scholarly journals Structural and proteomic analyses of vitelline membrane proteins of blackbird (Turdus merula) and song thrush (Turdus philomelos)

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Damaziak ◽  
Marek Kieliszek ◽  
Dariusz Gozdowski
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Vitelline Membrane ◽  
Identification Methods ◽  
Song Thrush ◽  
Turdus Merula ◽  
The Family ◽  
Specific Proteins ◽  
Scanning Electron

Abstract In this study, we aimed to perform structural and proteomic analysis of the vitelline membrane (VM) of two species birds belonging to the family Turdidae: blackbird (Turdus merula) and song thrush (Turdus philomelos). We performed structural analyses using scanning electron microscopy. The VM proteins were identified and compared to the best-known chicken VM proteins. According to our results, VM of both species has a typical three-layered structure: the outer layer, inner layer, and the continuous membrane between them. An unusual observation was the finding of “convexity” formed by the inner layer in blackbird. The role of these convex structures is not known, but they can be typical for the species and can be used in their identification. In addition, we identified two proteins in the VM of both species of birds, of which U3KEZ1 FICAL was not previously identified in any other bird species, and the U3JXV8 FICAL protein was confirmed only once in cockatiel parrot VM. The function of these proteins is not exactly known, but their structure shows similarities to the SERPIN proteins that are involved in microbiological defense, i.e., they are immune proteins. This study contributes to the current knowledge about the structure and composition of proteins of VM, especially because similar analyses have never been performed for Turdidae family. Knowledge of the structure and specific proteins of blackbird and song thrush VM can be beneficial in research on ecology and bird biology and also helpful in developing noninvasive and nongenetic identification methods.

scholarly journals The Emerging Role of Cyclin-Dependent Kinases (CDKs) in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 3219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balbina García-Reyes ◽  
Anna-Laura Kretz ◽  
Jan-Philipp Ruff ◽  
Silvia von Karstedt ◽  
Andreas Hillenbrand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Transcriptional Elongation ◽  
Cyclin Dependent Kinases ◽  
Dismal Prognosis ◽  
The Family ◽  
Cycle Regulation

The family of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) has critical functions in cell cycle regulation and controlling of transcriptional elongation. Moreover, dysregulated CDKs have been linked to cancer initiation and progression. Pharmacological CDK inhibition has recently emerged as a novel and promising approach in cancer therapy. This idea is of particular interest to combat pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a cancer entity with a dismal prognosis which is owed mainly to PDAC’s resistance to conventional therapies. Here, we review the current knowledge of CDK biology, its role in cancer and the therapeutic potential to target CDKs as a novel treatment strategy for PDAC.

scholarly journals Fine Structure of Maxillary Palps in Adults of Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Pezzi ◽  
C Scapoli ◽  
M Bharti ◽  
M J Faucheux ◽  
M Chicca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Hermetia Illucens ◽  
The Family ◽  
Sensory Structures ◽  
First Time ◽  
Maxillary Palps ◽  
Scanning Electron

Abstract A relevant species in waste management but also in forensic, medical, and veterinary sciences is the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus; Diptera: Stratiomyidae). An ultrastructural study by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was conducted for the first time on maxillary palps of both sexes, describing in detail the morphology and distribution of sensilla and microtrichia. The maxillary palps, composed of two segments, show sexual dimorphism in length and shape. In both sexes, the first segment is covered only by microtrichia, but the second one is divided into two parts: the proximal one, covered only by microtrichia, and the distal one containing both microtrichia and sensory structures. These structures include two types of sensory pits and one of chaetic sensilla. Due to sexual dimorphism in palp size, females have a higher number of sensory pits. The sexual dimorphism of palps and the presence and role of sensilla in H. illucens was discussed in comparison to other species of the family Stratiomyidae and of other Diptera. This study may represent a base for further investigations on mouthpart structures of this species, involved in key physiological activities, such as feeding, mating and oviposition.

Diurnal cycle of Isospora spp. oocyst shedding in Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula)

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (5) ◽  
pp. 764-768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Misof
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Diurnal Cycle ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Turdus Merula ◽  
Coccidian Oocyst ◽  
Diurnal Fluctuations ◽  
Evolutionary Aspects ◽  
Practical Implications

Diurnal fluctuations in the appearance of parasites have been recognized for more than 60 years but have been largely ignored in studies examining the role of parasites in connection with evolutionary aspects of behaviour, ecology, and population dynamics. The disregard of diurnal fluctuations, however, can influence the reliability and interpretation of data. I examined shedding of Isospora spp. oocysts in faeces of naturally infected, free-living Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula L., 1758). Adult birds and nestlings shed coccidian oocysts (Isospora spp.) predominantly in the afternoon. The results are in agreement with earlier studies on coccidian oocyst shedding in other bird species. They are discussed with regard to these studies and to practical implications for future investigators in this field.

