scholarly journals Transparency reduces predator detection in chemically protected clearwing butterflies

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica Arias ◽  
Johanna Mappes ◽  
Charlotte Desbois ◽  
Swanne Gordon ◽  
Melanie McClure ◽  
...  

Abstract1. Predation is an important selective pressure and some prey have evolved warning colour signals advertising unpalatability (i.e. aposematism) as an antipredator strategy. Unexpectedly, some butterfly species from the unpalatable tribe Ithomiini possess transparent wings, an adaptation rare on land but common in water where it helps avoiding predator detection.2. We tested if transparency of butterfly wings was associated with decreased detectability by predators, by comparing four butterfly species exhibiting different degrees of transparency, ranging from fully opaque to largely transparent. We tested our prediction using using both wild birds and humans in behavioural experiments. Vision modelling predicted detectability to be similar for these two predator types.3. In concordance with predictions, more transparent species were almost never the first detected items and were detected less often than the opaque species by both birds and humans, suggesting that transparency enhances crypsis. However, humans could learn to better detect the most transparent species over time. Our study demonstrates for the first time that transparency on land likely decreases detectability by visual predators.

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 175628482093518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angélique Saint ◽  
Maxime Benchetrit ◽  
Sébastien Novellas ◽  
Denis Ouzan ◽  
Alexander Tuan Falk ◽  
...  

Introduction: Hepatocholangiocarcinoma (HCC-ICC) is a rare tumor presenting the histologic characteristics of both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). As there is no consensus on it management, the therapeutic strategy rests on the specific treatments for HCC or ICC. Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitors showed encouraging results in the second line treatment of HCC after sorafenib but it efficacy in HCC-ICC has never been reported. Methods and results: We present the case of a 72-year-old male patient treated for metastatic HCC-ICC due to a viral hepatitis C cirrhosis in progression after two lines of treatment. Tumor was characterized by a PDL-1 status of 85%. Patient received pembrolizumab at doses of 200 mg every 21 days by intravenous infusion. After one injection he was presented an immediate clinical benefit, a partial response was observed after two months of treatment and a complete response two months later. This response was maintained over time along with toxicity-free tumor control after 18 months treatment. Conclusion: To our knowledge, we reported for the first time the efficacy of a PD1 inhibitor treatment in a patient presenting metastatic HCC-ICC due to viral cirrhosis and overexpressing PDL-1 after failure of two lines of treatment.


Author(s):  
Л. Х. Пастушкова ◽  
Д. Н. Каширина ◽  
А. Г. Гончарова ◽  
Н. Б. Захарова ◽  
Е. С. Тийс ◽  
...  

Впервые описаны белки, достоверно увеличивающиеся и уменьшающиеся в моче с возрастом в интервале 20-60 лет. Охарактеризованы комбинации белков, связанных с изменением иммунных процессов, нарушением реологии крови, в том числе риском коагулопатии, противоопухолевых защитных механизмов, инсулинового сигнального пути, с изменением характеристик клеточного деления и качества новообразованной ткани. Таким образом, возрастная динамика основных процессов запускает каскад реакций, проявляющихся в замыкании «патологических биохимических кругов», которые формируют предпосылки к развитию заболеваний и, с течением времени, клинические проявления. For the first time proteins are described, reliably increasing and decreasing in urine with age in the range of 20 to 60 years. The combinations of proteins associated with changes in immune processes, violation of blood reology, including the risk of coagulopathy, anticancer defense mechanisms, insulin signaling pathway, changes in cell characteristics are characterized division and quality of the newly formed fabric. Thus, the age dynamics of the main processes triggers a cascade of reactions manifested in the closure of «pathological biochemical circles» that form the prerequisites for the development of diseases and, over time, clinical manifestations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S27-S28 ◽  
Author(s):  
John DeVincenzo ◽  
Efi Gymnopoulou ◽  
Els De Paepe ◽  
Bryan Murray ◽  
Arangassery Rosemary Bastian ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Despite the high disease burden of RSV in older adults and children, there is currently no approved vaccine. Ad26.RSV.preF, an experimental RSV vaccine, has demonstrated immunogenicity and tolerability in first-in-human clinical studies. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of the Ad26.RSV.preF vaccine to protect against RSV infection and disease in an established RSV human challenge model, used for the first time to evaluate a vaccine. Methods We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, human challenge study (NCT03334695). Healthy adults received 1 × 1011 vp Ad26.RSV.preF vaccine (active) or placebo (pbo) intramuscularly. After 28 days, volunteers were challenged intranasally with a low-passage clinical strain of RSV-A (0.8 mL of Memphis 37b) and then quarantined for 12 days. Nasal washes were collected twice daily throughout quarantine, starting 2 days post-challenge (viral load [VL] by qRT-PCR and quantitative cultures). Disease severity was recorded thrice daily using symptom diary cards. Results Fifty-three volunteers (active, n = 27; pbo, n = 26) were challenged with RSV-A. Quantitative viral assessments were consistently lower in active than pbo. The primary endpoint of the study was met: the area under the curve (AUC) for RSV VL over time (via qRT-PCR) was significantly lower in active pbo (P = 0.012). Median peak VL was lower for active (0 log10 copies/mL) than pbo (5.4 log10 copies/mL). Median AUC for RSV VL over time (quantitative culture) was lower for active than pbo (0 vs. 109, P = 0.002). Disease severity was lower for active than pbo, with a median AUC total symptom score of 35 (active) vs. 167 (pbo) (P = 0.002). Overall, RSV infection (defined by qRT-PCR alone or combined with symptoms) and disease severity over time were lower in active vs. pbo. Conclusion RSV infections, VL, and RSV disease severity were consistently lower in healthy adults receiving Ad26.RSV.preF vs. placebo, demonstrating promising protection from RSV infection and disease. This was the first time that antiviral prevention was observed against RSV after active immunization. Ad26.RSV.preF warrants further evaluation in field trials for efficacy against natural RSV infections in populations considered at risk of severe RSV disease. Disclosures All Authors: No reported Disclosures.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Yayah Rukiah ◽  
Nurulfatmi Amzy ◽  
Angga Kusuma Dawami

