Growth, leaf and stomatal traits of crabwood (Carapa guianensis Aubl.) in central Amazonia

Crabwood (Carapa guianensis Aubl.) is a fast growing tree species with many uses among Amazonian local communities. The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of seasonal rainfall pattern on growth rates, and seasonal and diurnal changes in leaf gas exchange and leaf water potential (ΨL) in crabwood. To assess the effect of rainfall seasonality on growth and physiological leaf traits an experiment was conducted in Manaus, AM (03º 05' 30" S, 59º 59' 35" S). In this experiment, six 6-m tall plants were used to assess photosynthetic traits and ΨL. In a second experiment the effect of growth irradiance on stomatal density (S D), size (S S) and leaf thickness was assessed in 0.8-m tall saplings. Stomatal conductance (g s) and light-saturated photosynthesis (Amax) were higher in the wet season, and between 09:00 and 15:00 h. However, no effect of rainfall seasonality was found on ΨL and potential photosynthesis (CO2-saturated). ΨL declined from -0.3 MPa early in the morning to -0.75 MPa after midday. It increased in the afternoon but did not reach full recovery at sunset. Growth rates of crabwood were high, and similar in both seasons (2 mm month-1). Leaf thickness and S D were 19% and 47% higher in sun than in shade plants, whereas the opposite was true for S S. We conclude that ΨL greatly affects carbon assimilation of crabwood by reducing g s at noon, although this effect is not reflected on growth rates indicating that other factors offset the effect of g s on Amax.

Interactions between genes and alcohol on aggressive behavior and anger related traits : the oxytocin receptor gene as a candidate

Alkoholberusning är en av de starkaste riskfaktorerna för aggressivt beteende. Alla individer blir dock inte aggressiva under alkoholberusning. I sin doktorsavhandling undersökte Johansson ifall individens genetiska uppsättning kan förklara skillnader i vem som reagerar på alkohol med ökat aggressivt beteende och ilska och vem som inte gör det. Resultaten visade att individer som är bärare av en viss variant av genen som kodar för oxytocinets receptorer är i högre grad benägna att uppvisa aggressivt beteende än andra när de är alkoholberusade. Sambandet mellan alkohol och ilska påverkades även av individens genetiska uppsättning av två oxytocinreceptorgenvarianter, vilket antyder att dessa genvarianter även påverkar benägenheten att känna ilska under alkoholberusning. Oxytocinet, som fungerar både som ett hormon och en neurotransmittor, har i tidigare studier visats ha breda effekter på sociala förmågor hos människan, såsom förmåga till igenkännande av andras känslouttryck. Resultaten är de första att hos människan experimentellt påvisa att vissa individer beter sig mer aggressivt än andra när de är berusade, beroende på individens genetiska uppsättning. ”Det är viktigt att komma ihåg att genens effekt i det här fallet inte är av en sådan natur att den direkt och ofrånkomligen orsakar aggressivt beteende. Med andra ord är det orimligt i detta fall att tänka att en individ skulle tillmätas ansvarsfrihet i exempelvis ett våldsbrottmål om hon bär på en viss variant av denna gen”, påpekar Johansson. Oxytocinreceptorgenens effekter analyserades i två olika urval. I ett experimentellt upplägg indelades 116 män slumpässigt i två grupper: en grupp som tilldelades alkoholhaltiga drycker, och en kontrollgrupp som tilldelades alkoholfria drycker. Aggressivt beteende mättes med ett laboratorietest där försökspersonerna fick bestraffa en fiktiv motspelare genom att spela upp motbjudande ljud för denne. Resultaten replikerades i ett populationsbaserat urval av män och kvinnor (n = 3755) vilka besvarat frågor om deras aggressiva beteenden, ilska, och alkoholanvändning.

