Acoustic features of song categories and their possible implications for communication in the common nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)

In many passerine species, males sing more than one distinct song type. Commonly, songs are assigned to different song types or song categories based on phonological and syntactical dissimilarities. However, temporal aspects, such as song length and song rate, also need to be considered to understand the possible functions of different songs. Common nightingales (Luscinia megarhynchos) have large vocal repertoires of different song types but their songs additionally can be grouped into two distinct categories (particular groups of song types): whistle songs and nonwhistle songs. Whistle songs are hypothesised to be important to attract migrating females. We studied temporal properties of whistle songs and nonwhistle songs and examined the relationship between those song parameters and song output parameters, such as song rate and song length. To investigate how song parameters vary among males, we calculated the coefficients of variation for different song traits. We found that the variation in the proportion of whistle songs was significantly higher among males than variation in other song parameters. Furthermore, the proportion of whistle songs was negatively correlated with other sona output patterns. These findings suggest that the production of whistle songs might be constrained and/or that whistle songs and their succeeding pauses may act as a functional unit in communication.

Common psychology problems in cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) refers to a collection of motor impairments which result in abnormal posture and movement following an insult or damage to the developing brain. Psychological adjustment in children with CP is under researched with little population-based or longitudinal data, but there is sufficient evidence to suggest that children with CP are at increased risk for psychological problems. The types of difficulties they experience include emotional, hyperactivity and peer problems with conduct disorder being more prevalent in mildly affected children. The origins of psychological problems in this group are complex but include ‘disease’ and ‘psychosocial’ factors related to having a brain-based disability in the family, as well as other factors that influence adjustment in all children. There are no intervention studies in children with CP aimed at preventing psychological problems or promoting mental wellbeing. However, evidence from other work suggests it is possible to work with the child and family to develop skills, manage symptoms, and build confidence and resilience. Acting as early as possible has been found to be beneficial for bonding, child development and reducing parental anxiety.

Association of common variants in NPPA and NPPB with circulating natriuretic peptides and blood pressure

We examined the association of common variants at the NPPA-NPPB locus with circulating concentrations of the natriuretic peptides, which have blood pressure-lowering properties. We genotyped SNPs at the NPPA-NPPB locus in 14,743 individuals of European ancestry, and identified associations of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide with rs5068 (P = 8 × 10 -70), rs198358 (P = 8 × 10 -30) and rs632793 (P = 2 × 10 -10), and of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide with rs5068 (P = 3 × 10 -12), rs198358 (P = 1 × 10 -25) and rs632793 (P = 2 × 10 -68). In 29,717 individuals, the alleles of rs5068 and rs198358 that showed association with increased circulating natriuretic peptide concentrations were also found to be associated with lower systolic (P = 2 × 10 -6 and 6 × 10 -5, respectively) and diastolic blood pressure (P = 1 × 10 -6 and 5 × 10 -5), as well as reduced odds of hypertension (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.79-0.92, P = 4 × 10 -5; OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.85-0.95, P = 2 × 10 -4, respectively). Common genetic variants at the NPPA-NPPB locus found to be associated with circulating natriuretic peptide concentrations contribute to interindividual variation in blood pressure and hypertension.

Integrating Ballymun? Flawed progress in Ireland's largest estate regeneration scheme

Urban regeneration in the Republic of Ireland takes place in the context of the rapid, ‘Celtic Tiger’ economic growth of the 1990s. The boom transformed Irish society and led to greater affluence for many people, along with continuing and arguably worsening inequality for those excluded from its opportunities. In particular, Ireland’s small social rented sector has become the focus of the country’s most concentrated poverty and social exclusion. The Ballymun regeneration programme in North Dublin aims to facilitate physical, social and economic change in order to integrate the area more closely with the
more affluent surrounding suburbs. This article reviews the issues involved in restructuring such a large area of social exclusion within a rapidly changing European capital city, using a framework that disaggregates the concept of integration into three elements: market, citizenship and reciprocity. With just over half the physical refurbishment complete, progress has been made but some fundamental issues remain. The article concludes that although substantial advancement has been made with physical regeneration, progress with wider economic and social integration has been uneven and in some cases flawed.

Expression of the common heat-shock protein receptor CD91 is increased on monocytes of exposed yet HIV-1-seronegative subjects.

The significantly higher surface expression of the surface heat-shock protein receptor CD91 on monocytes of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1)-infected, long-term nonprogressors suggests that HIV-1 antigen uptake and cross-presentation mediated by CD91 may contribute to host anti-HIV-1 defenses and play a role in protection against HIV-1 infection. To investigate this further, we performed phenotypic analysis to compare CD91 surface expression on CD14+ monocytes derived from a cohort of HIV-1-exposed seronegative (ESN) subjects, their seropositive (SP) partners, and healthy HIV-1-unexposed seronegative (USN) subjects. The median fluorescent intensity (MFI) of CD91 on CD14+ monocytes was significantly higher in ESN compared with SP (P=0.028) or USN (P=0.007), as well as in SP compared with USN subjects (P=0.018). CD91 MFI was not normalized in SP subjects on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) despite sustainable, undetectable plasma viraemia. Data in three SP subjects experiencing viral rebounds following interruption of HAART showed low CD91 MFI comparable with levels in USN subjects. There was a significant positive correlation between CD91 MFI and CD8+ T cell counts in HAART-naïve SP subjects (r=0.7, P=0.015). Increased surface expression of CD91 on CD14+ monocytes is associated with the apparent HIV-1 resistance that is observed in ESN subjects.

Common input to different regions of biceps brachii long head

The purpose of the experiment was to compare the level of synchronization exhibited by pairs of motor units located within and between functionally distinct regions of the biceps brachii muscle. Pairs of single motor units were recorded from seven subjects using separate electrodes located in the lateral and medial aspects of the long head of biceps brachii. Participants were required to exert a combination of flexion and supination torques so that both motor units discharged at approximately 10 pps for a parts per thousand yen200 s and the level of motor unit synchronization could be quantified. When motor unit recordings were sufficiently stable at the completion of this synchrony task, a series of ramp contractions with multiple combinations of flexion and supination torques were performed to characterize the recruitment thresholds of the motor units. Common input strength (CIS) was significantly greater (P <0.01) for the within-region pairs of motor units (0.28 extra sync. imps/s, n = 26) than for the between-region pairs (0.13 extra sync. imps/s, n = 18), but did not differ significantly for the 12 within-region pairs from the lateral head and 14 from the medial head (0.27 vs. 0.29 extra sync. imps/s; P = 0.83). Recruitment thresholds were measured for 33 motor units, but there was only a weak association between CIS and the respective recruitment patterns for motor unit pairs (n = 9). The present investigation provides evidence of a differential distribution of synaptic input across the biceps brachii motor neuron pool, but this appears to have minimal association with the recruitment patterns for individual motor units.

Heat capacities of common ionic liquids - Potential applications as thermal fluids?

Ionic liquids generally have wide liquid ranges and negligible vapour pressures; attractive characteristics for use as media for heat transfer and short heat term storage systems. This review of the limited literature available shows that many common ionic liquids have heat capacities, and thus potential thermal energy storage capabilities, that surpass those of commercial hot-oil and synthetic heat transfer fluids and suggests that there is a role for ionic liquids as novel thermal fluids.