In vivo and ex vivo regulation of visfatin production by leptin in human and murine adipose tissue: role of mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathways

Visfatin is an adipogenic adipokine with increased levels in obesity, properties common to leptin. Thus, leptin may modulate visfatin production in adipose tissue (AT). Therefore, we investigated the effects of leptin on visfatin levels in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and human/murine AT, with or without a leptin antagonist. The potential signaling pathways and mechanisms regulating visfatin production in AT was also studied. Real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to assess the relative mRNA and protein expression of visfatin. ELISA was performed to measure visfatin levels in conditioned media of AT explants, and small interfering RNA technology was used to reduce leptin receptor expression. Leptin significantly (P<0.01) increased visfatin levels in human and murine AT with a maximal response at leptin 10(-9) M, returning to baseline at leptin 10(-7) M. Importantly, ip leptin administration to C57BL/6 ob/ob mice further supported leptin-induced visfatin protein production in omental AT (P<0.05). Additionally, soluble leptin receptor levels rose with concentration dependency to a maximal response at leptin 10(-7) M (P<0.01). The use of a leptin antagonist negated the induction of visfatin and soluble leptin receptor by leptin. Furthermore, leptin-induced visfatin production was significantly decreased in the presence of MAPK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors. Also, when the leptin eceptor gene was knocked down using small interfering RNA, eptin-induced visfatin expression was significantly decreased. Thus, leptin increases visfatin production in AT in vivo and ex vivo via pathways involving MAPK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling. The pleiotropic effects of leptin may be partially mediated by visfatin.

Short-chain fatty acid acetate stimulates adipogenesis and mitochondrial biogenesis via GPR43 in brown adipocytes

Short-chain fatty acids play crucial roles in a range of physiological functions. However, the effects of short-chain fatty acids on brown adipose tissue have not been fully investigated. We examined the role of acetate, a short-chain fatty acid formed by fermentation in the gut, in the regulation of brown adipocyte metabolism. Our results show that acetate up-regulates adipocyte protein 2, peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α, and uncoupling protein-1 expression and affects the morphological changes of brown adipocytes during adipogenesis. Moreover, an increase in mitochondrial biogenesis was observed after acetate treatment. Acetate also elicited the activation of ERK and cAMP response element-binding protein, and these responses were sensitive to G(i/o)-type G protein inactivator, Gβγ-subunit inhibitor, phospholipase C inhibitor, and MAPK kinase inhibitor, indicating a role for the G(i/o)βγ/phospholipase C/protein kinase C/MAPK kinase signaling pathway in these responses. These effects of acetate were mimicked by treatment with 4-chloro-α-(1-methylethyl)-N-2-thiazolylbenzeneacetamide, a synthetic G protein-coupled receptor 43 (GPR43) agonist and were impaired in GPR43 knockdown cells. Taken together, our results indicate that acetate may have important physiological roles in brown adipocytes through the activation of GPR43.

Diversity of Hymenoptera, cultivated plants and management practices in home garden agroecosystems, Kyrgyz Republic

Pollination-dependent fruit trees grown in home gardens play an important role in the agricultural based economy of Central Asian countries, yet little is known about the status of pollinator communities, the cultivated plant composition or the factors that influence management practices in Kyrgyz home garden agroecosystems. As agricultural systems are human created and managed, a logical approach to their study blends anthropological and ecological methods, an ethnoecological approach. Over three years, I investigated how species richness and abundance of Hymenoptera, cultivated plants, and home garden management were related using quantitative and qualitative methods in the Issyk-kul Man and Biosphere reserve. Structured surveys were undertaken with heads of households using a random sample stratified by village. Gardens were then mapped with participation of household members to inventory edible species in gardens, most of which are pollinator-dependent, and to compare home garden diversity as reported by respondents during interviews. Apple diversity was studied to the variety level to understand respondents’ classification system in the context of in situ agrobiodiversity conservation. Household members identified 52 edible plant species when mapping the garden, compared with 32 reported when interviewed. The proportion of plant species received from others through exchange and the number of plots cultivated significantly explained the variation in edible plant diversity among gardens. Insects were sampled in gardens and orchards to determine potential pollinator community composition and the effect of different management practices on Hymenoptera richness and abundance. I collected 756 Hymenoptera individuals (56 bee; 12 wasp species); 12 species were new records for Kyrgyzstan or within Kyrgyzstan. Economic pressures to intensify cultivation could impact management practices that currently promote diversity. A home garden development initiative was undertaken to study management practice improvement. Participants in the initiative had higher adoption rates than controls of management practices that improve long-term yield, ecological sustainability and stability of home gardens. Home gardens, as currently managed, support abundant and diverse pollinator communities and have high cultivated plant diversity with few differences in community composition between garden management types.

