task remain unclear. One scenario is that interactions between NCM and adjacent cells, such as osteoclasts, play a critical role in determining jaw size. Unlike NCM‐derived osteoblasts that make bone, osteoclasts come from the hematopoietic lineage and resorb bone. A finely tuned balance between osteoblast and osteoclast activities may ultimately establish jaw size. Factors known to mediate these interactions include members and targets of the TGFÎ2 signaling pathway. To test if NCM controls jaw size through TGFÎ2 signaling and osteoclasts, we employ a quail‐duck chimeric transplant system. Previously, we have shown that quail donor NCM makes bone by executing autonomous molecular programs within duck hosts. Here, we perform transplants and gain‐ and loss‐of‐function experiments. We find that NCM controls jaw size through TGFÎ2 signaling and by regulating osteoclasts. Funded by NIDCR T32 DE007306 and K08 DE021705A to ELE; NSF DGE‐0648991 to JY; CIHR Fellowship to AHJ; and NIDCR R01 DE016402 to RAS.Grant Funding Source : NIH

P-012 A mathematical model of vascular tortuosity using optimality analysis

Introduction/PurposeAlthough vascular tortuosity is a ubiquitous phenomenon, no mathematical models exist to describe its shape. Given that the shape of tortuous vessel curves seems fairly uniform across great variations in...

Peri-areolar marking in Lejour's mammoplasty—a simple device to aid trainee learning: the flexible curve

We propose the use of a simple device—the flexible curve—to aid trainees with the peri-areolar markings of Lejour's mammoplasty. This cheap and simple, commercially available, wipe clean device can be purchased in any art store and easily adapted for purpose. It assists beginners in the marking of the areola site in vertical mammoplasty and speeds the learning curve needed to make the marks accurately despite great variation in pre-operative breast size and contour. Both authors have found the device incredibly useful in the peri-areolar marking of Lejour's mammoplasty technique. We hope that publication and awareness of the device may assist others to achieve accurate peri-areolar markings with ease.

Testing ecological and developmental hypotheses of mean and variation in adult size in nephilid orb-weaving spiders

Fecundity selection has been hypothesized to drive the evolution of female gigantism in the orb-weaving family Nephilidae. Several species of these spiders also exhibit large amounts of variation in size at maturity in one or both sexes. In this article, we attempt to detect correlations of mean and variation in adult size at a phylogenetic scale between the sexes and with latitude. We tested six predictions derived from three broad developmental, ecological, and age structure hypotheses, using independent contrasts and a recent species-level nephilid phylogeny as well as least squares and other conventional statistics: 1. In both sexes, species with larger mean size will have greater variation in size; 2. Males and females will show correlated changes in mean size and of variation in size; 3. In both sexes, mean size will be negatively correlated with the midpoint of the latitudinal range; 4. In both sexes, tropical species will be more variable; 5. In both sexes, more widespread species will be more variable; 6. Variation in male size will be positively correlated with mean female size. In no cases were male and female development correlated, suggesting that in this lineage male and female body size evolve independently. The only significant trend detected was a positive phylogenetic correlation between variation in female size and latitude, the opposite of prediction 4. Power tests showed that in all tests of the ecological hypothesis, sample sizes were more than adequate to detect significant trends, if present. Our results suggest that evolutionary trends in juvenile development among species are too weak to be detectable in such data sets.

Phylogeny and biogeography of fossil and extant Microtus ( Terricola) (Mammalia, Rodentia) of Sicily and the southern Italian peninsula based on current dentalmorphological data

The fossil record of the Savi vole, Microtus ( Terricola) savii, is analyzed in terms of morphological and morphometrical variability of the first lower molar, in order to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships between insular and mainland populations and the dispersal events. The present work gives a contribution to better understand the phylogenetic history of this taxon in Sicily and Southern Italy during the interval Middle Pleistocene – Holocene, in an attempt to reconstruct the relationships between insular and continental voles and to clarify some paleobiogeographical aspects. The morphometrical data have been acquired by traditional measurements of the first lower molar and analyzed by dispersal diagrams and Principal Components Analysis. The fossil Sicilian samples have a greater size variation than extant ones. Two different morphological groups have been identified and named on the basis of the similarity with European or Italian populations: a “subterraneomorph” one (characterized by a tighter symmetric anterior cap and longer anteroconid), similar to European M. ( T.) subterraneus species, and a “savimorph” one (more confluent and asymmetric anterior cap and shorter anteroconid), occasionally with the accentuation of morphological characters of M. ( T.) savii. The results, in particular the differences between Pleistocene and Holocene Sicilian populations and the similarities with the mainland ones, suggest that the Savi vole dispersed at least twice in Sicily. One colonization took place likely during the cold stage MIS 6 (recorded at Isolidda 3) with dispersal events, made possible by the sea level drop and the connection with the mainland, and a second one (documented at San Teodoro cave and other Holocene assemblages) during MIS 4 (by dispersal events) or MIS 3 (by accidental transit or limited faunal exchanges).