bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
18 Wireless Cloud-Based Data Acquisition and Management Tool for Use with Inteli-Straws and Assisted Reproductive Techniques
Authors: Kjelland M. E. , Romo S. , Stroud T. K.
Published: November 2018

Inteli-Straw (I-S) devices equipped with radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology were developed for gamete and embryo packaging, storage, and information retrieval to benefit the assisted reproduction industry. The aim of this study was to develop and test software for use with I-S technology. Two types of I-S were used, those with 125 and 134 kHz RFID chips, in conjunction with corresponding wireless RFID readers. Two different RFID chip designs were tested: (1) Mini: 0.25-mL straw, RFID tag dimensions = 1.25 × 7 mm and 1.4 × 8 mm; Standard: 0.5-mL straw, RFID tag dimensions = 2 × 12 mm; and (2) µ-chip (Hitachi Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) of 0.4 mm square and 0.06 mm thick. Inteli-Straw RFID chips can be written or have codes that can be associated with information in a database. The present RFID chips were used with the idChamp DX1 Veterinary & Livestock RFID Reader that uses Bluetooth to connect to an iOS platform for cloud computing. The iScanBrowser (Serialio, TX, USA) LED, an app for an iOS platform for use with a wireless RFID reader, was utilised, as well as a proprietary gamete and embryo database software. The present system allows for quickly accessing the RFID codes from the various I-S gamete and embryo packaging (before or after I-S filling) and entering the data into a computer or cloud-based database that can track their status, movement, metadata, and so on. The ability to acquire I-S information with wireless entry into the cloud-based database was achieved. When the RFID wireless reader detects an I-S, the RFID code is displayed almost immediately (~1 s) in a cell in the software system. The I-S (n = 194) were scanned for automatic database entry. For the wireless-enabled proof of concept, 17 scans of I-S [i.e. RFID chip design 1 (n = 15) and design 2 (n = 2)] were made with wireless scanner detection (< 2.5 cm from RFID reader to I-S) and online database entry with a 100% success rate. By using this I-S method, the present invention provides a wireless, cloud-based system for local or remote access, potentially benefiting both laboratory and field logistics. For AI and embryo transfer, the user can scan an I-S and the information is automatically detected; wireless cloud computing and RFID data crosschecking can occur; and the information can be uploaded to a database for later retrieval or analysis. Further, one can use an iphone or ipad to enter other information such as cow number into the cloud-based database during AI or embryo transfer. The present system can allow for near real-time viewing of the data, locally and remotely, or cross-checking of materials and associated information to reduce errors and improve assisted reproductive technology efficiency.
192 Culture Conditions Supporting Long-Term Expansion of Bovine Spermatogonial Stem Cells Isolated from Adult and Immature Testes
Authors: Suyatno  , Kitamura Y. , Minami N. , Yamada M. , Imai H.
Published: November 2018

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSC) self-renew and differentiate into spermatocytes to produce haploid sperm. Because SSC are a small population of adult stem cells in the testis, numerous studies have been reported to derive cell lines from cultured SSC. It has been reported that neonatal and adult mouse SSC can be cultured in vitro over the long term. Male germline stem (GS) cells, embryonic stem (ES)-like cells, and multipotent male germline stem (MGS) cells were derivated from mouse SSC. However, in domestic species including cattle, information about in vitro culture of SSC is mainly available in the neonatal and immature animal. To our knowledge, there are no reports about long-term culture of SSC isolated from adult bovine testis. In this report, we established culture conditions to maintain SSC isolated from adult and immature testes. The SSC were isolated by 3-step enzymatic digestion and enriched by Percoll gradient centrifugation. For adult testicular cell suspensions, SSC were further enriched by differential plating on precoated gelatin dish. After Percoll gradient centrifugation, we found differential expression of SSC markers (GFRα-1 and UCHL-1) in the isolated cells from immature and adult testis. The RT-PCR results also confirmed the expression of differentiated spermatogonia markers (SYCP3 and STRA-8) in adult testicular cell suspensions. It suggests that isolated testicular germ cell population from adult testis are more heterogeneous than those of immature testis. The SSC isolated from adult testes were cultured in low-serum media containing 6-bromoindirubin-3′-oxime (BIO), an inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3α (GSK3), and subsequently the cultures were maintained in the medium containing glial cell line-derived neurotropic factor (GDNF). The cell lines have characteristics resembling mouse GS cell lines as confirmed by their grape-like shape morphology, the expression of SSC markers (UCHL-1, DBA, and GFRa-1), and pluripotent stem cell markers (POU5F1, SOX2, KLF4). The SSC from immature testes were proliferated for more than 3 months in serum-free culture conditions in the presence of GDNF and bovine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). The cell lines had ES-like cell morphology, expressed pluripotent stem cell markers and SSC-specific markers. They differentiated in vitro into 3 germ layers confirmed by the expression of ectoderm (NESTIN), mesoderm (BMP4), and endoderm (GATA-6) markers by RT-PCR and neuron like-cells confirmed by the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) by immunofluorescence analysis. In conclusion, these findings indicate an efficient method to enrich SSC without cell sorting method and different long-term culture systems subsequently established to maintain SSC from adult and immature testes. Furthermore, our data would be useful for further studies that aim to preserve endangered species and improve livestock production through genome editing technology.
25 Rescue of the Hematoendothelial Phenotypes in the ETV2-Null Cloned Pig via Embryo Complementation
Authors: Maeng G. , Pan X. , Das S. , Choi K.-D. , Koyano-Nakagawa N. , Garry M. G. , Garry D. J.
Published: November 2018