Pollination, Herbivory, and Habitat Fragmentation: Their Effects on the Reproductive Fitness of Angadenia berteroi, a Native Perennial Plant of the South Florida Pine Rocklands

Angadenia berteroi is a tropical perennial subshrub of the pine rocklands with large yellow flowers that set very few fruits. My dissertation seeks to elucidate the factors that affect the reproductive fitness of Angadenia berteroi a native species of the south Florida pine rocklands. I provide novel information on the pollination biology of this native species. I also assess the effects of herbivory on growth and the reproductive success of A. berteroi. Finally, I elucidate how habitat fragmentation and quality are correlated with reproductive fitness of this native perennial plant. Using a novel experimental approach, I determined the most effective pollinator group. I used nylon fishing line of widths corresponding to proboscis diameter of the major groups of visitors to examine pollen removal and deposition. In the field, I estimated visitation frequency and efficacy of each pollinator type. Using potted plants, I exposed flowers to single visit from different types of pollinators to measure fruit set. I performed artificial defoliation with scissors on plants growing in the greenhouse to assess the effects of defoliation before flowering as well as during flowering. Additionally, I used structural equation modelling (SEM) to elucidate how A. berteroi reproductive fitness was affected by habitat fragmentation and quality. My experiments provide evidence that Angadenia berteroi is specialized for bee pollination; though butterflies, skippers and others also visit its flowers, A. berteroi is exclusively pollinated by two native bees of the South Florida pine rocklands . This research also demonstrated that herbivory by the oleander moth may have direct and indirect effects on Angadenia berteroi growth and reproductive success. The SEM results suggested that habitat quality (litter depth and subcanopy cover) may favor reproduction in native species of the South Florida pine rocklands that are properly maintained by periodic fires and exotic control. Insights from this threatened and charismatic species may provide impetus to properly manage remaining pine rocklands in South Florida for this and other endemic understory species.

Diversity of Hymenoptera, Cultivated Plants and Management Practices in Home Garden Agroecosystems, Kyrgyz Republic

Pollination-dependent fruit trees grown in home gardens play an important role in the agricultural based economy of Central Asian countries, yet little is known about the status of pollinator communities, the cultivated plant composition or the factors that influence management practices in Kyrgyz home garden agroecosystems. As agricultural systems are human created and managed, a logical approach to their study blends anthropological and ecological methods, an ethnoecological approach. Over three years, I investigated how species richness and abundance of Hymenoptera, cultivated plants, and home garden management were related using quantitative and qualitative methods in the Issyk-kul Man and Biosphere reserve. Structured surveys were undertaken with heads of households using a random sample stratified by village. Gardens were then mapped with participation of household members to inventory edible species in gardens, most of which are pollinator-dependent, and to compare home garden diversity as reported by respondents during interviews. Apple diversity was studied to the variety level to understand respondents’ classification system in the context of in situ agrobiodiversity conservation. Household members identified 52 edible plant species when mapping the garden, compared with 32 reported when interviewed. The proportion of plant species received from others through exchange and the number of plots cultivated significantly explained the variation in edible plant diversity among gardens. Insects were sampled in gardens and orchards to determine potential pollinator community composition and the effect of different management practices on Hymenoptera richness and abundance. I collected 756 Hymenoptera individuals (56 bee; 12 wasp species); 12 species were new records for Kyrgyzstan or within Kyrgyzstan. Economic pressures to intensify cultivation could impact management practices that currently promote diversity. A home garden development initiative was undertaken to study management practice improvement. Participants in the initiative had higher adoption rates than controls of management practices that improve long-term yield, ecological sustainability and stability of home gardens. Home gardens, as currently managed, support abundant and diverse pollinator communities and have high cultivated plant diversity with few differences in community composition between garden management types.

The other side of the kitchen door: Domestic service in Lima, Peru

Domestic service refers to the work required to complete duties pertaining to the maintenance and functioning of the household, particularly when performed by employed labor. This study provides an ethnographic account of domestic service through an analysis of social behavior and cultural patterns. The participants in the social structure of domestic service are the señora (the lady of the house), her family, and the empleadas (domestic workers) all of whom have specific social identities and roles within the household. The señora/empleada dyad is central to the institution and all other participants are secondary. This study contributes to the growing body of work in anthropology that concentrates on elite sectors of society and explores theoretical issues relating to gender, class, and ethnic differences in Peru.

