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The number of waterfowl hunters in the United States has declined since the 1980s despite relatively abundant waterfowl populations and liberal hunting regulations. Programs focused on recruiting, retaining, and reactivating (R3) waterfowl hunters have become important to avoid further losses in traditional revenue for habitat management and protection and political support for waterfowl conservation and management. We focus on 4 waterfowl hunter population vital rates (i.e., recruitment rate, retention probability, license purchase probability, realized population growth rate), which can be used to improve the effectiveness of waterfowl hunter R3 activities and initiatives by providing a deeper understanding of waterfowl hunter population dynamics to determine who programs should target, where programs should be targeted, and finally the evaluation of programs. To do so, we analyzed Nebraska state electronic license data from 2012-2019 using Pradel survival and recruitment models in a mark-recapture framework. Female waterfowl hunter recruitment was higher than males; however, retention and license purchase probabilities were lower. Recruitment was highest in younger generations and retention highest in older generations. License purchase probabilities were highest among those in the oldest and youngest generations. The availability of hunting opportunity increased license purchase probabilities but had a minimal influence on retention and no association with recruitment. There were weak relationships between rurality and recruitment, and retention and license purchase probabilities. Finally, belonging to Ducks Unlimited was positively associated with higher license purchase and retention probabilities. Targeting an increase in license purchase probability by promoting social support for hunters through conservation organization membership should be a focus of waterfowl hunter R3 efforts to have the greatest influence on increasing waterfowl hunter participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the role of nestin, a protein, in driving airway smooth muscle (ASM) hyperplasia and airway remodeling in asthma. The study found that nestin expression is upregulated in asthmatic ASM cells and tissues. By using mouse models and in vitro experiments, the researchers demonstrated that nestin plays a crucial role in ASM hyperplasia and airway remodeling. The study also suggests that nestin may interact with other proteins, such as 14-3-3 and mTOR, to induce ASM proliferation. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying asthma and may have implications for future therapeutic approaches. [Extracted from the article]

Fire–vegetation feedbacks potentially maintain global savanna and forest distributions. Accordingly, vegetation in savanna and forest ecosystems should have differential responses to fire, but fire response data for herbaceous vegetation have yet to be synthesized across biomes. Here, we examined herbaceous vegetation responses to experimental fire at 30 sites spanning four continents. Across a variety of metrics, herbaceous vegetation increased in abundance where fire was applied, with larger responses to fire in wetter and in cooler and/or less seasonal systems. Compared to forests, savannas were associated with a 4.8 (±0.4) times larger difference in herbaceous vegetation abundance for burned versus unburned plots. In particular, grass cover decreased with fire exclusion in savannas, largely via decreases in C4 grass cover, whereas changes in fire frequency had a relatively weak effect on grass cover in forests. These differential responses underscore the importance of fire for maintaining the vegetation structure of savannas and forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater/surface‐water (GW/SW) exchange and hyporheic processes are topics receiving increasing attention from the hydrologic community. Hydraulic, chemical, temperature, geophysical, and remote sensing methods are used to achieve various goals (e.g., inference of GW/SW exchange, mapping of bed materials, etc.), but the application of these methods is constrained by site conditions such as water depth, specific conductance, bed material, and other factors. Researchers and environmental professionals working on GW/SW problems come from diverse fields and rarely have expertise in all available field methods; hence there is a need for guidance to design field campaigns and select methods that both contribute to study goals and are likely to work under site‐specific conditions. Here, we present the spreadsheet‐based GW/SW‐Method Selection Tool (GW/SW‐MST) to help practitioners identify methods for use in GW/SW and hyporheic studies. The GW/SW‐MST is a Microsoft Excel‐based decision support tool in which the user selects answers to questions about GW/SW‐related study goals and site parameters and characteristics. Based on user input, the tool indicates which methods from a toolbox of 32 methods could potentially contribute to achieving the specified goals at the site described. Article impact statement: A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet‐based decision support tool is presented to identify methods for use in studies of groundwater/surface‐water exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource allocation for land acquisition is a common multiobjective problem that involves complex trade‐offs. The National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service currently uses the Targeted Resource Acquisition Comparison Tool (TRACT) to allocate funds from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund (MBCF; established through the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Act of 1934) for land acquisition based on cost–benefit analysis, regional priority rankings of candidate land parcels available for acquisition, and the overall biological contribution to duck population objectives. However, current policy encourages decision makers to consider societal and economic benefits of lands acquired, in addition to their biological benefits to waterfowl. These decisions about portfolio elements (i.e., individual land parcels) require an analysis of the difficult trade‐offs among multiple objectives. In the last decade the application of multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) methods has been instrumental in aiding decision makers with complex multiobjective decisions. In this study, we present an alternative approach to developing land‐acquisition portfolios using MCDA and modern portfolio theory (MPT). We describe the development of a portfolio decision analysis tool using constrained optimization