In transplantation medicine, the embryo complementation method has been introduced as a possible means to produce an organ derived from the desired cells. Previously, our laboratory demonstrated that the transcription factor Ets variant 2 (Etv2) regulates hematoendothelial lineage differentiation. In this study, ETV2-null pig fibroblasts were generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and these cells were utilised as donor cells for porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) to produce mutant embryos. After transplantation of these mutant embryos into 4 surrogate gilts, 12 fetuses were found in 2 gilts at E-18. Eight of those embryos lacked hematoendothelial lineages, were nonviable, and lacked ETV2 by PCR analysis. To rescue the hematoendotheilal phenotypes, the blastomeres were collected from green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing embryos, which were generated by SCNT with the pig GFP-fibroblasts. Then, the GFP-blastomeres were injected into the ETV2-null SCNT embryos (4 GFP-blastomeres per a complementation on average) at the morula stage. These complemented embryos were transferred into 4 surrogate gilts. Two surrogate gilts were not pregnant, but 2 pregnant gilts harbored complemented fetuses. Complemented fetuses were evaluated at E26 and had intact and fully complemented hematoendothelial lineages, which were confirmed by CFU-assays, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), qPCR, and immunohistochemistry. Importantly, the hematoendotheilal lineages completely expressed GFP. In the complemented fetuses, the GFP-positive cells were observed throughout the body at more than 70%. These studies provide a platform for the in vivo production of functional hematoendothelial tissues from pluripotent stem cells (such as human pluripotent cells) using the embryo complementation technique.
44 Proliferation and Antral Formation of Preantral Follicle Within Cryopreserved Cat Ovarian Tissue Transplanted into Nude Mice
Authors: Tanpradit N. , Chatdarong K.
Published: November 2018

Transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue is a fertility preservation technique that results in live births in patients who have undergone pelvic chemo- or radiotherapy. It can be used for conservation purposes in endangered animals by transplanting the cryopreserved ovarian tissue of animals with highly valuable genetics into the immunodeficient animal to grow the follicles. This study aimed to examine the preantral follicular viability and K
i-67 proliferation index of the preantral follicles within fresh and cryopreserved cat ovarian tissue transplanted into nude mice as a model for endangered felids. Adult female nude mice (n = 9) were chosen to be the hosts of ovarian tissues from 2-year-old domestic cat. Ovarian cortical tissues were cut into 66 small pieces (1 × 1 × 0.2 mm3). Half of the fragments were cryopreserved using slow-freezing method with 1.5 M dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 0.1 M sucrose and thawed using thawing medium with 0.75 M DMSO and 0.5 M sucrose. Three pieces of fresh and cryopreserved tissues were transplanted into the subcutaneous pocket of the left and right side of the back of the nude mouse, respectively. Follicular viability and proliferation index were investigated after graft retrieval on Day 15 post-transplantation. Evaluation of preantral follicle viability was based on the integrity of the basement membrane, pyknotic bodies, and oocyte integrity. Proliferation index was determined by percentage of preantral follicle that had K
i-67 immunopositive granulosa cells. Preantral follicle viability data was analysed using Kruskal-Wallis test and proliferation index data were analysed using general linear model test of least squares means. The percentages of viable follicles of all stages were decreased at Day 15 (Table 1). The percentage of proliferating preantral follicles in the fresh ovarian fragments was higher after transplantation (11 ± 2% and 46 ± 24% before and after transplantation, respectively; P < 0.05). However, the percentages of proliferating follicles were not different between before and after cryopreserved tissue transplantation (35 ± 8% and 45 ± 33%, respectively). In conclusion, our findings showed the possibility of domestic cat ovarian tissue transplantation into the nude mouse. although cryopreserved ovarian tissue did not tolerate the short-term transplantation as the fresh tissue. This approach needs further investigation to optimize the transplantation technique in terms of ischaemic reperfusion and neovascularization.