Denervação acetabular cranial e dorsal no tratamento da displasia coxofemoral em cães: 360 dias de evolução de 97 casos

Realizou-se a pesquisa com o intuito de avaliar os resultados clínicos da denervação acetabular cranial e dorsal por curetagem em cães com displasia coxofemoral. Foram estudados, para tanto, 97 cães, sem predileção racial ou sexual, de 1-7 anos de idade, com diagnóstico clínico e radiográfico de displasia coxofemoral. Para avaliação dos resultados da técnica cirúrgica, de curetagem das fibras nervosas do periósteo acetabular cranial e dorsal, exames clínicos foram realizados no momento pré-operatório (exame inicial), e pós-operatório, nos dias dois, sete, 14, 21, 30, 60, 180 e 360. Todos os animais foram avaliados quanto à claudicação, dor à movimentação e toque, grau de atrofia muscular, sensibilidade dolorosa ao teste de Ortolani, e qualidade de vida. A denervação reduziu a claudicação, e dor à movimentação e toque à partir de dois dias de pós-operatório, reduziu atrofia muscular aos 60 dias pós-operatórios, e melhorou a qualidade de vida dos pacientes tratados, sob a ótica dos proprietários e veterinários aos 360 dias de pós-operatório. A dener-vação acetabular dorsal é técnica factível no tratamento da dor conseqüente à displasia coxofemoral em cães, com decréscimo significativo desta após dois dias da intervenção cirúrgica, aumenta qualidade de vida e proporciona maior atividade aos pacientes com proprietários satisfeitos quanto aos resultados do procedimento. A técnica cirúrgica deve incluir a curetagem das fibras nervosas do periósteo acetabular tanto da região cranial quanto dorsal.

Radiografia e ultrassonografia no diagnóstico da ruptura do ligamento cruzado cranial em cães

Radiografia e ultrassonografia foram avaliadas como técnicas no diagnóstico por imagem na ruptura do ligamento cruzado cranial (LCCr) em cães. Vinte e cinco cães foram submetidos à radiografia e ultrassonografia e seus resultados foram comparados aos obtidos por artrotomia (teste padrão ouro). O exame radiográfico diagnosticou corretamente a lesão em 84% (21/25) dos casos, mas 16% (4/25) apresentaram resultado falso-negativo. O exame ultrassonográfico foi capaz de diagnosticar acertadamente 76% (19/25) dos casos, e sugeriu a ruptura do LCCr nos 24% (6/25) restantes, apresentando 100% de resultados positivos. Concluiu-se que a radiografia e a ultrassonografia são ferramentas valiosas para diagnosticar casos de ruptura do LCCr em cães.

Artérias mesentéricas cranial e caudal em mocós Kerodon rupestris (Wied, 1820)

No estudo sobre a origem e ramificações das artérias mesentéricas cranial (AMCr) e caudal (AMCa) do mocó, foram utilizados 20 animais (18 machos e 2 fêmeas) de diferentes idades, que, após morte natural, foram dissecados rebatendo-se as paredes torácica e abdominal, pelo antímero esquerdo, expondo-se a aorta que foi então canulada em seu trajeto pré-diafragmático, procedendo-se a injeção de neoprene látex corado, no sentido caudal. A seguir, foram fixados em solução aquosa de formol a 10%, durante 48 horas, e posteriormente dissecados. Os resultados mostraram que em 18 animais (90%), a AMCr originou-se da aorta abdominal isoladamente, logo após a artéria celíaca, emitindo as artérias cólica média (CoM), pancreaticoduodenal caudal (PDC), duodenojejunal (DJ), jejunal (J) e ileocecocólica (ICeCo). Em um mocó (5%), as AMCr e AC se originaram da aorta abdominal em um tronco comum. Neste caso, a AMCr originou às artérias CoM, PDC, ICeCo e J. Em uma observação (5%), as artérias AMCr e AMCa surgiram em tronco comum. Neste animal, as artérias PDC, DJ, ICeCo, CoM e J foram originadas da AMCr, enquanto as aterias cólica esquerda (CoE) e retal cranial (ARCr) derivaram da AMCa. Dois animais (10%) apresentaram como colaterais da AMCr as artérias CoM, PDC, DJ, J e o tronco ICeCo, que originou às artérias CoD e ileocecal (ICe). No que diz respeito a AMCa, nos 20 casos (100%) originou as artérias CoE e RCr.