for land‐acquisition decisions by the NWRS. We outline the decision framework, describe development of the prototype tool in Microsoft Excel, and test the results of the tool using land parcels submitted as candidates for MBCF funding in 2019. Our results indicate that the constrained optimization outperformed the traditional TRACT method and ad hoc portfolios developed using current NWRS criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asthma is a complicated chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) are tissue‐resident innate effector cells that can mediate airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness through production of IL‐5, IL‐13 and VEGFA. ILC2 in asthma patients exhibit an activated phenotype. However, molecular pathways that control ILC2 activation are not well understood. Methods: MYC expression was examined in ILC2 sorted from peripheral blood of healthy controls and asthma patients or cultured with or without activating cytokines. CRISPR knockout technique was used to delete c‐Myc in primary murine lung ILC2 or an ILC2 cell line. Cell proliferation was examined, gene expression pattern was profiled by genome‐wide microarray analysis, and direct gene targets were identified by Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). ILC2 responses, airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness were examined in Balb/c mice challenged with Alternaria extracts, with or without treatment with JQ1. Results: ILC2 from asthma patients expressed increased amounts of MYC. Deletion of c‐Myc in ILC2 results in reduced proliferation, decreased cytokine production, and reduced expression of many lymphocyte activation genes. ChIP identified Stat6 as a direct gene target of c‐Myc in ILC2. In vivo inhibition of c‐Myc by JQ1 treatment repressed ILC2 activity and suppressed Alternaria‐induced airway inflammation and AHR. Conclusion: c‐Myc expression is upregulated during ILC2 activation. c‐Myc is essential for ILC2 activation and their in vivo pathogenic effects. These findings suggest that targeting c‐Myc may unlock novel strategies to combat asthma or asthma exacerbation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huntington disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that initially affects the striatum and leads to changes in behavior and loss of motor coordination. It is caused by an expansion in the polyglutamine repeat at the N terminus of huntingtin (HTT) that leads to aggregation of mutant HTT. The loss of wild-type function, in combination with the toxic gain of function mutation, initiates various cell death pathways. Wild-type and mutant HTT are regulated by different posttranslational modifications that can positively or negatively regulate their function or toxicity. In particular, we have previously shown that caspase cleavage of mutant HTT at amino acid position aspartate 586 (D586) by caspase-6 is critical for the pathogenesis of the disease in an HD mouse model. Herein, we describe the identification of a new caspase cleavage site at position D572 that is mediated by caspase-1. Inhibition of caspase-1 also appeared to decrease proteolysis at D586, likely by blocking the downstream activation of caspase-6 through caspase-1. Inhibition of caspase cleavage at D572 significantly decreased mutant HTT aggregation and significantly increased the turnover of soluble mutant HTT. This suggests that caspase-1 may be a viable target to inhibit caspase cleavage of mutant HTT at both D572 and D586 to promote mutant HTT clearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The retina expresses several laminins in the outer plexiform layer (OPL), where they may provide an extracellular scaffold for synapse stabilization. Mice with a targeted deletion of the laminin β2 gene (Lamb2) exhibit retinal disruptions: photoreceptor synapses in the OPL are disorganized and the retinal physiological response is attenuated. We hypothesize that laminins are required for proper trans‐synaptic alignment. To test this, we compared the distribution, expression, association and modification of several pre‐ and post‐synaptic elements in wild‐type and Lamb2‐null retinae. A potential laminin receptor, integrin α3, is at the presynaptic side of the wild‐type OPL. Another potential laminin receptor, dystroglycan, is at the post‐synaptic side of the wild‐type OPL. Integrin α3 and dystroglycan can be co‐immunoprecipitated with the laminin β2 chain, demonstrating that they may bind laminins. In the absence of the laminin β2 chain, the expression of many pre‐synaptic components (bassoon, kinesin, among others) is relatively undisturbed although their spatial organization and anchoring to the membrane is disrupted. In contrast, in the Lamb2‐null, β‐dystroglycan (β‐DG) expression is altered, co‐localization of β‐DG with dystrophin and the glutamate receptor mGluR6 is disrupted, and the post‐synaptic bipolar cell components mGluR6 and GPR179 become dissociated, suggesting that laminins mediate scaffolding of post‐synaptic components. In addition, although pikachurin remains associated with β‐DG, pikachurin is no longer closely associated with mGluR6 or α‐DG in the Lamb2‐null. These data suggest that laminins act as links among pre‐ and post‐synaptic laminin receptors and α‐DG and pikachurin in the synaptic space to maintain proper trans‐synaptic alignment. This study explores the roles of the extracellular matrix in the organization of the photoreceptor synapse. In wild‐type (WT) retina, proteins associated with the release mechanism in the photoreceptor terminal (kinesin and bassoon) are apposed to components of the post‐synaptic signaling cascade (mGluR6, GPR179) in the bipolar dendrite. The extracellular complex (including laminins and pikachurin) interacts with putative receptors (integrins, α‐ and β‐ dystroglycan). In the absence of laminin β2 (KO), this trans‐synaptic organization is disrupted and the scaffolding of the post‐synaptic cascade is disorganized, resulting in decreased signaling between photoreceptors and depolarizing bipolar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Value Engineering (VE) is usually defined as the systematic identification of the basic function of a product of service, arriving at a worth for that function and then deciding the better way to satisfactorily meet the necessary function at the most economical cost. Value programs are not a panacea for controlling costs, but the approach has been demonstrated to be more successful than conventional cost reduction programs. A recent research study shows that the functional approach produces about fifteen percent more savings than traditional cost reduction programs. VE need not replace other programs such as Work Simplification, Methods Improvement, etc. Many companies are using both programs. VE can be complementary to existing programs and need not be competitive. Many managers believe their organization is already using the value approach, only under another name. Continuous and positive management support, well-trained VE personnel, realistic plans and objectives, managers receptive to change, and a commonly shared goal for improvement, all are vital components for success.