Table 1.Percentage of viable follicles per area of 0.0625 mm2 within fresh and cryopreserved cat ovarian fragments at Day 0 and Day 15 of the study
56 Sirtinol Treatment Influences Preimplatation Development of Porcine Embryos via Regulation of Autophagy and Apoptosis
Authors: Kim M. G. , Shin S. T. , Shin H. D. , Lee H. T.
Published: November 2018

Sirtuin (Sirt), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dependent class III histone deacetylase, plays an important role in cellular processes including DNA repair, apoptosis, cell cycle, aging, and determining lifespan. In previous studies, levels of Sirt1 to Sirt3 mRNA were detected in porcine embryos for the first time and levels are lower in blastocysts relative to matured oocytes. In addition, mitochondrial dysfunction and hyperglycemia increases LC3 protein levels and apoptosis in porcine parthenotic embryos and modulation of autophagy also influences apoptosis, mitochondrial contents, abnormal autophagosome formation, and maternal mRNA degradation. However, Sirt-mediated mechanisms have not been examined in in vitro-produced embryos of pig. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between Sirt inhibition and autophagy/mitophagy in porcine pre-implantation embryos. After IVF, embryos were cultured in NCSU-23 media in the presence and absence of 100 μM sirtinol (Sirt inhibitor) until the expended blastocyst stage. As a result, there were no significant differences between the rate of cleavage in control (69.22 ± 1.29) and treated groups (72.66 ± 1.08). However, embryos treated with sirtinol had significantly decreased developmental rates to the morula as well as blastocyst stages. Especially, expanded blastocysts (9.90 ± 1.56 v. 2.92 ± 0.94%) were barely observed in sirtinol-treated group. In the levels of Sirt transcripts, Sirt2 mRNA was significantly lower in sirtinol-treated blastocysts compared with controls (P < 0.05), but the levels of Sirt1 and Sirt3 mRNA were similar in both groups. In addition, we found that sirtinol treatment induced autophagy by increasing the expressions of LC3, Beclin1, and ATG5 in blastocysts. Furthermore, we observed that the abundance of mitochondria stained with mitotracker was lower in sirtinol-treated blastocysts than that of control. Finally, we found that sirtinol treatment resulted in a higher total apoptotic index (6.88 ± 0.84) compared with the control (12.84 ± 0.99) in blastocysts. In summary, our findings in this study demonstrated that Sirt inhibition by sirtinol led to lower levels of Sirt2 transcript in blastocysts, reduced developmental capability and embryo quality with regulation of ATGs, LC3 proteins, apoptosis-related genes, and mitochondrial abundance. Therefore, these results suggest that Sirt2 may play an important role in the pre-implantation development of porcine embryos and their quality through the regulation of autophagy/mitophagy and apoptosis pathways.
This research was supported by a Grant from the Bio & Medical Technology Development Program (2015M3A9C7030091) of the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Korean government.
61 Expression Profiles and Functional Roles of H3.3 and HIRA in Bovine Early Embryos
Authors: Zhang K. , Wang H.
Published: November 2018

Early embryo death is one major reason for poor reproductive efficiency in dairy cows. In particular, ~20 to 50% of high-producing cows are subject to pregnancy loss during the first week of gestation, indicating the importance of embryonic development from fertilization to the blastocyst stage. To highlight this importance, multiple critical molecular and developmental events, including zygote reprogramming, maternal RNA decay, and embryonic genome activation, occur during bovine pre-implantation development. However, the molecular mechanisms of these events have yet to be defined. H3.3 is a histone H3 variant that encoded by 2 genes, namely, H3F3A and H3F3B. It is generally believed that H3.3 is closely related to active transcribed genes. Of interest, H3.3 required for establishing proper chromatin structure during mouse oogenesis. Immediately following fertilization, H3.3 is incorporated to parental chromatins and essential for blastocyst formation in mice. HIRA is a chaperone for H3.3 deposition and indispensable for zygote development. Previously, our results showed that H3.3 is needed for bovine early embryonic development. Herein, experiments were designed to determine the mechanisms of functional requirement of H3.3 in bovine early embryos. Slaughterhouse-derived cumulus–oocyte complexes (COC) were matured in vitro and IVF was performed. To knock down genes of interest, small interfering (si)RNAs were delivered into zygotes via microinjection. The qPCR results showed that H3F3A mRNA level is stable, whereas H3F3B and HIRA mRNA are dynamic during early embryonic development (4 replicates). The mRNA abundance of H3F3B is significantly higher than that of H3F3A (4 replicates; P < 0.05), which is also found in mouse and human. Immunostaining results revealed a stage-specific pattern for the localization of H3.3 in bovine early embryos, and the H3.3 signal was not different between paternal and maternal pronuclei in zygotes, which was different from the pattern in mice. The siRNA-mediated silencing of H3.3 dramatically reduces the expression of CTGF (a putative trophectoderm marker) in bovine blastocysts (3 replicates; P < 0.05). Furthermore, we found that the signal intensity of dimethylation of histone H3 lysine 36 (H3K36me2) and linker histone H1 decreases in H3.3-ablated embryos, which is similar to CHD1 knockdown (3 replicates; P < 0.05). However, no difference was found for the intensity of trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 4, dimethylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9me2) and splicing factor 3 B1 (SF3B1). We also found that HIRA deletion does not affect bovine early embryonic development. Taken together, the results described herein suggest that H3.3 is required for proper epigenetic modifications and H1 deposition during bovine early embryonic development.
This project was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China grant (No. 31672416) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.
82 Compensation of the Growth and Development of Individually Transferred Bovine Bisected Embryos
Authors: Schild E. I. , Ynsaurralde-Rivolta A. E. , López-Valiente S. , Maresca S. , Munar C. , Rodriguez A. M. , Munilla S. , Hernandez Maizón D. , Bosetti N. , Curti M. , Jaca J. I. , Bevacqua R. , Rogberg-Muñoz A. , Salamone D. F.
Published: November 2018