Disturbance and ecosystem functioning : the role of changes in benthic biological traits

Rapid changes in biodiversity are occurring globally, as a consequence of anthropogenic disturbance. This has raised concerns, since biodiversity is known to significantly contribute to ecosystem functions and services. Marine benthic communities participate in numerous functions provided by soft-sedimentary ecosystems. Eutrophication-induced oxygen deficiency is a growing threat against infaunal communities, both in open sea areas and in coastal zones. There is thus a need to understand how such disturbance affects benthic communities, and what is lost in terms of ecosystem functioning if benthic communities are harmed. In this thesis, the status of benthic biodiversity was assessed for the open Baltic Sea, a system severely affected by broad-scale hypoxia. Long-term monitoring data made it possible to establish quantitative biodiversity baselines against which change could be compared. The findings show that benthic biodiversity is currently severely impaired in large areas of the open Baltic Sea, from the Bornholm Basin to the Gulf of Finland. The observed reduction in biodiversity indicates that benthic communities are structurally and functionally impoverished in several of the sub-basins due to the hypoxic stress. A more detailed examination of disturbance impacts (through field studies and -experiments) on benthic communities in coastal areas showed that changes in benthic community structure and function took place well before species were lost from the system. The degradation of benthic community structure and function was directed by the type of disturbance, and its specific temporal and spatial characteristics. The observed shifts in benthic trait composition were primarily the result of reductions in species’ abundances, or of changes in demographic characteristics, such as the loss of large, adult bivalves. Reduction in community functions was expressed as declines in the benthic bioturbation potential and in secondary biomass production. The benthic communities and their degradation accounted for a substantial proportion of the changes observed in ecosystem multifunctionality. Individual ecosystem functions (i.e. measures of sediment ecosystem metabolism, elemental cycling, biomass production, organic matter transformation and physical structuring) were observed to differ in their response to increasing hypoxic disturbance. Interestingly, the results suggested that an impairment of ecosystem functioning could be detected at an earlier stage if multiple functions were considered. Importantly, the findings indicate that even small-scale hypoxic disturbance can reduce the buffering capacity of sedimentary ecosystem, and increase the susceptibility of the system towards further stress. Although the results of the individual papers are context-dependent, their combined outcome implies that healthy benthic communities are important for sustaining overall ecosystem functioning as well as ecosystem resilience in the Baltic Sea.

The genetics of behaviour and other adaptive traits in nine-spined sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius)

One of the main goals in current evolutionary biology research is to identify genes behind adaptive phenotypic variations. The advances in genomic technologies have made it possible to identify genetic loci behind these variations, also concerning non-model species. This thesis investigates the genetics of the behaviour and other adaptive traits of the nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) through the application of different genetic approaches. Fennoscandian nine-spined stickleback populations express large phenotypical differences especially in behaviour, life –history traits and morphology. However the underlying genetic bases for these phenotypical differences have not been studied in detail. The results of the project will lay the foundation for further genetics studies and provide valuable information for our understanding of the genetics of the adaptive divergence of the nine-spined stickleback. A candidate gene approach was used to develop microsatellite markers situating close to candidate genes for behaviour in the nine-spined stickleback. Altogether 13 markers were developed and these markers were used in the subsequent studies with the anonymous random markers and physiologically important gene markers which are already currently available for nine-spined sticklebacks. It was shown that heterozygosity correlated with behaviour in one of the marine nine-spined stickleback populations but with contrasting effects: correlations with behaviour were negative when using physiological gene markers and positive with random markers. No correlation was found between behavioural markers and behaviour. From the physiological gene markers, a strong correlation was found between osmoregulation-related gene markers and behaviour. These results indicate that both local (physiological) and general (random) effects are important in the shaping of behaviour and that heterozygosity– behaviour correlations are population dependent. In this thesis a second linkage map for nine-spined sticklebacks was constructed. Compared to the earlier nine-spined stickleback linkage map, genomic rearrangements were observed between autosomal (LG7) and sex-determing (LG12) linkage groups. This newly constructed map was used in QTL mapping studies in order to locate genomic regions associated with pelvic structures, behaviour and body size/growth. One major QTL was found for pelvic structures and Pitx1 gene was related to these traits as was predicted from three-spined stickleback studies, but this was in contrast to earlier nine-spined stickleback study. The QTL studies also revealed that behaviour and body size/growth were genetically more complex by having more QTL than pelvic traits. However, in many cases, pelvic structure, body size/growth and behaviour were linked to similar map locations indicating possible pleiotropic effects of genes locating in these QTL regions. Many of the gene related markers resided in the QTL area. In the future, studying these possible candidate genes in depth might reveal the underlying mechanism behind the measured traits.