ABSTRACT: The North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) has established a model for wildlife conservation planning over the last 3 decades. Management at a continental scale, leveraged funding, regional partnerships, and a strong science basis have been notable features. Periodic updates to the NAWMP occurred since implementation in 1986; however, a fundamental revision was accomplished in 2012 after extensive stakeholder engagement. An explicit fundamental goal for waterfowl conservation supporters was added in 2012, complementing existing goals for sustainable populations and sufficient habitat found in previous updates. We present a synopsis of progress toward implementation of the 2012 NAWMP and challenge the waterfowl management community to continue with meaningful steps toward achieving NAWMP goals. Adding goals and objectives for supporters increases potential relevance of NAWMP; however, it also presents a level of complexity that was not entirely anticipated. Additionally, the 2012 NAWMP recognized that traditional support from waterfowl hunters alone will not be sufficient to support waterfowl conservation in the future. Simultaneous consideration of multiple objectives, although implicit before, now is a specific focus for habitat and harvest management affecting hunters and other users of the waterfowl resource. The waterfowl management community is faced with revisiting objectives and management actions related to harvest regulations, landscape priorities, habitat conservation, and public engagement to garner broader support. These persistent management challenges are tangible and relevant candidates for greater integration. Ultimately, the structures and processes supporting waterfowl management also will need to be reconsidered. © 2017 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A technique for measuring interdiffusion in multilayer materials during rapid heating using X-ray reflectivity is described. In this technique the sample is bent to achieve a range of incident angles simultaneously, and the scattered intensity is recorded on a fast high-dynamic-range mixed-mode pixel array detector. Heating of the multilayer is achieved by electrical resistive heating of the silicon substrate, monitored by an infrared pyrometer. As an example, reflectivity data from Al/Ni heated at rates up to 200 K s−1 are presented. At short times the interdiffusion coefficient can be determined from the rate of decay of the reflectivity peaks, and it is shown that the activation energy for interdiffusion is consistent with a grain boundary diffusion mechanism. At longer times the simple analysis no longer applies because the evolution of the reflectivity pattern is complicated by other processes, such as nucleation and growth of intermetallic phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater flow advects heat, and thus, the deviation of subsurface temperatures from an expected conduction-dominated regime can be analysed to estimate vertical water fluxes. A number of analytical approaches have been proposed for using heat as a groundwater tracer, and these have typically assumed a homogeneous medium. However, heterogeneous thermal properties are ubiquitous in subsurface environments, both at the scale of geologic strata and at finer scales in streambeds. Herein, we apply the analytical solution of Shan and Bodvarsson (2004), developed for estimating vertical water fluxes in layered systems, in 2 new environments distinct from previous vadose zone applications. The utility of the solution for studying groundwater-surface water exchange is demonstrated using temperature data collected from an upwelling streambed with sediment layers, and a simple sensitivity analysis using these data indicates the solution is relatively robust. Also, a deeper temperature profile recorded in a borehole in South Australia is analysed to estimate deeper water fluxes. The analytical solution is able to match observed thermal gradients, including the change in slope at sediment interfaces. Results indicate that not accounting for layering can yield errors in the magnitude and even direction of the inferred Darcy fluxes. A simple automated spreadsheet tool (Flux-LM) is presented to allow users to input temperature and layer data and solve the inverse problem to estimate groundwater flux rates from shallow (e.g., <1 m) or deep (e.g., up to 100 m) profiles. The solution is not transient, and thus, it should be cautiously applied where diel signals propagate or in deeper zones where multi-decadal surface signals have disturbed subsurface thermal regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, overexploitation and climate change pose familiar and new challenges to conserving natural populations throughout the world. One approach conservation planners may use to evaluate the effects of these challenges on wildlife populations is scenario planning., We developed an individual-based model to evaluate the effects of future land use and land cover changes on spring-migrating dabbling ducks in North America. We assessed the effects of three Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change emission scenarios (A1B, A2 and B1) on dabbling duck stopover duration, movement distances and mortality. We specifically focused on migration stopover duration because previous research has demonstrated that individuals arriving earlier on the nesting grounds exhibit increased reproductive fitness., Compared to present conditions, all three scenarios increased stopover duration and movement distances of agent ducks., Although all three scenarios presented migrating ducks with increased amounts of wetland habitat, scenarios also contained substantially less cropland, which decreased overall carrying capacity of the study area., Synthesis and applications. Land-use change may increase waterfowl spring migration stopover duration in the midcontinent region of North America due to reduced landscape energetic carrying capacity. Climate change will alter spatial patterns of crop distributions with corn and rice production areas shifting to different regions. Thus, conservation planners will have to address population-level energetic