Embryo bisection has been used in cattle for decades to multiply embryos. Recent articles assert that each bisected hemi-embryo continues its growth and differentiation without regenerating the original number of cells, producing smaller embryos. This size difference has been verified until Day 17, when the embryo has already elongated. The objective of this research was to evaluate fetal morphometric differences between embryos and hemi-embryos during the intrauterine period and at birth. For this purpose, 6 Angus cows were superovulated using the FSH/LH protocol (Pluset®, Hertape Calier, Minas Gerais, Brazil) and all were artificially inseminated with the sire ‘Las Lilas 1931 Líder Max’. At Day 7 post-AI, 45 embryos were recovered using a non-surgical technique. In the laboratory, 30 of them were bisected under a stereoscopic magnifier using a portable micromanipulator with a microscale attached. Each hemi-embryo (N = 60) and the remaining integer embryos (N = 15, used as controls) were immediately transferred individually to a recipient. The growth of the fetuses was evaluated ultrasonographically using a Esaote Aquila Pro vet ultrasound (Esaote SpA, Genoa, Italy). Transrectal measurements were performed at 60 and 90 days, recording femur length (only at 60 days), biparietal distance, and abdominal and umbilical cord diameter. At birth, animals were weighed, measured for length and height, and the circumferences of the skull, thorax, abdomen, and metatarsus were recorded. Data were analysed by the t-test implemented in InfoStat Version 1.1 software (https://www.infostat.com.ar/). Table 1 shows the average and standard deviation of all measurements performed. No significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed between hemi-embryos and control at any stage, except for biparietal diameter on Day 90 of gestation, which was not reflected in skull circumference at birth. In conclusion, individually transferred hemi-embryos generated 60-day fetuses with almost no differences in growth and development compared with the control embryos. The compensation phenomenon should have occurred before Day 60 of gestation.

Table 1.Mean and standard deviation of all measurements performed on hemi-embryos and control embryos at 60 and 90 days and at birth
96 Follicular Fluid and Serum Biochemical Composition in Alpacas (Vicugna pacos) with Different Nutritional Planes
Authors: Huanca W. , Hilari F. , Ticona M. , Lira B. , Villanueva J. C. , Huanca W. F.
Published: November 2018

The importance of nutrition on composition of follicular fluid and oocyte quality is recognised in several species but limited information is available on alpacas and would explain the high rate of early embryo mortality. The aim of this study was to analyse the biochemical composition of serum and follicular fluid (FF) from alpacas (Vicugna pacos) with different nutritional planes. Twelve adult female alpacas between 6 and 8 years old were assigned randomly to either a high (n = 6) or low (n = 6) plane of nutrition. Nutritional planes were defined by the grazing condition of the natural pasture with (high) or without (low) supplementation with 200 g of concentrate/day (total digestible nutrients: 52%, protein: 16%, and metabolizable energy: 2.8 Mcal kg−1). The nutritional conditions were imposed 1 month before the start of the experiment.The concentrations of total glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and proteins were determined with a semi-automatic biochemical analyzer (SINOWA, China). When an ovulatory follicle ≥7 mm was detected by ultrasonography using a 5-MHz linear-array transducer (SSD-500, Aloka, Tokyo, Japan), a transvaginal transducer with an attached needle guide (UST-945BP-5, Aloka) was used to collect follicular fluid. Follicular puncture was performed using a disposable 19-gauge # 12 mm hypodermic needle connected to a 50-mL conical tube via a silicon tube. A caudal epidural anaesthesia was induced with 4 mL of 2% lidocaine. Blood samples were obtained by jugular venipuncture into serum vacutainers and kept at room temperature for 30 min. Follicular fluid and serum were centrifuged at 1500 × g for 20 min, decanted, and stored at –20°C until analysed. Results were analysed by Student’s t-test. The results are presented in Table 1. The results suggest differences in biochemical composition of glucose and cholesterol in follicular fluid, which could explain the oocyte quality and embryo survival in alpacas.

Table 1.Biochemical composition of follicular fluid (FF) and serum from alpacas (Vicugna pacos) under 2 nutritional planes

Research was supported by INNOVATE PERU Grant 405-PNICP-PIAP-2014.
Origins of Travelling Stock Routes. 2. Early development, management, and the growing embrace of the law (1830 - 70s)
Authors: Cameron J. M. R. , Spooner P. G.
Published: November 2018

Travelling Stock Routes (TSRs) are a network of grazing routes and reserves which are thought to have originated from the informal tracks of early European explorers, pastoralists and settlers. However, their origins are much more complex, and entwined in legislative and administrative attempts from the 1830s to 1870s to manage and control diseases in sheep and cattle. We describe (1) the development of management controls for the emerging TSR network, through the series of enactments in legislatures designed to eradicate scab in sheep, and ovine catarrh from the pastoral industry, and (2) identify the people who made the decisions which influenced the management and design of the TSR network. Requirements for droving permits, access to squatting runs, and historic methods for sheep disease control are described, and development of major quarantine points on stock routes are highlighted. As we indicate, this narrative sets the stage for the formal survey of the first TSRs in the early 1870s, and highlights the rich social and economic drivers that contributed to their development upon the landscape, their design and location, and influence on present-day management approaches.
DYNAMICS OF PERENNIAL PLANTS IN THE MULGA (ACACIA ANEURA F. MUELL.) ZONE
OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA 11. SURVIVAL OF PERENNIAL SHRUBS AND GRASSES
Authors: Gardiner H.G
Published: November 2018