Coping with international atrocities through criminal law : a study into the typical features of international criminality and the reflection of these traits in international criminal law

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Neurobiological Correlates of Personality Traits: A Study on Harm Avoidance and Neuroticism

Harm Avoidance and Neuroticism are traits that predispose to mental illnesses. Studying them provides a unique way to study predisposition of mental illnesses. Understanding the biological mechanisms that mediate vulnerability could lead to improvement in treatment and ultimately to pre-emptive psychiatry. These personality traits describe a tendency to feel negative emotions such as fear, shyness and worry. Previous studies suggest these traits are regulated by serotonin and opiate pathways. The aim of this thesis was to test the following hypotheses using personality trait measures and positron emission tomography (PET): 1) Brain serotonin transporter density in vivo is associated with Harm Avoidance and Neuroticism traits. 2) μ-opioid receptor binding is associated with Harm Avoidance. In addition, we developed a methodology for studying neurotransmitter interactions in the brain using the opiate and serotonin pathways. 32 healthy subjects who were consistently in either the highest or lowest quartile of the Harm Avoidance trait were recruited from a population-based cohort. Each subject underwent two PET scans, serotonin transporter binding was measured with [11C] MADAM and μ-opioid receptor binding with [11C]carfentanil. We found that the serotonin transporter is not associated with anxious personality traits. However, Harm Avoidance positively correlated with μ-opioid receptor availability. Particularly the tendency to feel shy and the inability to cope with stress were associated μ-opioid receptor availability. We also demonstrated that serotonin transporter binding correlates with μ-opioid receptor binding, suggesting interplay between the two systems. These findings shed light on the neurobiological correlates of personality and have an impact on etiological considerations of affective disorders.

Estimation of weed dry biomass and grain yield as a function of growth and yield traits under allelopathic weed management in maize

Growing concerns about toxicity and development of resistance against synthetic herbicides have demanded looking for alternative weed management approaches. Allelopathy has gained sufficient support and potential for sustainable weed management. Aqueous extracts of six plant species (sunflower, rice, mulberry, maize, brassica and sorghum) in different combinations alone or in mixture with 75% reduced dose of herbicides were evaluated for two consecutive years under field conditions. A weedy check and S-metolachlor with atrazine (pre emergence) and atrazine alone (post emergence) at recommended rates was included for comparison. Weed dynamics, maize growth indices and yield estimation were done by following standard procedures. All aqueous plant extract combinations suppressed weed growth and biomass. Moreover, the suppressive effect was more pronounced when aqueous plant extracts were supplemented with reduced doses of herbicides. Brassica-sunflower-sorghum combination suppressed weeds by 74-80, 78-70, 65-68% during both years of study that was similar with S-metolachlor along half dose of atrazine and full dose of atrazine alone. Crop growth rate and dry matter accumulation attained peak values of 32.68 and 1,502 g m-2 d-1 for brassica-sunflower-sorghum combination at 60 and 75 days after sowing. Curve fitting regression for growth and yield traits predicted strong positive correlation to grain yield and negative correlation to weed dry biomass under allelopathic weed management in maize crop.

Distyly and variation in floral traits in natural populations of Psychotria ipecacuanha (Brot.) Stokes (Rubiaceae)

Psychotria ipecacuanha is a perennial, medicinal herb that grows in clusters in the understory of humid, shady areas of the Atlantic Rain Forest of southeastern Brazil. The present study characterized the variation in floral traits among 35 clusters from three natural populations of this plant species. Field observations showed that the clusters are isomorphic, that is, a given cluster will either set long-styled or short-styled flowers. Stigmas and anthers are reciprocally placed in each morph, a dimorphism characteristic of distyly. The populations are isoplethic, that is, a given population exhibits an equilibrium 1:1 ratio of floral morphs. Morphometric analyses revealed that anther length, stigma length, corolla diameter, and pollen grain diameter were consistently greater in short-styled flowers, regardless of the population investigated. Significant differences for floral traits in the short-styled morph were found among populations. Floral traits in the long-styled morph also showed some significant differences among populations, but not for stigma height and corolla length. Controlled pollinations carried out in natural populations showed that fruit production was higher after inter-morph pollination. Nevertheless, observations of pollen tube growth in style, and also fruit production after spontaneous self-pollination and intra-morph pollination, indicated partial intramorph compatibility in this plant species.