<strong>Abstract</strong><br />The Changes of Singgalang Newspaper Logo. Logo becomes an inseparable identity in introducing a brand to society in general. The construction of the shape represents the identity in itself to show the entity and become a characteristic that is finally known to the target audience. Changes to the logo are based on the need for the entity to always make a new appearance to be better known and to imprint the meaning of the<br />entity in the minds of consumers. As one of the National newspapers, the Singgalang daily also changed its logo from the beginning of its publication in 1969. Changes in form that corresponded to Singgalang’s identity brought a different perception between one logo and another. The shapes differ from the first logo to the online media logo, indicating that Singgalang has special characteristics to show himself to the general<br />public. This article discusses the development of the Singgalang Daily logo that was published for the first time, until the logo is displayed in online media. The results of this study used the semiotic-Sumbo Tinarbuko approach, to see logos as symbols that exist and continue to make changes over time. By using semiotic analysis, the results of<br />this study show that logos are important for re-branding to get into the community in general.<br /><br /><strong>Abstrak</strong><br />Perubahan Logo Harian Singgalang. Logo merupakan salah satu identitas yang tidak terpisahkan dalam mengenalkan sebuah merek kepada masyarakat secara umum. Konstruksi bentuk merepresentasikan identitas dalam dirinya untuk menunjukkan entitasnya dan menjadi ciri khas yang akhirnya dikenal kepada target pembacanya. Perubahan logo didasari pada kebutuhan entitas untuk selalu membuat tampilan baru agar lebih dikenal dan lebih menancapkan makna bentuk entitasnya di benak konsumen. Sebagai salah satu koran nasional, Harian Singgalang juga melakukan perubahan logo dari awal terbitnya di 1969. Perubahan bentuk yang sesuai dengan identitas Singgalang membawa persepsi yang berbeda antar satu logo dengan logo yang lain. Bentukbentuknya<br />yang berbeda dari logo pertama sampai logo media daringnya, menandakan Singgalang memiliki ciri khusus untuk menunjukkan dirinya kepada masyarakat umum.Tulisan ini membahas tentang perkembangan logo Harian Singgalang yang terbit pertama kali, sampai logo yang ditampilkan di media daring. Hasil penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan semiotika-Sumbo Tinarbuko, untuk melihat logo sebagai<br />sebuah simbol yang ada dan terus dilakukan perubahan dari waktu ke waktu. Dengan menggunakan analisis semiotika, hasil penelitian ini memperlihatkan bahwa logo menjadi penting untuk dilakukan desain ulang (re-branding) untuk dapat masuk ke masyarakat secara umum.


2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (Suppl.) ◽  
pp. 221-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zdeněk Faltýnek Fric ◽  
Michal Rindoš ◽  
Vladimír Hula

Eurema brigitta (Stoll, 1780) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) is recorded for the first time from the Socotra Island (Yemen). The specimen represents either a wet season form of a subspecies originating from Africa or a form with its usual occurrence in Madagascar, Mascarenes, Aldabra and Comoros. The current number of butterfly species known for Socotra is now 27.


1977 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 827-834
Author(s):  
Richard E. Kopelman ◽  
James J. Pantaleno

It is widely held that the professional athlete who is traded tends to perform better against the trading team than against other teams. Two psychological explanations for this hypothesis were advanced (a separation-hostility mechanism and an esteem loss-counteraction mechanism). Data were examined for 47 (30) professional baseball players over a 2-yr. (3-yr.) period. Support for the hypothesis was weak across the entire sample; however, some support appeared among players who (a) were traded for the first time, (b) had long tenure with the trading team, (c) were young, and (d) had high ability. Somewhat stronger positive results were found for individuals who met two or more of the conditions favorable to the hypothesis. As predicted, results attenuated over time.


Parasitology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 145 (14) ◽  
pp. 1949-1958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco C. Ferreira-Junior ◽  
Daniela de Angeli Dutra ◽  
Patrícia Silveira ◽  
Richard Campos Pacheco ◽  
Rute Witter ◽  
...  