Survival rates of arid-land perennial plant species were significantly related to climate, site factors, and grazing by kangaroos (Macropus
rufus, Desmarest and Macropus robustus, Gould). Rainfall patterns ranging from severe drought to well above average resulted in responses
in all species. All but Frankenia (Frankeniapauciflora, DC) responded to spatial and temporal site factors. Survival of wire wanderrie grass
(Eragrostis xerophila, Domin) was severely reduced by grazing kangaroos, while poverty bush (Eremophila spectabilis, C.A. Gardn.) and
Frankenra responded positively to kangaroo activity. Cotton bush (Ptilotus obovatus, Gaud.), ball-leaf bluebush (Marreana glomerifolia),
(F. MueH et Tate) Wils. and Wilcox bush (Eremophila leucophylla, Benth.) showed no survival response to kangaroo grazing. The application
of maximum likelihood procedures permitted subtle effects to be detected and several significant causal factors to be separated.
Chromosomal Pairing and Pollen Viability in Rhizophora mangle and Rhizophora stylosa Hybrids
Authors: Tyagi Anand P.
Published: November 2018

Two prominent mangrove species of Fiji, Rhizophora mangle, Linn. Rhizophora stylosa Griff and their puative hyubrid (R x selala) were analysed for chromosome number and pairing. Both parental species and their hybrid possess a diploid number of (2n) = 36 chromosomes. Regular 18 bivalents were observed in two species but the hybrid lacked proper chromosome pairing during meiosis. Analysis of tetrads showed normal tetrad and microspores development in parental species but very high abnormality in the hybrid. Pollen fertility determined by staining technique and pollen germination technique showed very high pollen viability in both parental species but very low pollen viability in the putative hybrid. Lack of chromosomal homology appears to be contributing to high percentage of non-viable pollen resulting in complete sterility in the putative hybrid.
Coastal Vegetation of Taunovo Bay, Pacific Harbour, Viti Levu, Fiji - A Proposed Development Site
Authors: Keppel Gunnar
Published: November 2018

Using four 100 � 10 m transects, the coastal vegetation types and their horizontal stratification at Taunovo Bay, Pacific Harbour, were investigated. The common stratification pattern of herb zone, shrub zone (dominated by the invasive species Chrysobalanus icaco) and tree zone was observed. Littoral forest composed of species commonly associated with sandy beaches and species commonly associated lowland rainforest was observed. This vegetation type is here reported for the first time from Fiji and is probably caused by siliceous deposits from a nearby river. A detailed study of the extend, composition and distribution of this unique vegetation type should be conducted before the development project (planned at the study site) is approved.
Evolution of Chemical Contaminant and Toxicology Studies, Part 1 - An Overview
Authors: Jolley Dianne , O'Brien Glennys , Morrison John
Published: November 2018

The study of environmental chemical contaminants and their toxicological effects has changed dramatically over the last 50 years. Initially studies concentrated on trying to identify what contaminants were actually present and to develop quantitative methods to determine the concentrations (total) present. Health impacts were often investigated independently in medical research centres. With improving analytical techniques, studies of the speciation of contamina nts began and the specific forms that were creating the major problems were gradually identified. Continuing improvements in analytical chemistry, together with a move towards more integrated and multidisciplinary research now sees chemists, biologists, toxicologists and health researchers working closely in teams to identify the specific agents of major concern and their pathways, transformations and mode of action. These changes in approach are reviewed. Issues that still require significant research such as cumulative impacts are also discussed.
Evolution of chemical contaminant and toxicology studies, part 2 - case studies of Selenium and Arsenic
Authors: O'Brien Glennys , Jolley Dianne , Morrison John
Published: November 2018

As the second of a two part series discussing the evolution of the field of environmental toxicology, this paper presents two case studies: selenium and arsenic. Developments over several decades in the understanding of the behaviour of arsenic and selenium in different chemical forms in various compartments of the environment are discussed. Selenium was initially thought to be toxic, but later investigations showed it to be an essential micronutrient with a variety of biochemical functions, and, importantly, that there is a very narrow gap between the essential and the toxic body burden. Arsenic, on the other hand, has not yet had an essential role established, but enjoys an interesting and notorious history of usage. Arsenic contamination of the drinking water supplies for many millions of people has been a major catalyst for much research into understanding arsenic chemistry in aquifer systems and also arsenic metabolism and toxicity. The relationships between chemical form, bioavailability, toxicity and metabolism of these two semi-metals are being established, especially with use of sophisticated and sensitive analytical instrumentation and biochemical techniques.
Using GIS in human impact analysis of mangroves
Authors: Davis Bruce E , Quinn Norman
Published: November 2018