Qualidade de vida de pessoas com estomias intestinais

Ostomy is an open surgical origin, when it is necessary to deviate temporarily or permanently, the normal transit of food and / or deletions. The patient with ostomy disposal is faced with changes in their physiology, also emerging on the need to care collection bag. This study aimed to analyze the quality of life (QOL) of people living with ostomy Intestinal (EI), who attended the Pediatric and Adult Rehabilitation Center of Rio Grande do Norte (CRI / CRA-RN). It is an analytical study with cross-sectional design and quantitative approach, accomplished with 89 people who had EI. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (CEP / UFRN), CAAE: 19866413.3.0000.5537. Held data collection in the period January-March 2015 using two instruments: an adapted general questionnaire covering socio-demographic, clinical and self-care and a specific instrument for assessing QOL of people with stoma titled as City of Hope Quality of Life - Ostomy Questionnaire (COH-QOL-Q), validated and adapted to Portuguese in 2010, composed of four areas, namely: Welfare Body (BEF), Welfare Psychological (BEP), Welfare (BES ) and Spiritual Well-Being (BEE). The collected data were entered into a database in Microsoft Excel 2007 spreadsheet application and processed in computerized software for descriptive and inferential analysis. The results showed that 83.1% had a colostomy and ileostomy 16.9%. Sociodemographic characteristics prevailed in males (57.3%), over 50 (57.3%), mulatto (46.1%), with presence of companion / a (57.3%), retired / beneficiaries (50.5%), monthly income above the minimum wage (68.5%) and who have studied up to elementary school (67.4%). Regarding clinical aspects, it was observed that the main cause that led to the making of the stoma was the neoplasm (59.6%) followed by trauma (21.3%). The sample showed people with stoma for more than six months (79.8%) of permanently (57.3%), in use sink equipment piece drainable (68.5%) of flat base (82.0%). With respect to self-care, 93.3% emptied and washed the bag alone (care related to hygiene) and 75.3% fixed the new exchange on the skin during the exchange (care related to the stock). Patients with more than six months of ostomy and had no partner (a) had higher averages of self-care related hygiene and purse. The average of respondents QoL scores was 68.90% for General QOL; 68.03% for the BEF; 68.38% for the BEP; 66.46% for BES and 75.41% for BEE. Among the aspects that influenced QOL included: physical strength, pain, suffering and gases (physical domain); appearance, care of the stoma and adaptation to new condition (psychological domain); isolation, interference in personal relationships and social activities (social domain) and going to church or synagogue, spiritual activities and positive change after ostomy (spiritual realm). Based on these results, it is concluded that this was a predominantly adult sample / elderly (between 50 and 70 years), with low education and the cause motivating the stoma, neoplasms. However, such findings did not pass at low percentage levels on the self-care capacity to deliver even at low QOL scores.

Qualidade de vida de pessoas com estomias intestinais

Ostomy is an open surgical origin, when it is necessary to deviate temporarily or permanently, the normal transit of food and / or deletions. The patient with ostomy disposal is faced with changes in their physiology, also emerging on the need to care collection bag. This study aimed to analyze the quality of life (QOL) of people living with ostomy Intestinal (EI), who attended the Pediatric and Adult Rehabilitation Center of Rio Grande do Norte (CRI / CRA-RN). It is an analytical study with cross-sectional design and quantitative approach, accomplished with 89 people who had EI. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (CEP / UFRN), CAAE: 19866413.3.0000.5537. Held data collection in the period January-March 2015 using two instruments: an adapted general questionnaire covering socio-demographic, clinical and self-care and a specific instrument for assessing QOL of people with stoma titled as City of Hope Quality of Life - Ostomy Questionnaire (COH-QOL-Q), validated and adapted to Portuguese in 2010, composed of four areas, namely: Welfare Body (BEF), Welfare Psychological (BEP), Welfare (BES ) and Spiritual Well-Being (BEE). The collected data were entered into a database in Microsoft Excel 2007 spreadsheet application and processed in computerized software for descriptive and inferential analysis. The results showed that 83.1% had a colostomy and ileostomy 16.9%. Sociodemographic characteristics prevailed in males (57.3%), over 50 (57.3%), mulatto (46.1%), with presence of companion / a (57.3%), retired / beneficiaries (50.5%), monthly income above the minimum wage (68.5%) and who have studied up to elementary school (67.4%). Regarding clinical aspects, it was observed that the main cause that led to the making of the stoma was the neoplasm (59.6%) followed by trauma (21.3%). The sample showed people with stoma for more than six months (79.8%) of permanently (57.3%), in use sink equipment piece drainable (68.5%) of flat base (82.0%). With respect to self-care, 93.3% emptied and washed the bag alone (care related to hygiene) and 75.3% fixed the new exchange on the skin during the exchange (care related to the stock). Patients with more than six months of ostomy and had no partner (a) had higher averages of self-care related hygiene and purse. The average of respondents QoL scores was 68.90% for General QOL; 68.03% for the BEF; 68.38% for the BEP; 66.46% for BES and 75.41% for BEE. Among the aspects that influenced QOL included: physical strength, pain, suffering and gases (physical domain); appearance, care of the stoma and adaptation to new condition (psychological domain); isolation, interference in personal relationships and social activities (social domain) and going to church or synagogue, spiritual activities and positive change after ostomy (spiritual realm). Based on these results, it is concluded that this was a predominantly adult sample / elderly (between 50 and 70 years), with low education and the cause motivating the stoma, neoplasms. However, such findings did not pass at low percentage levels on the self-care capacity to deliver even at low QOL scores.