implications of shifting agricultural food resources and increased uncertainty in yearly precipitation patterns within the next 50 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zones of strong groundwater upwelling to streams enhance thermal stability and moderate thermal extremes, which is particularly important to aquatic ecosystems in a warming climate. Passive thermal tracer methods used to quantify vertical upwelling rates rely on downward conduction of surface temperature signals. However, moderate to high groundwater flux rates (>−1.5 m d−1) restrict downward propagation of diurnal temperature signals, and therefore the applicability of several passive thermal methods. Active streambed heating from within high-resolution fiber-optic temperature sensors (A-HRTS) has the potential to define multidimensional fluid-flux patterns below the extinction depth of surface thermal signals, allowing better quantification and separation of local and regional groundwater discharge. To demonstrate this concept, nine A-HRTS were emplaced vertically into the streambed in a grid with ∼0.40 m lateral spacing at a stream with strong upward vertical flux in Mashpee, Massachusetts, USA. Long-term (8-9 h) heating events were performed to confirm the dominance of vertical flow to the 0.6 m depth, well below the extinction of ambient diurnal signals. To quantify vertical flux, short-term heating events (28 min) were performed at each A-HRTS, and heat-pulse decay over vertical profiles was numerically modeled in radial two dimension (2-D) using SUTRA. Modeled flux values are similar to those obtained with seepage meters, Darcy methods, and analytical modeling of shallow diurnal signals. We also observed repeatable differential heating patterns along the length of vertically oriented sensors that may indicate sediment layering and hyporheic exchange superimposed on regional groundwater discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Bird conservation Joint Ventures are collaborative partnerships between public agencies and private organizations that facilitate habitat management to support waterfowl and other bird populations. A subset of Joint Ventures has developed energetic carrying capacity models (ECCs) to translate regional waterfowl population goals into habitat objectives during the non-breeding period. Energetic carrying capacity models consider food biomass, metabolism, and available habitat to estimate waterfowl carrying capacity within an area. To evaluate Joint Venture ECCs in the context of waterfowl space use, we monitored 33 female mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos) and 55 female American black ducks ( A. rubripes) using global positioning system satellite telemetry in the central and eastern United States. To quantify space use, we measured first-passage time (FPT: time required for an individual to transit across a circle of a given radius) at biologically relevant spatial scales for mallards (3.46 km) and American black ducks (2.30 km) during the non-breeding period, which included autumn migration, winter, and spring migration. We developed a series of models to predict FPT using Joint Venture ECCs and compared them to a biological null model that quantified habitat composition and a statistical null model, which included intercept and random terms. Energetic carrying capacity models predicted mallard space use more efficiently during autumn and spring migrations, but the statistical null was the top model for winter. For American black ducks, ECCs did not improve predictions of space use; the biological null was top ranked for winter and the statistical null was top ranked for spring migration. Thus, ECCs provided limited insight into predicting waterfowl space use during the non-breeding season. Refined estimates of spatial and temporal variation in food abundance, habitat conditions, and anthropogenic disturbance will likely improve ECCs and benefit conservation planners in linking non-breeding waterfowl habitat objectives with distribution and population parameters. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonreceptor tyrosine kinase c-Abl has a role in regulating smooth muscle cell proliferation, which contributes to the development of airway remodeling in chronic asthma. Micro RNAs (miRs) are small noncoding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by binding to complementary sequences in the 3′ untranslated regions (3′ UTR) of target mRNAs. Previous analysis suggests that miR-203 is able to bind to the 3′ UTR of human c-Abl mRNA. In this report, treatment with miR-203 attenuated the expression of c-Abl mRNA and protein in human airway smooth muscle ( HASM) cells. Furthermore, transfection with an miR-203 inhibitor enhanced the expression of c-Abl at mRNA and protein levels in HASM cells. Treatment with platelet-derived growth factor ( PDGF) induced the proliferation and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in HASM cells. Exposure to miR-203 attenuated the PDGF-stimulated proliferation and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in HASM cells. The expression of c-Abl at protein and mRNA levels was higher in asthmatic HASM cells, whereas the level of miR-203 was reduced in asthmatic HASM cells as compared to control HASM cells. Taken together, our present results suggest that miR-203 is a negative regulator of c-Abl expression in smooth muscle cells. miR-203 regulates smooth muscle cell proliferation by controlling c-Abl expression, which in turn modulates the activation of ERK1/2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of sparger design and surfactant addition on the oxygen transfer rate in a bubble column was examined. Additionally, measurements were also made of the holdup and bubble size distribution, allowing both the interfacial area for mass transfer and the liquid film mass transfer coefficient to be determined for a range of industrially relevant superficial velocities. It was found that for the velocity range examined changes in the superficial velocity had a minimal impact on the observed value of liquid film mass transfer coefficient. In contrast, addition of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic surface-active compounds led to an approximately threefold reduction in liquid film mass transfer coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vimentin is a major intermediate filament protein in vascular endothelial cells which might be involved in their function as a barrier tissue. It is proposed to dynamically maintain integrity of the endothelium as a tightly regulated permeability barrier that is subjected to a variety of shear and contractile forces. The results described in this report