In this study a GIS approach was developed to provide ground-level classification of mangrove communities and their impact by human. Mangroves around Suva are declining due to peripheral pressures from expanding land use and interior pressures of increased resource utilization. Increasing urbanisation, particularly growth of industrialisation and squatter settlements, has resulted in greater utilisation of mangrove communities (Rhizophora - Bruguiera). Better information is needed if sustainable environmental management practices are to succeed. Remote sensing is unable to provide the detail and scale of data that is required, but in situ field work, combined with GIS approaches, offers an enhanced methodology. This project examines the mangroves of the Suva peninsula using a geographical information system (GIS) approach in order to derive better techniques for monitoring, analysing and managing these deteriorating environments.
Ethnobotanical importance of the coastal plant species of Rotuma Island
Authors: Rigamoto Rejieli R , Tyagi Anand P , Thaman Randolph
Published: November 2018

The coastal plants of Rotuma have high cultural and ecological utility. Unfortunately, like most of the smaller islands in the tropical Pacific Ocean, Rotuma?s coastal littoral flora and vegetation has been extensively modified by human activity. This disturbance has led to the loss of much of the native vegetation that once covered the island. Rotuma?s coast is now almost entirely devoid of undisturbed native vegetation because of the high fertility of the island and the suitability of the coastal plains for human habitation and agriculture. The few remaining sites with relatively undisturbed native forests are primarily in those areas that are unsuitable for habitation and agriculture. Such areas are increasingly under threat due to the growing number of native pigsties, from which many escapees have been allowed to forage freely within the forests, killing shrubs and seedlings of forest species, particularly herbaceous under-story species. If allowed to continue, the coastal vegetation, the valuable plants found there and associated ethnobotanical knowledge will eventually be lost. Many littoral species of high cultural utility have already disappeared or are threatened because of many years of indiscriminate coastal deforestation without any effective restorative measures. The need for strategic planning and implementation of protective and restorative measures for Rotuma?s coastal littoral vegetation is, thus, an immediate priority. It is imperative that measures are formulated and implemented as soon as circumstances allow.
Concomitants of dual generalized order statistics from bivariate burr II distribution
Authors: Athar Haseeb , Nayabuddin  , Ali M. Almech
Published: November 2018

Dual generalized order statistics is a common approach to enable descending ordered random variables like reverse order statistics and lower record values. In this paper probability density function of single concomitant and joint probability density function of two concomitants of dual generalized order statistics from bivariate Burr II distribution are obtained and expressions for moment generating function and cumulant generating function are derived. Also the expressions for mean, variance and covariance are given. Further, results are deduced for the reverse order statistics and lower record values.
Response of Arizona cypress (Hesperocyparis arizonica) to the Horseshoe Two Megafire in a south-eastern Arizona Sky Island mountain range
Authors: Barton Andrew M. , Poulos Helen M.
Published: November 2018

We examined the response of Arizona cypress (Hesperocyparis arizonica) to the 2011 Horseshoe Two Megafire in the Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona, USA. We documented cover type, fire severity, cypress mortality and seedling establishment in 60 plots. In plots subject to severe fire, most mature cypresses were killed, the canopy opened and seedlings established abundantly. These results were consistent across three canyons differing in topography and vegetation. Successful regeneration of Arizona cypress contrasts with low seedling establishment for pines in the same area after the Horseshoe Two Fire, a difference possibly explained by abundant serotinous seed production in cypress or its preference for riparian sites protected from extreme fire. Our results firmly establish Arizona cypress as a fire-sensitive but fire-embracing species that depends on stand-replacing fire for regeneration. Given the fire sensitivity of Arizona cypress, however, recent increases in the frequency of high-severity fires in the south-west USA could pose a threat to the long-term viability of this species by preventing individuals from reaching sexual maturity during fire intervals. This scenario, termed the ‘interval squeeze’, has been documented in tecate cypress (H. forbesii) in California. A drier future with more frequent wildfires could pose serious threats to all New World cypresses.
Applying mixture models to derive activity states of large herbivores from movement rates obtained using GPS telemetry
Authors: Owen-Smith Norman , Goodall Victoria , Fatti Paul
Published: November 2018

Context
To interpret spatial utilisation distributions, there is a need to translate animal locations obtained from global positioning system (GPS) telemetry into the activities performed and, hence, benefits derived, from particular places and times of day. Derived activity patterns also reveal how animals cope in changing environmental conditions.

Aim
The aim of our research was to develop and test an objective, consistent and biologically faithful method for deriving activity states from movement rates between successive GPS locations.

Methods
The method entails fitting mixtures of component statistical distributions to the frequency distribution of hourly step displacements. Breakpoints indicating transitions between predominant movement modes were identified by fitting exponential segments. Breakpoints were incorporated as off-sets for gamma distributions, but not needed for log-normal distributions. This procedure was applied to movement data for three large grazing ungulates.

Key results
Models consistently distinguished four movement modes interpreted as representing resting, foraging, mixed movement and travelling activity. Breakpoints and parameter estimates were consistent among seasons and herds of each ungulate species. The exponential-segment model and both mixture models closely represented observed daily activity patterns. However, some adjustment of the derived time budgets was needed to be consistent with observations.