Personality traits and psychiatric comorbidities in alcohol dependence

Non-adaptive personality traits may constitute risk factors for development of psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. We aim to evaluate associations and the predictive value of personality traits among alcohol-dependent individuals, with or without psychiatric comorbidities. The convenience sample comprised two groups of males over 18 years of age: one with subjects who had an alcohol dependence diagnosis (AG, n=110), and a control group without abuse and/or alcohol dependence diagnosis (CG, n=110). The groups were assessed by means of the Structured Clinical Interview DSM-IV (SCID-IV). AG participants were recruited among outpatients from the university hospital, whereas CG participants were recruited from a primary healthcare program. Data collection was done individually with self-assessment instruments. Parametric statistics were performed, and a significance level of P=0.05 was adopted. A positive correlation was observed between openness and the length of time that alcohol has been consumed, as were significant and negative correlations between conscientiousness and both the length of time alcohol has been consumed and the number of doses. For alcoholics, extraversion emerged as a protective factor against depression development (P=0.008) and tobacco abuse (P=0.007), whereas openness worked as a protective factor against anxiety (P=0.02). The findings point to specific deficits presented by alcoholics in relation to personality traits with or without psychiatric comorbidities and to the understanding that therapeutic approaches should favor procedures and/or preventive measures that allow more refined awareness about the disorder.

Effects of genotype and environment on grain yield and quality traits in bread wheat (T. aestivum L.)

Genotype (G), environment (E) and their interaction (GEI) play an important role in the final expression of grain yield and quality attributes. A multi-environment trial in wheat was conducted to evaluate the magnitude of G, E and GEI effects on grain yield and quality of wheat genotypes under the three rainfed locations (hereafter environment) of Central Anatolian Plateau of Turkey, during the 2012-2013 cropping season. Grain yield (GY) and analyses of test weight (TW), protein content (PC), wet gluten content (WGC), grain hardness (GH), thousand kernel weight (TKW) and Zeleny sedimentation volume (ZSV) were determined. Allelic variations of high and low molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS and LMW-GS) and 1B/1R translocation were determined in all genotypes evaluated. Both HMW-Glu-1, 17+18, 5+10 and LMW-Glu-3 b, b, b corresponded to genotypes possessing medium to good quality attributes. Large variability was found among most of the quality attributes evaluated; wider ranges of quality traits were observed in the environments than among the genotypes. The importance of the growing environment effects on grain quality was proved, suggesting that breeders' quality objectives should be adapted to the targeted environments.

Reconstruction of cranial bone defects with fiber-reinforced composite–bioactive glass implants

A cranial bone defect may result after an operative treatment of trauma, infection, vascular insult, or tumor. New biomaterials for cranial bone defect reconstructions are needed for example to mimic the biomechanical properties and structure of cranial bone. A novel glass fiber-reinforced composite implant with bioactive glass particulates (FRC–BG, fiber-reinforced composite–bioactive glass) has osteointegrative potential in a preclinical setting. The aim of the first and second study was to investigate the functionality of a FRC–BG implant in the reconstruction of cranial bone defects. During the years 2007–2014, a prospective clinical trial was conducted in two tertiary level academic institutions (Turku University Hospital and Oulu University Hospital) to evaluate the treatment outcome in 35 patients that underwent a FRC–BG cranioplasty. The treatment outcome was good both in adult and pediatric patients. A number of conventional complications related to cranioplasty were observed. In the third study, a retrospective outcome evaluation of 100 cranioplasty procedures performed in Turku University Hospital between years 2002–2012 was conducted. The experimental fourth study was conducted to test the load-bearing capacity and fracture behavior of FRC–BG implants under static loading. The interconnective bars in the implant structure markedly increased the load-bearing capacity of the implant. A loading test did not demonstrate any protrusions of glass fibers or fiber cut. The fracture type was buckling and delamination. In this study, a postoperative complication requiring a reoperation or removal of the cranioplasty material was observed in one out of five cranioplasty patients. The treatment outcomes of cranioplasty performed with different synthetic materials did not show significant difference when compared with autograft. The FRC–BG implant was demonstrated to be safe and biocompatible biomaterial for large cranial bone defect reconstructions in adult and pediatric patients.