The Role of the Family in Genetic Testing: Theoretical Perspectives, Current Knowledge, and Future Directions

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 627-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan K. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Testing ◽  
Family Communication ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Family System ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
The Family ◽  
Family Based

This article addresses conceptual challenges and theoretical approaches for examining the role of the family in responding and adapting to genetic testing for inherited conditions. Using a family systems perspective, family-based constructs that are relevant to genetic testing may be organized into three domains: family communication, organization and structure of family relationships, and health-related cognitions and beliefs shared within families. Empirical findings are presented from key content areas in family-based genetics research, including family communication, how genetic testing affects family relationships, psychological responses to genetic testing in the family context, and family-based influences on health decisions. Future research should explore decision making about genetic testing or behavior change specifically within the context of the family system and should identify family-based determinants of genetic testing outcomes.

scholarly journals Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Sirtuins: Important Targets in Hearing Loss

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Lingjun Zhang ◽  
Zhengde Du ◽  
Shusheng Gong
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Mitochondrial Dysfunction ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Dna Mutations ◽  
The Family ◽  
Cochlear Damage ◽  
Apoptosis And Necrosis

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been suggested to be a risk factor for sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) induced by aging, noise, ototoxic drugs, and gene. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are mainly derived from mitochondria, and oxidative stress induced by ROS contributes to cochlear damage as well as mitochondrial DNA mutations, which may enhance the sensitivity and severity of hearing loss and disrupt ion homeostasis (e.g., Ca2+ homeostasis). The formation and accumulation of ROS further undermine mitochondrial components and ultimately lead to apoptosis and necrosis. SIRT3–5, located in mitochondria, belong to the family of sirtuins, which are highly conserved deacetylases dependent on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). These deacetylases regulate diverse cellular biochemical activities. Recent studies have revealed that mitochondrial sirtuins, especially SIRT3, modulate ROS levels in hearing loss pathologies. Although the precise functions of SIRT4 and SIRT5 in the cochlea remain unclear, the molecular mechanisms in other tissues indicate a potential protective effect against hearing loss. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in hearing loss, discuss possible functional links between mitochondrial sirtuins and SNHL, and propose a perspective that SIRT3–5 have a positive effect on SNHL.

scholarly journals Climate matching drives spread rate but not establishment success in recent unintentional bird introductions

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (35) ◽  
pp. 9385-9390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Abellán ◽  
José L. Tella ◽  
Martina Carrete ◽  
Laura Cardador ◽  
José D. Anadón
Keyword(s):  
Propagule Pressure ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Invasion Biology ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Invasion Success ◽  
Climate Matching ◽  
Spatial Spread ◽  
Management Interventions

Understanding factors driving successful invasions is one of the cornerstones of invasion biology. Bird invasions have been frequently used as study models, and the foundation of current knowledge largely relies on species purposefully introduced during the 19th and early 20th centuries in countries colonized by Europeans. However, the profile of exotic bird species has changed radically in the last decades, as birds are now mostly introduced into the invasion process through unplanned releases from the worldwide pet and avicultural trade. Here we assessed the role of the three main drivers of invasion success (i.e., event-, species-, and location-level factors) on the establishment and spatial spread of exotic birds using an unprecedented dataset recorded throughout the last 100 y in the Iberian Peninsula. Our multimodel inference phylogenetic approach showed that the barriers that need to be overcome by a species to successfully establish or spread are not the same. Whereas establishment is largely related to event-level factors, apparently stochastic features of the introduction (time since first introduction and propagule pressure) and to the origin of introduced species (wild-caught species show higher invasiveness than captive-bred ones), the spread across the invaded region seems to be determined by the extent to which climatic conditions in the new region resemble those of the species’ native range. Overall, these results contrast with what we learned from successful deliberate introductions and highlight that different management interventions should apply at different invasion stages, the most efficient strategies being related to event-level factors.