Key conclusions
Mixture models provide an objective, reliable and biologically meaningful procedure for assessing seasonal, annual and spatial variation in the activity patterns of large ungulates from GPS data.

Implications
The method can potentially be applied to other mobile foragers large enough to carry GPS collars.
Creeping into a wild boar stomach to find traces of supplementary feeding
Authors: Miloš Ježek , Michaela Holá , Tomáš Kušta , Jaroslav Červený
Published: November 2018

Context
Supplementary feeding and baiting of wild ungulates is a common management practice. Wild boar is among the most frequently fed species and its numbers are rapidly increasing throughout Europe. It has been suggested that supplementary feeding throughout the year can have intentional and unintentional impacts on the species as well as on European forests and agricultural landscapes, and biodiversity. It is, therefore, important to identify the dependence of wild boar on supplemental foods to determine and predict its feeding patterns under alternative population and land-use management scenarios.

Aims
We investigated the diet composition of wild boar from stomach contents to identify its dependence on food resources of human origin (i.e. agricultural crops and supplemental foods) throughout the year in the Czech Republic.

Methods
We collected 345 samples from four study sites during spring, summer and winter seasons, over a 3-year period, and from different wild boar ages and sex classes.

Key results
Foods of human origin (mainly cereals) were the dominant food category and constituted the bulk of wild boar diet throughout the year (>50% of total stomach-content biomass), especially in winter, and in all the study sites. Cereals found in the stomachs of wild boar in summer might come from both crop fields as well as supplementary feeding. However, cereals identified in the stomachs in winter and spring come predominantly from baiting and supplementary feeding conducted by hunters. Cereals were consumed in different proportions by different ages and sexes. Males fed on cereals more than did females, whereas juveniles depended on such food less than did subadults.

Conclusions
Our finding of a consistent dependence of wild boar on food of human origin throughout the year in all study sites confirmed that supplementary feeding is important in the diet, which is a potential reason for the rapid increase of wild boar numbers in the Czech Republic.

Implications
Wildlife management agencies need to target feeding practices and design restrictive measures for supplementary feeding and baiting of wild boar in the Czech Republic. This should include defining maximum amounts of food and precise periods for supplementary feeding, and reducing non-target species at feeding sites.
AKDEC home range size and habitat selection of Sumatran elephants
Authors: Moßbrucker Alexander Markus , Fleming Christen H. , Imron Muhammad Ali , Pudyatmoko Satyawan , Sumardi
Published: November 2018

Context
Understanding ranging behaviour and habitat selection of threatened species is crucial for the development of conservation strategies and the design of conservation areas. Our understanding of the actual needs of the critically endangered Sumatran elephant in this context is insufficient.

Aims
Provide reliable subspecies-specific information on home range size and habitat selection of Sumatran elephants.

Methods
Using both the new area-corrected autocorrelated kernel density estimation (AKDEC) and two commonly applied conventional methods, the home range sizes of nine Sumatran elephants were estimated. Elephant habitat selection was studied using Manly’s selection ratios.

Key results
AKDEC home ranges of adults ranged from 275 km2 to 1352 km2. Estimates obtained using conventional KDE and minimum convex polygon (MCP) ranged between 156 km2 and 997 km2. Overall habitat selection was significant for both slope and land-cover type, whereas individual preferences varied to some extent. On the basis of global selection ratios, we found natural forest, pulpwood plantations and gentle slopes (≤4°) to be significantly selected, whereas most areas affected by human activities and steeper slopes were avoided by the majority of animals included in the study.

Conclusions
As expected, AKDEC estimates were much larger than those obtained using conventional methods because conventional methods have a tendency to underestimate home range size when confronted with autocorrelated movement data and produce estimates that refer to the limited study period only, whereas AKDEC estimates include the predicted animal’s long-term space use. The extremely large AKDEC estimate obtained for a subadult male most likely represents a combination of population dispersal range and temporary home range rather than its final adult home range. Regardless, it appears that Sumatran elephants roam over much larger areas than previously assumed. Natural forests and relatively flat areas are of great importance for Sumatran elephants. The observed intensive use of pulpwood plantations by one individual is likely because of limited availability of alternative suitable habitats.

Implications
A landscape-wide approach to elephant conservation that takes large home ranges into account, is required, and should include forest protection and restoration and elephant friendly management of existing pulpwood concessions, with special focus on areas with relatively gentle slopes.
Composition of nocturnal hypoxaemic burden and its prognostic value for cardiovascular mortality in older community-dwelling men
Authors: Baumert Mathias , Immanuel Sarah A , Stone Katie L , Litwack Harrison Stephanie , Redline Susan , Mariani Sara , Sanders Prashanthan , McEvoy R Doug , Linz Dominik
Published: November 2018

Aims

To investigate the composition of nocturnal hypoxaemic burden and its prognostic value for cardiovascular (CV) mortality in community-dwelling older men.