Managing chronic widespread pain in primary care : a qualitative study of patient perspectives and implications for treatment delivery

Funding The MUSICIAN trial was supported by an award from Arthritis Research UK, Chesterfield, UK. Grant number: 17292. The funding body approved the design of the study. They played no role in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data or the writing of the manuscript.

Widespread exploitation of the honeybee by early Neolithic farmers

The pressures on honeybee (Apis mellifera) populations, resulting from threats by modern pesticides, parasites, predators and diseases, have raised awareness of the economic importance and critical role this insect plays in agricultural societies across the globe. However, the association of humans with A. mellifera predates post-industrial-revolution agriculture, as evidenced by the widespread presence of ancient Egyptian bee iconography dating to the Old Kingdom (approximately 2400 bc)1. There are also indications of Stone Age people harvesting bee products; for example, honey hunting is interpreted from rock art2 in a prehistoric Holocene context and a beeswax find in a pre-agriculturalist site3. However, when and where the regular association of A. mellifera with agriculturalists emerged is unknown4. One of the major products of A. mellifera is beeswax, which is composed of a complex suite of lipids including n-alkanes, n-alkanoic acids and fatty acyl wax esters. The composition is highly constant as it is determined genetically through the insect’s biochemistry. Thus, the chemical ‘fingerprint’ of beeswax provides a reliable basis for detecting this commodity in organic residues preserved at archaeological sites, which we now use to trace the exploitation by humans of A. mellifera temporally and spatially. Here we present secure identifications of beeswax in lipid residues preserved in pottery vessels of Neolithic Old World farmers. The geographical range of bee product exploitation is traced in Neolithic Europe, the Near East and North Africa, providing the palaeoecological range of honeybees during prehistory. Temporally, we demonstrate that bee products were exploited continuously, and probably extensively in some regions, at least from the seventh millennium cal bc, likely fulfilling a variety of technological and cultural functions. The close association of A. mellifera with Neolithic farming communities dates to the early onset of agriculture and may provide evidence for the beginnings of a domestication process.

Superinfection exclusion and the long-term survival of honey bees in Varroa-infested colonies

Over the past 50 years, many millions of European honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies have died as the ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, has spread around the world. Subsequent studies have indicated that the mite’s association with a group of RNA viral pathogens (Deformed Wing Virus, DWV) correlates with colony death. Here, we propose a phenomenon known as superinfection exclusion that provides an explanation of how certain A. mellifera populations have survived, despite Varroa infestation and high DWV loads. Next-generation sequencing has shown that a non-lethal DWV variant ‘type B’ has become established in these colonies and that the lethal ‘type A’ DWV variant fails to persist in the bee population. We propose that this novel stable host-pathogen relationship prevents the accumulation of lethal variants, suggesting that this interaction could be exploited for the development of an effective treatment that minimises colony losses in the future.