AbstractHabitat modification may facilitate the emergence of novel pathogens, and the expansion of agricultural frontiers make domestic animals important sources of pathogen spillover to wild animals. We demonstrate for the first time that Plasmodium juxtanucleare, a widespread parasite from domestic chickens, naturally infects free-living passerines. We sampled 68 wild birds within and at the border of conservation units in central Brazil composed by Cerrado, a highly threatened biome. Seven out of 10 passerines captured in the limits of a protected area with a small farm were infected by P. juxtanucleare as was confirmed by sequencing a fragment of the parasite's cytochrome b. Blood smears from these positive passerines presented trophozoites, meronts and gametocytes compatible with P. juxtanucleare, meaning these birds are competent hosts for this parasite. After these intriguing results, we sampled 30 backyard chickens managed at the area where P. juxtanucleare-infected passerines were captured, revealing one chicken infected by the same parasite lineage. We sequenced the almost complete mitochondrial genome from all positive passerines, revealing that Brazilian and Asian parasites are closely related. P. juxtanucleare can be lethal to non-domestic hosts under captive and rehabilitation conditions, suggesting that this novel spillover may pose a real threat to wild birds.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiale Shi ◽  
Yuejun Shi ◽  
Ruixue Xiu ◽  
Gang Wang ◽  
Rui Liang ◽  
...  

The receptor binding domain (RBD) of the coronavirus spike protein (S) has been verified to be the main target for potent neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) in most coronaviruses, and the N-terminal domain (NTD) of some betacoronaviruses has also been indicated to induce nAbs. For alphacoronavirus HCoV-229E, its RBD has been shown to have neutralizing epitopes, and these epitopes could change over time. However, whether neutralizing epitopes exist on the NTD and whether these epitopes change like those of the RBD are still unknown. Here, we verified that neutralizing epitopes exist on the NTD of HCoV-229E. Furthermore, we characterized an NTD targeting nAb 5H10, which could neutralize both pseudotyped and authentic HCoV-229E VR740 in vitro. Epitope mapping indicated that 5H10 targeted motif E1 (147-167 aa) and identified F159 as critical for 5H10 binding. More importantly, our results revealed that motif E1 was highly conserved among clinical isolates except for F159. Further data proved that mutations at position 159 gradually appeared over time and could completely abolish the neutralizing ability of 5H10, supporting the notion that position 159 may be under selective pressure during the human epidemic. In addition, we also found that contemporary clinical serum has a stronger binding capacity for the NTD of contemporary strains than historic strains, proving that the epitope on the NTD could change over time. In summary, these findings define a novel neutralizing epitope on the NTD of HCoV-229E S and provide a theoretical basis for the design of vaccines against HCoV-229E or related coronaviruses. Importance Characterization of the neutralizing epitope of the spike (S) protein, the major invasion protein of coronaviruses, can help us better understand the evolutionary characteristics of these viruses and promote vaccine development. To date, the neutralizing epitope distribution of alphacoronaviruses is not well known. Here, we identified a neutralizing antibody that targeted the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the alphacoronavirus HCoV-229E S protein. Epitope mapping revealed a novel epitope that was not previously discovered in HCoV-229E. Further studies identified an important residue, F159. Mutations that gradually appeared over time at this site abolished the neutralizing ability of 5H10, indicating that selective pressure occurred at this position in the spread of HCoV-229E. Furthermore, we found that the epitopes within the NTD also changed over time. Taken together, our findings defined a novel neutralizing epitope and highlighted the role of the NTD in the future prevention and control of HCoV-229E or related coronaviruses.


Author(s):  
Nailia Fakhrutdinova

The article deals with the problem of the post Arabic spring situation. Only three Arab countries remained unchanged in Africa: Morocco, Algeria and Sudan. After a long period of time their protesters remained outside the zone of active action, but over time they appeared in the streets again. The circumstances forced people to take to the streets. Moroccans were in a better situation, but gradually the population of Algeria and Sudan where the situation was especially serious began to criticize the policy of the authorities, although they did it exclusively peacefully. For the first time in Russian African studies, the author assesses all the driving forces of the events at the end of 2020 and early 2021 and, emphasizing the complications brought by the coronavirus pandemic, makes an analytical forecast for the further development of the situation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-72
Author(s):  
Murat Yıldırım

Identifying factors that influence well-being are fruitful for improving the knowledge held about the correlates and predictors of well-being in both practice and theory. This research for the first time aimed to investigate whether irrational happiness beliefs, a newly presented construct, contribute to the affective components of subjective well-being over time. The sample included 103 undergraduate students (88 females and 15 males) whose ages varied from 18 to 29 years (M = 19.39 ±1.62). Participants completed measures of irrational happiness beliefs, positive affect, and negative affect both at Time 1 and Time 2 over three months apart. The findings showed that irrational happiness beliefs were significantly negatively related to positive affect only at Time 1. However, the research failed to provide evidence regarding the value of irrational happiness beliefs in predicting positive and negative affect over time. The results suggest that the impact of irrational happiness beliefs upon well-being may occur momentarily not over time. Implications and limitations of the findings are discussed and directions for future studies are provided.


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