Methods and results

We analysed overnight oximetry data from polysomnograms obtained in 2840 men from the Outcomes of Sleep Disorders in Older Men (MrOS Sleep) study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00070681) to determine the number of acute episodic desaturations per hour (oxygen desaturation index, ODI) and time spent below 90% oxygen saturation (T90) attributed to acute desaturations (T90desaturation) and to non-specific drifts in oxygen saturation (T90non-specific), respectively, and their relationship with CV mortality. After 8.8 ± 2.7 years follow-up, 185 men (6.5%) died from CV disease. T90 [hazard ratio (HR) 1.21, P < 0.001], but not ODI (HR 1.13, P = 0.06), was significantly associated with CV death in univariate analysis. T90 remained significant when adjusting for potential confounders (HR 1.16, P = 0.004). Men with T90 > 12 min were at an elevated risk of CV mortality (HR 1.59; P = 0.006). Approximately 20.7 (5.7–48.5) percent of the variation in T90 could be attributed to non-specific drifts in oxygen saturation. T90desaturation and T90non-specific were individually associated with CV death but combining both variables did not improve the prediction.

Conclusion

In community-dwelling older men, T90 is an independent predictor of CV mortality. T90 is not only a consequence of frank desaturations, but also reflects non-specific drifts in oxygen saturation, both contributing towards the association with CV death. Whether T90 can be used as a risk marker in the clinical setting and whether its reduction may constitute a treatment target warrants further study.
Household food unavailability due to financial constraints affects the nutrient intake of children
Authors: Suga Hitomi
Published: November 2018

Background

A household’s food unavailability due to financial constraints may act as a barrier to a healthy diet for children. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the association between food unavailability due to financial constraints and the nutrient intake of children aged 1–15 years using data of a nationwide survey among the Japanese population.

Methods

Datasets from the National Health and Nutrition Survey and the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions in Japan, 2014 were used for this study. The dietary intakes of energy and nutrients were estimated using a one-day dietary record. Participants were categorized into four subgroups, according to their households’ frequency of food unavailability due to financial constraints. The adjusted means and 95% confidential intervals of the energy and nutrient intakes in each subgroup were calculated using analysis of covariance. The statistical trends across the subgroups were examined using analysis of covariance.

Results

Of the 895 children included in the analysis, 202 (22.6%) were classified into subgroups with frequent food unavailability due to financial constraints. Significant decreases in the mean intakes of carbohydrate, calcium, retinol activity equivalents, riboflavin, folate and vitamin C were observed with increases in the frequency of households’ food unavailability. In contrast, frequent food unavailability was associated with higher total fat and vitamin B12 intake.

Conclusion

A substantial proportion of children in Japan experienced food unavailability due to financial constraints, and this affected their nutrient intake. Adopting a population approach may help overcome this problem.
Protective vascular coagulation in response to bacterial infection of the kidney is regulated by bacterial lipid A and host CD147
Authors: Schulz Anette , Chuquimia Olga D , Antypas Haris , Steiner Svava E , Sandoval Ruben M , Tanner George A , Molitoris Bruce A , Richter-Dahlfors Agneta , Melican Keira
Published: November 2018

Bacterial infection of the kidney leads to a rapid cascade of host protective responses, many of which are still poorly understood. We have previously shown that following kidney infection with uropathogenicEscherichia coli (UPEC), vascular coagulation is quickly initiated in local perivascular capillaries that protects the host from progressing from a local infection to systemic sepsis. The signaling mechanisms behind this response have not however been described. In this study, we use a number ofin vitro andin vivo techniques, including intravital microscopy, to identify two previously unrecognized components influencing this protective coagulation response. The acylation state of the Lipid A of UPEC lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is shown to alter the kinetics of local coagulation onsetin vivo. We also identify epithelial CD147 as a potential host factor influencing infection-mediated coagulation. CD147 is expressed by renal proximal epithelial cells infected with UPEC, contingent to bacterial expression of the α-hemolysin toxin. The epithelial CD147 subsequently can activate tissue factor on endothelial cells, a primary step in the coagulation cascade. This study emphasizes the rapid, multifaceted response of the kidney tissue to bacterial infection and the interplay between host and pathogen during the early hours of renal infection.
Measuring the rate of manual transcription error in outpatient point-of-care testing
Authors: Mays James A , Mathias Patrick C
Published: November 2018

Many point-of-care laboratory tests are manually entered into the electronic health record by ambulatory clinic staff, but the rate of manual transcription error for this testing is poorly characterized. Using a dataset arising from a duplicated workflow that created a set of paired interfaced and manually entered point-of-care glucose measurements, we found that 260 of 6930 (3.7%) manual entries were discrepant from their interfaced result. Thirty-seven of the 260 (14.2%) errors were discrepant by more than 20% and included potentially dangerous mistranscriptions. An additional 37 (14.2%) errors were due to inclusion of non-numeric characters. Staff-entered result flags deviated from the result flag generated in the laboratory information system in 5121 of 6930 (73.9%) pairs. These data demonstrate that clinically significant discrepancies for clinic-entered point of care results occurred at a rate of approximately 5 per 1000 results and they underline the importance of interfacing instruments when feasible.