demonstrate that vimentin plays that role through mechanisms that are dependent on its phosphorylation state. Withaferin A (WFA), a vimentin targeting drug is shown to disrupt endothelial barrier function through its effects on vimentin filament distribution and physical properties. These effects are related to WFA's ability to increase vimentin phosphorylation. Through overexpressing a non-phosphorylatable vimentin mutant we can block the effects of WFA on vimentin distribution and barrier permeability. The barrier augmentation effect appears to extend to endothelial cells that do not express detectable mutant vimentin which might suggest transmissible effects across cells. Blocking vimentin phosphorylation also protects the endothelial barrier against LPS endotoxin, implicating it as a target for drug development against pulmonary edema and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 1484-1493, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of surfactant addition on the overall holdup, drag coefficient, and bubble size distribution (BSD) in a bubble column operating at industrially relevant superficial velocities was analyzed. A range of surfactants was examined, including alcohols, sugars, and antifoaming agents. It was ascertained that the effect of a surfactant on the holdup and BSD could be related to the chemical structure of the compound, specifically its hydrophilic/hydrophobic nature as characterized by the octanol/water partition coefficient. Addition of 2-propanol to an air/water system induces a behavior similar to the fermentation media used in aerobic bioprocesses, meaning that such a system can be applied as a meaningful physical analogue in pilot-scale experimentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) as a tool to simulate bubble column bioreactors is investigated. A three-dimensional model utilizing the Euler-Euler approach is evaluated. The role of various terms, i.e., lift, drag, bubble-induced turbulence, and volume fraction correction terms for drag, is determined. Good agreement between experimental data and simulation results was obtained by means of a single-bubble size model provided that bubble-induced turbulence and the reduction in drag due to the presence of other bubbles were taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Research on physical fitness often regards socioeconomic status ( SES) as a confounding factor. However, few studies investigate the impact of SES on fitness. This study investigated the impact of SES on physical fitness in both males and females, with an economic-based construct of SES. METHODS The sample consisted of 954 6th, 7th, and 8th graders from a public, urban, Illinois middle school. The students participated in the FITNESSGRAM battery of fitness assessments as part of physical education. Descriptive statistics were calculated for height, weight, age, and sex. Students were grouped as high or low SES depending on whether they qualified for the federal free lunch program. A multivariate analysis of variance controlled for age and stratified by sex compared the raw scores from the fitness test for low and high SES students. Odds ratios stratified by sex were calculated for the likelihood of not achieving the FITNESSGRAM Healthy Fitness Zone standards among SES groups. RESULTS Girls of the low SES group had significantly lower scores on the FITNESSGRAM assessments and were significantly less likely to achieve Healthy Fitness Zone status than the girls from the high SES groups. For boys, SES was a significant main effect for body composition but not for the other fitness tests conducted. CONCLUSION SES is related to physical fitness in girls but not in boys. A potential explanation for this is that boys are more likely to engage in vigorous leisure time activity regardless of SES than girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The purpose of this study was to determine whether physical fitness is linked to academic success in middle school students. Methods The FITNESSGRAM test battery assessed students (n = 838) in the five components of health-related fitness. The Illinois Standardized Achievement Test ( ISAT) was used to assess academic achievement in reading and math. Results The largest correlations were seen for aerobic fitness and muscular endurance (ranging from 0.12 to 0.27, all p < 0.05). Boys in the Healthy Fitness Zone ( HFZ) for aerobic fitness or muscular endurance were 2.5-3 times more likely to pass their math or reading exams. Girls in the HFZ for aerobic fitness were approximately 2-4 times as likely to meet or exceed reading and math test standards. Conclusions Aerobic capacity and muscular endurance seem to positively affect academic achievement in middle school students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Hippocampal demyelination, a common feature of postmortem multiple sclerosis (MS) brains, reduces neuronal gene expression and is a likely contributor to the memory impairment that is found in >40% of individuals with MS. How demyelination alters neuronal gene expression is unknown. Methods To explore whether loss of hippocampal myelin alters expression of neuronal microRNAs (miRNAs), we compared miRNA profiles from myelinated and demyelinated hippocampi from postmortem MS brains and performed validation studies. Results A network-based interaction analysis depicts a correlation between increased neuronal miRNAs and decreased neuronal genes identified in our previous study. The neuronal miRNA miR-124 was increased in demyelinated MS hippocampi and targets mRNAs encoding 26 neuronal proteins that were decreased in demyelinated hippocampus, including the ionotrophic glutamate receptors AMPA2 and AMPA3. Hippocampal demyelination in mice also increased miR-124, reduced expression of AMPA receptors, and decreased memory performance in water maze tests. Remyelination of the mouse hippocampus reversed these changes. Interpretation We establish here that myelin alters neuronal gene expression and function by modulating the levels of the neuronal miRNA miR-124. Inhibition of miR-124 in hippocampal neurons may provide a therapeutic approach to improve memory performance in MS patients. Ann Neurol 2013;73:637-645 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myristoylation occurs cotranslationally on nascent proteins and post-translationally during apoptosis after caspase cleavages expose cryptic myristoylation sites. We demonstrate a drastic change in the myristoylated protein proteome in apoptotic cells, likely as more substrates are revealed by caspases. We show for the first time that both N-myristoyltransferases (NMTs) 1 and 2 are cleaved during apoptosis and that the caspase-3- or -8-mediated cleavage of NMT1 at Asp-72 precedes the cleavage of NMT2 by caspase-3 mainly at Asp-25. The cleavage of NMTs did not significantly affect their activity in apoptotic cells until the 8 h time point. However, the cleavage of the predominantly membrane bound NMT1 (64%) removed a polybasic domain stretch and led to a cytosolic relocalization (>55%), whereas predominantly cytosolic NMT2 (62%) relocalized to membranes when cleaved (>80%) after the removal of a negatively charged domain. The interplay between caspases and NMTs during apoptosis is of particular interest since caspases may not only control the rates of substrate production but also their myristoylation rate by regulating the location and perhaps the specificity of NMTs. Since apoptosis is often suppressed in cancer, the reduced caspase activity seen in cancer cells might also explain the higher NMT levels observed in many cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myristoylation, the addition of a 14-carbon fatty acid to the N-terminal glycine of a protein, is key to protein-membrane and protein-protein interactions. Typically, myristoylation occurs cotranslationally; however, post-translational myristoylation of caspase-cleaved proteins is now emerging as a well-established protein modification and as a novel regulator of apoptosis. To identify additional post-translationally myristoylated proteins, we engineered a plasmid vector encoding for a caspase-cleavable reporter protein named tandem reporter assay for myristoylation of proteins post-translationally (TRAMPP). pTRAMPP consists of tdTomato-DEVD-"test myristoylation sequence"-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). After induction of apoptosis, the reporter protein is cleaved by caspases, which frees a new N-terminal glycine residue attached to EGFP that can be myristoylated. We used pTRAMPP in appropriately transfected cells to identify 7 post-translationally myristoylated proteins. First, we confirmed the post-translational myristoylation of two previously identified putative substrates, cytoplasmic dynein intermediate chain 2A and PKCε (ctPKCε), and identified 5 more caspase-cleaved potential substrates for myristoylation that include the antiapoptotic regulator of apoptosis, Mcl-1, and the causative agent of Huntington's disease, huntingtin protein. Further investigation revealed that post-translationally myristoylated ctPKCε localized to membranes and increased Erk signaling and degradation of the proapoptotic protein Bim, which prevented a significant loss of mitochondrial potential of 17% over nonmyristoylated ctPKCε in HeLa cells in the presence of apoptotic stimuli. Taken together, these findings suggest a possible antiapoptotic role for post- translationally myristoylated caspase-cleaved ctPKCε. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species threatened with extinction are the focus of mounting conservation concerns throughout the world. Thirty-seven years after passage of the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1973, we conclude that the Act's underlying assumption—that once the recovery goals for a species are met it will no longer require continuing management—is false. Even when management actions succeed in achieving biological recovery goals, maintenance of viable populations of many species will require continuing, species-specific intervention. Such species are “conservation reliant.” To assess the scope of this problem, we reviewed all recovery plans for species listed as endangered or threatened under the Act. Our analysis indicates that 84% of the species listed under the Act are conservation reliant. These species will require continuing, long-term management investments. If these listed species are representative of the larger number of species thought to be imperiled in the United States and elsewhere, the challenge facing conservation managers will be logistically, economically, and politically overwhelming. Conservation policies will need to be adapted to include ways of prioritizing actions, implementing innovative management approaches, and involving a broader spectrum of society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sediment and turbidity can reduce pond and effluent water quality and fish production. We investigated the efficacy of a commercial bacterial product, Liquid Live Micro-Organisms (LLMO) System, in reducing sediment accumulation and improving water quality and fish production in hatchery ponds for 4.5 months. Four plastic-lined ponds received LLMO treatment at a rate of 1 L per 63,230 L of pond water at 2-week intervals throughout the study and additional twice-weekly applications during the last 6 weeks of the study. Another four ponds were untreated and served as the control. All ponds were cleaned of bottom sediments, supplied with plastic containers (33-34 containers/ha) to collect sediment samples, filled with water, and managed to control Prymnesium parvum ichthyotoxicity. Koi (a variant of the common carp Cyprinus carpio) were stocked into ponds as fry and were fed a commercial diet. Turbidity, Secchi disk visibility, chlorophyll a, pH, ammonia-nitrogen, suspended solids, carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, and water temperature were monitored throughout the study. Sediment and fish production data were collected at the end of the study. Statistically, LLMO had no significant effect on sediment accumulation or any of the measured water quality variables and consequently had no effect on fish production. Our results did not support claims or reports that LLMO can reduce sediment accumulation or improve water quality and fish production. Two issues (small sample size and low LLMO application rate) may have confounded our results, thereby preventing us from making firm conclusions on the effects of LLMO on sediments, water quality, and fish production. We recommend that future studies be undertaken to address these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myristoylation is the attachment of the 14-carbon fatty acid myristate to the N-terminal glycine residue of proteins. Typically a co-translational modification, myristoylation of proapoptotic cysteinyl-aspartyl proteases (caspase)-cleaved Bid and PAK2 was also shown to occur post-translationally and is essential for their proper localization and proapoptotic function. Progress in the identification and characterization of myristoylated proteins has been impeded by the long exposure times required to monitor incorporation of radioactive myristate into proteins (typically 1-3 months). Consequently, we developed a nonradioactive detection methodology in which a bio-orthogonal azidomyristate analog is