Superinfection exclusion and the long-term survival of honey bees in Varroa-infested colonies

Over the past 50 years, many millions of European honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies have died as the ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, has spread around the world. Subsequent studies have indicated that the mite’s association with a group of RNA viral pathogens (Deformed Wing Virus, DWV) correlates with colony death. Here, we propose a phenomenon known as superinfection exclusion that provides an explanation of how certain A. mellifera populations have survived, despite Varroa infestation and high DWV loads. Next-generation sequencing has shown that a non-lethal DWV variant ‘type B’ has become established in these colonies and that the lethal ‘type A’ DWV variant fails to persist in the bee population. We propose that this novel stable host-pathogen relationship prevents the accumulation of lethal variants, suggesting that this interaction could be exploited for the development of an effective treatment that minimises colony losses in the future.

A novel hybrid swarm based approach for curriculum based course timetabling problem

This work applies a hybrid approach in solving the university curriculum-based course timetabling problem as presented as part of the 2nd International Timetabling Competition 2007 (ITC2007). The core of the hybrid approach is based on an artificial bee colony algorithm. Past methods have applied artificial bee colony algorithms to university timetabling problems with high degrees of success. Nevertheless, there exist inefficiencies in the associated search abilities in term of exploration and exploitation. To improve the search abilities, this work introduces a hybrid approach entitled nelder-mead great deluge artificial bee colony algorithm (NMGD-ABC) where it combined additional positive elements of particle swarm optimization and great deluge algorithm. In addition, nelder-mead local search is incorporated into the great deluge algorithm to further enhance the performance of the resulting method. The proposed method is tested on curriculum-based course timetabling as presented in the ITC2007. Experimental results reveal that the proposed method is capable of producing competitive results as compared with the other approaches described in literature

ENABLING HARDWARE TECHNOLOGIES FOR AUTONOMY IN TINY ROBOTS: CONTROL, INTEGRATION, ACTUATION

The last two decades have seen many exciting examples of tiny robots from a few cm3 to less than one cm3. Although individually limited, a large group of these robots has the potential to work cooperatively and accomplish complex tasks. Two examples from nature that exhibit this type of cooperation are ant and bee colonies. They have the potential to assist in applications like search and rescue, military scouting, infrastructure and equipment monitoring, nano-manufacture, and possibly medicine. Most of these applications require the high level of autonomy that has been demonstrated by large robotic platforms, such as the iRobot and Honda ASIMO. However, when robot size shrinks down, current approaches to achieve the necessary functions are no longer valid. This work focused on challenges associated with the electronics and fabrication. We addressed three major technical hurdles inherent to current approaches: 1) difficulty of compact integration; 2) need for real-time and power-efficient computations; 3) unavailability of commercial tiny actuators and motion mechanisms. The aim of this work was to provide enabling hardware technologies to achieve autonomy in tiny robots. We proposed a decentralized application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) where each component is responsible for its own operation and autonomy to the greatest extent possible. The ASIC consists of electronics modules for the fundamental functions required to fulfill the desired autonomy: actuation, control, power supply, and sensing. The actuators and mechanisms could potentially be post-fabricated on the ASIC directly. This design makes for a modular architecture. The following components were shown to work in physical implementations or simulations: 1) a tunable motion controller for ultralow frequency actuation; 2) a nonvolatile memory and programming circuit to achieve automatic and one-time programming; 3) a high-voltage circuit with the highest reported breakdown voltage in standard 0.5 μm CMOS; 4) thermal actuators fabricated using CMOS compatible process; 5) a low-power mixed-signal computational architecture for robotic dynamics simulator; 6) a frequency-boost technique to achieve low jitter in ring oscillators. These contributions will be generally enabling for other systems with strict size and power constraints such as wireless sensor nodes.

Biodiversité des pollinisateurs dans les cannebergières : effets des pratiques culturales, du type de sol et de l'habitat naturel

Les pollinisateurs indigènes sont importants pour la production de canneberges. Ils sont pourtant menacés par les pratiques agricoles qui s’intensifient. Pour établir un plan de conservation efficace, une meilleure connaissance des facteurs intrinsèques aux exploitations est essentielle. L’objectif principal de cette étude était de déterminer la diversité et abondance des abeilles et syrphes retrouvées en cannebergières. Quinze fermes ont été échantillonnées selon la régie de culture, le type de sol et le type d’habitat naturel retrouvé près des cannebergières. Des pièges-bols disposés en transect ainsi que l’utilisation de filet entomologique ont été utilisés pour échantillonner les pollinisateurs. Au total, 135 espèces de pollinisateurs indigènes ont été capturées en 2013 et 2014. Le type de sol ainsi que l’habitat naturel influençaient les communautés de pollinisateurs, alors que la régie de culture ne les affectait pas. L’abeille Melitta americana, spécialiste du pollen de canneberge, a été capturée plus souvent dans les tourbières.