The use of scanning electron microscopy in interpreting chenopodium remains from three archaeological sites in northwestern Iowa

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 1112-1113
Author(s):  
Douglas William Jones
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Late Prehistoric ◽  
Eastern United States ◽  
Chenopodium Berlandieri ◽  
Seed Identification ◽  
Level 2 ◽  
Scanning Electron

Within the past 20 years, archaeobotanical research in the Eastern United States has documented an early agricultural complex before the dominance of the Mesoamerican domesticates (corn, beans, and squash) in late prehistoric and historic agricultural systems. This early agricultural complex consisted of domesticated plants such as Iva annua var.macrocarpa (Sumpweed or Marshelder), Hellanthus annuus (Sunflower) and Chenopodium berlandieri, (Goosefoot or Lasbsquarters), and heavily utilized plants such as Polygonum erectum (Erect Knotweed), Phalaris caroliniana (May grass), and Hordeum pusillum (Little Barley).Recent research involving the use of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) specifically on Chenopodium has established diagnostic traits of wild and domesticated species seeds. This is important because carbonized or uncarbonized seeds are the most commonly recovered Chenopodium material from archaeological sites. The diagnostic seed traits assist archaeobotanists in identification of Chenopodium remains and provide a basis for evaluation of Chenopodium utilization in a culture's subsistence patterns. With the aid of SEM, an analysis of Chenopodium remains from three Late Prehistoric sites in Northwest Iowa (Blood Run [Oneota culture], Brewster [Mill Creek culture], and Chan-Ya-Ta [Mill Creek culture]) has been conducted to: 1) attempt seed identification to a species level, 2) evaluate the traits of the seeds for classification as either wild or domesticated, and 3) evaluate the role of Chenopodium utilization in both the Oneota and Mill Creek cultures.

Mesophyll conductance: the leaf corridors for photosynthesis

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Gago ◽  
Danilo M. Daloso ◽  
Marc Carriquí ◽  
Miquel Nadal ◽  
Melanie Morales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Mesophyll Conductance ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Cell Structures ◽  
Leaf Tissues ◽  
Change Framework ◽  
Chloroplast Stroma

Besides stomata, the photosynthetic CO2 pathway also involves the transport of CO2 from the sub-stomatal air spaces inside to the carboxylation sites in the chloroplast stroma, where Rubisco is located. This pathway is far to be a simple and direct way, formed by series of consecutive barriers that the CO2 should cross to be finally assimilated in photosynthesis, known as the mesophyll conductance (gm). Therefore, the gm reflects the pathway through different air, water and biophysical barriers within the leaf tissues and cell structures. Currently, it is known that gm can impose the same level of limitation (or even higher depending of the conditions) to photosynthesis than the wider known stomata or biochemistry. In this mini-review, we are focused on each of the gm determinants to summarize the current knowledge on the mechanisms driving gm from anatomical to metabolic and biochemical perspectives. Special attention deserve the latest studies demonstrating the importance of the molecular mechanisms driving anatomical traits as cell wall and the chloroplast surface exposed to the mesophyll airspaces (Sc/S) that significantly constrain gm. However, even considering these recent discoveries, still is poorly understood the mechanisms about signaling pathways linking the environment a/biotic stressors with gm responses. Thus, considering the main role of gm as a major driver of the CO2 availability at the carboxylation sites, future studies into these aspects will help us to understand photosynthesis responses in a global change framework.

Prospective Memory Development Across the Lifespan

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 162-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sascha Zuber ◽  
Matthias Kliegel
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Memory ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Present Model ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cognitive Factors ◽  
Everyday Functioning ◽  
Integrative Framework

Abstract. Prospective Memory (PM; i.e., the ability to remember to perform planned tasks) represents a key proxy of healthy aging, as it relates to older adults’ everyday functioning, autonomy, and personal well-being. The current review illustrates how PM performance develops across the lifespan and how multiple cognitive and non-cognitive factors influence this trajectory. Further, a new, integrative framework is presented, detailing how those processes interplay in retrieving and executing delayed intentions. Specifically, while most previous models have focused on memory processes, the present model focuses on the role of executive functioning in PM and its development across the lifespan. Finally, a practical outlook is presented, suggesting how the current knowledge can be applied in geriatrics and geropsychology to promote healthy aging by maintaining prospective abilities in the elderly.

Non-Normative Events and Family Functioning: The Role of the Family Psychologist

1993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Harway ◽  
◽  
Nancy Boyd-Franklin ◽  
Robert Geffner ◽  
Marsali Hansen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family Functioning ◽  
The Family
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