specifically incorporated co- or post-translationally into proteins at N-terminal glycines, chemoselectively ligated to tagged triarylphosphines and detected by Western blotting with short exposure times (seconds to minutes). This represents over a million-fold signal amplification in comparison to using radioactive labeling methods. Using rational prediction analysis to recognize putative internal myristoylation sites in caspase-cleaved proteins combined with our nonradioactive chemical detection method, we identify 5 new post-transiationally myristoylatable proteins (PKCε, CD-IC2, Bap31, MST3, and the catalytic subunit of glutamate cysteine ligase). We also demonstrate that 15 proteins undergo post-translational myristoylation in apoptotic Jurkat T cells. This suggests that post-translational myristoylation of caspase-cleaved proteins represents a novel mechanism widely used to regulate cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2001, the ichthyotoxic microalga Prymnesium parvum has caused major fish kills in 13 U.S. states, including Texas, raising concerns about its impacts on hatchery fish production, sport fisheries, and local economies. We investigated the efficacy of two natural products, barley Hordeum vulgare straw and the probiotic Liquid Live Micro-Organisms (LLMO) System in controlling P. parvum and its ichthyotoxicity. Their effects on factors essential for successful production of fingerling fish (i.e., water quality, nutrient levels, phytoplankton biomass and composition, zooplankton density and composition, and fingerling fish production) were also evaluated. Barley straw and LLMO were individually tested during summer and fall 2004 in hatchery ponds for 140 d (experiment l). Four ponds were treated with barley straw applied once at the beginning of the study at 252 kg/ha, and four ponds received LLMO at a rate of 1 L/56,718 L of pond water at 2-week intervals throughout the study. Another four ponds were untreated and served as the control. Barley straw was further tested at 280 kg/ha in winter 2005 for 93 d (experiment 2). These barley straw treatment rates were similar to those used in other studies, and the LLMO rate was recommended by the supplier. In both experiments, P. parvum blooms did occur. Neither barley straw nor LLMO had a significant effect on P. parvum density, toxin levels, or ichthyotoxicity at the rates used in this study. Similarly, neither barley straw nor LLMO affected any of the other variables investigated. Our results do not support reports that barley straw and LLMO can control planktonic algae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinning-wing decoys are strong attractants to ducks and increase kill rates over traditional decoying methods. However, it is unknown whether all duck species are attracted similarly to spinning-wing decoys and whether the effectiveness of these decoys changes with latitude. We examined the effectiveness of spinning-wing decoys for 9 species of dabbling ducks during 545 experimental hunts in California (1999-2000), Minnesota (2002), Manitoba (2001-2002), Nebraska (2000-2002), Missouri (2000-2001), and Arkansas (2001-2003). During each experimental hunt, we systematically alternated between 2 paired decoy treatments every 15-30 min (depending on study site): traditional decoys only and traditional decoys with a spinning-wing decoy. Overall, 70.2% (n = 1,925) of dabbling ducks were harvested (shot and retrieved) when spinning-wing decoys were turned on, ranging from 63.6% (n = 187) in Missouri to 76.4% (n = 356) in Minnesota. Effectiveness of spinning-wing decoys increased with latitude of study sites. Proportions of ducks shot when spinning-wing decoys were turned on differed among species, from a low of 50.0% (n = 8) for cinnamon teal (Anas cyanoptera) to a high of 79.0% (n = 119) for American wigeon (A. americana). The probability of being shot when spinning-wing decoys were turned on increased with annual survival rates among species; for example, spinning-wing decoys were more effective for American wigeon and mallard (A. platyrhynchos) than they were for cinnamon teal and American green-winged teal (A. crecca). Effectiveness of spinning-wing decoys did not differ consistently by age or sex of harvested ducks. Our results indicate that the effectiveness of spinning-wing decoys differs among duck species and changes with latitude; thus, consideration of these effects may be warranted when setting harvest regulations and methods of take. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), has developed resistance to many insecticides used for its control, recently including imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid compound. Other neonicotinoids are now being deployed to control this pest. A key point in the strategies of resistance management is the monitoring of resistance and cross-resistance. In the summer of 2003, imidacloprid-resistant adult Colorado potato beetles collected from Long Island, New York, USA were bioassayed using topical applications of imidacloprid and nine other neonicotinoids. Compared to a standard susceptible strain, the Long Island beetles showed 309-fold resistance to imidacloprid, and lower levels of cross-resistance to all other neonicotinoids, despite these never having been used in the field, i.e., 59-fold to dinotefuran, 33-fold to clothianidin, 29-fold to acetamiprid, 28-fold to N-methylimidacloprid, 25-fold to thiacloprid, 15-fold to thiamethoxam, 10-fold to nitenpyram, but less than 2-fold to nicotine. In injection bioassays, high resistance to imidacloprid was also found (116-fold). Piperonyl butoxide partially suppressed resistance to imidacloprid, but the resistance level was still over 100-fold, indicating that other mechanisms were primarily responsible for resistance. Low levels of resistance (8- to 10-fold) were found to the nicotimc activator, spinosad, in an imidacloprid-resistant strain collected from the same field in 2004. The cross-resistance seen with all the neomcotinoids tested suggests that the rotation of imidacloprid with other neonicotinoids may not be an effective long-term resistance management strategy. Rotation with spinosad also carries some risk, but it is unlikely that spinosad resistance in this case is mechanistically related to that for the neonicotinoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recovery (delisting) of a threatened or endangered species is often accompanied by the expectation that conservation management of the species will no longer be necessary. However, the magnitude and pace of human impacts on the environment make it unlikely that substantial progress will be made in delisting many species unless the definition of "recovery" includes some form of active management. Preventing delisted species from again being at risk of extinction may require continuing, species-specific management actions. We characterize such species as "conservation-reliant", and suggest that viewing "recovery" as a continuum of states rather than as a simple "recovered/not recovered" dichotomy may enhance our ability to manage such species within the framework of the Endangered Species Act. With ongoing loss of habitat, disruption of natural disturbance regimes, and the increasing impacts of non-native invasive species, it is probable that the number of conservation-reliant species will increase. We propose the development of "recovery management agreements," with legally and biologically defensible contracts that would provide for continuing conservation management following delisting. The use of such formalized agreements will facilitate shared management responsibilities between federal wildlife agencies and other federal agencies, and with state, local, and tribal governments, as well as with private entities that have demonstrated the capability to meet the needs of conservation-reliant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: AMD3100 is a small-molecule CXCR4 antagonist that has been shown to induce the mobilization of CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells from bone marrow to peripheral blood. AMD3100 has also been shown to augment the mobilization of CD34+ cells in cancer patients when administered in combination with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (filgrastim). The purpose of this study was to characterize the exposure-response relationship of AMD3100 in mobilizing CD34+ cells when administered as a single agent in healthy volunteers. Methods: AMD3100 concentrations and CD34+ cell counts obtained from 29 healthy subjects in a singledose, intensively sampled pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) study were analyzed by use of nonlinear mixed effects regression with the software NONMEM. FOCE (first order conditional estimation) with interaction was the estimation method, and simultaneous PK-PD fitting was adopted. Results: The pharmacokinetics of AMD3100 was described by a 2-compartment model with first-order absorption. The population estimates (±SE) for clearance and central volume of distribution were 5.17±0.49 L/h and 16.9±3.79 L, respectively. CD34+ cell mobilization was best described by an indirect effect model that stimulates the entry process of CD34+ from bone marrow to peripheral blood in the form of a sigmoid maximum effect model. The population estimates (±SE) of maximum effect, concentration causing 50% of maximum response, and equilibration time were 12.6 ± 4.89, 53.6 ± 11.9 μg/L, and 5.37 ± 1.31 hours, respectively. Conclusions: This study characterizes the exposure-response relationship of AMD3100 in mobilizing CD34+ cells after subcutaneous administration. This PK-PD model will be useful in assessing relevant covariates and for optimizing the use of AMD3100 in various patient populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The adapter protein paxillin has been implicated in the regulation of cytoskeletal organization and cell motility. Paxillin undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation in response to the contractile stimulation of smooth muscle, and the depletion of paxillin by antisense inhibits smooth muscle contraction. In the present study, acetylcholine (ACh)-stimulation of tracheal smooth muscle tissues increased paxillin phosphorylation at tyr-31 and tyr-118 by three- to fourfold. The role of tyr-31 and tyr-118 phosphorylation of paxillin in smooth muscle was evaluated by introducing plasmids encoding wild type paxillin or paxillin mutants F31, F118 or F31/118 (phenylalanine substitution at tyrosine sites 31, 118) into tracheal smooth muscle strips by reversible permeabilization, and incubating the tissues for 2 days. The expression of recombinant proteins was confirmed by immunoblot and immunofluorescence analysis. Expression of the paxillin mutants F31, F118 or F31/118 inhibited the contractile response to ACh stimulation but did not inhibit the increase in myosin light chain phosphorylation. The expression of wild type paxillin had no significant affect on force or myosin light chain phosphorylation. ACh stimulation reduced G-actin/F-actin ratio in tissues expressing wild type paxillin; whereas the agonist-induced decrease in G-actin/F-actin was inhibited in strips expressing paxillin mutant F31/118. The paxillin mutant F31/118 showed a marked decrease in their interaction with the SH2/SH3 adaptor protein CrkII but not with vinculin or focal adhesion kinase. We conclude that paxillin phosphorylation at tyr-31 and tyr-118 regulates active tension development during contractile stimulation. Paxillin phosphorylation at these two sites may be important in regulating actin filament dynamics and organization during smooth muscle contraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. Using data on the fraction of post-mitotic neutrophil precursors (CD15+ cells) displaying positive markers for apoptosis in 12 normal humans, and a simple mathematical model, we have estimated the apoptotic rate to be about 0.28/day in this compartment. This implies that the influx of myelocytes into the post-mitotic compartment exceeds twice the granulocyte turnover rate (GTR), and that about 55% of the cells entering this compartment die before being released into the blood. The normal half life of apoptotic post-mitotic neutrophil precursors is calculated to be 10.4 h. Comparable calculations for patients indicate apoptosis rates in the post-mitotic compartment of about 17 times normal for one myelokathexis patient and rates of about 13 times normal for the one cyclical neutropenic patient and two severe congenital neutropenic patients. The estimated half life for apoptotic post-mitotic neutrophil precursors in the myelokathexis patient was about 0.4 h, 1.4 h in the cyclical neutropenia patient, and about 0.6 h in the severe congenital neutropenic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the dormancy reversion phenomenology in switchgrass to better understand survival and propagation of this species under both natural and agricultural conditions. Extent of poststratification drying; Duration of stratification; Effect of interrupting stratification with drying; Acceleration of the after ripening process.

Discusses the treatment of congenital neutropenia (CN) using recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (eHuG-CSF). Symptoms of CN; Analysis of the long-term safety of rHuG-CSF; Occurrence of osteoporosis in CN patients.