Coral reef tanaidacean assemblages along the SW and SE Gulf of Mexico: biodiversity,geographic distribution and community structure

The biodiversity, geographic distribution, and community parameters of the benthic tanaidaceans associated with three coral reefs along the SW and SE Gulf of Mexico were analysed. A total of 15,525 specimens were grouped in 36 species. The highest value of abundance was found in the PNSAV with 6382 tanaidaceans. The PNSAV presented 30 species, the ANPT-L 16 species, and the SABS 17 species. The species with the widest distribution were Pseudonototanais sp., Condrochelia dubia, Leptochelia forresti, Synapseudes sp., Haplopolemius propinquus, Alloleptochelia longimana, and Paradoxapseudes bermudeus. In the Veracruz System Reef, the highest abundance was recorded for Condrochelia dubia and Pseudonototanais sp. The highest value of diversity was obtained in the SABS (3.08 bits/ind in the reef Bajo Diez), and the lowest value was found in the PNSAV (0.07 bits/ind in the reef Isla de Enmedio). The highest value of abundance was found in coral rubble and macroalgae. A significant relationship between depth and specific richness was found in the three reef systems. Using cluster analysis, three groups were found in each system, mainly related to the proximity to the coast and to urban areas. This is one of the first studies to show the specific substrate and attributes of three communities of tanaidaceans along the SE–SW coast of the Gulf of Mexico.     

Critical role of extracellular vesicles in modulating the cellular effects of cytokines

Under physiological and pathological conditions, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are present in the extracellular compartment simultaneously with soluble mediators. We hypothesized that cytokine effects may be modulated by EVs, the recently recognized conveyors of intercellular messages. In order to test this hypothesis, human monocyte cells were incubated with CCRF acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line-derived EVs with or without the addition of recombinant human TNF, and global gene expression changes were analyzed. EVs alone regulated the expression of numerous genes related to inflammation and signaling. In combination, the effects of EVs and TNF were additive, antagonistic, or independent. The differential effects of EVs and TNF or their simultaneous presence were also validated by Taqman assays and ELISA, and by testing different populations of purified EVs. In the case of the paramount chemokine IL-8, we were able to demonstrate a synergistic upregulation by purified EVs and TNF. Our data suggest that neglecting the modulating role of EVs on the effects of soluble mediators may skew experimental results. On the other hand, considering the combined effects of cytokines and EVs may prove therapeutically useful by targeting both compartments at the same time.     

Predicting Stock Return Volatility: Can We Benefit from Regression Models for Return Intervals?

We study the performance of recently developed linear regression models for interval data when it comes to forecasting the uncertainty surrounding future stock returns. These interval data models use easy‐to‐compute daily return intervals during the modeling, estimation and forecasting stage. They have to stand up to comparable point‐data models of the well‐known capital asset pricing model type—which employ single daily returns based on successive closing prices and might allow for GARCH effects—in a comprehensive out‐of‐sample forecasting competition. The latter comprises roughly 1000 daily observations on all 30 stocks that constitute the DAX, Germany's main stock index, for a period covering both the calm market phase before and the more turbulent times during the recent financial crisis. The interval data models clearly outperform simple random walk benchmarks as well as the point‐data competitors in the great majority of cases. This result does not only hold when one‐day‐ahead forecasts of the conditional variance are considered, but is even more evident when the focus is on forecasting the width or the exact location of the next day's return interval. Regression models based on interval arithmetic thus prove to be a promising alternative to established point‐data volatility forecasting tools. Copyright ©2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Renal function following complete ligation of the renal artery

Zusammenfassung Totale Unterbindung der Nieren arterie führt zu fast vollständigem Erlöschen der Funktion der betreffenden Niere. Wird etwa 81 bis 110 Tagnach der Unterbindung die andere Niere entfernt, se können Hunde ohne Symptome von Niereninsuffizieno überleben: die Entwicklung eines Kollateralkreislaufez stellt die Funktion der ischämisierten Niere wieder her. s     

Promoting Entrepreneurship through a Community Learning Model – Case Study: Green Businesses

This article presents a community learning model formulated by Engineers Without Borders Colombia with the aim of providing communities with tools to create sustainable productive solutions which have relevancy for members and for potential customers. The goal of this formulation is to promote learning processes that are guided by decisions made by community members to propose sustainable and replicable initiatives. The model applicability is evidenced through a case study devoted to strengthening community-led green businesses in the Guavio Province, Colombia by collecting lessons and conclusions. Ultimately, this collection will prove useful in replicating the learning model in other similar rural communities.

     

Transverse and longitudinal variation in woody riparian vegetation along a montane river

This study explores how the relationship between flow and riparian vegetation varies along a montane river. We mapped occurrence of woody riparian plant communities along 58 km of the San Miguel River in southwestern Colorado. We determined the recurrence interval of inundation for each plant community by combining step-backwater hydraulic modeling at 4 representative reaches with Log-Pearson analysis of 4 stream gaging stations. Finally, we mapped bottomland surficial geology and used a Geographic Information System to overlay the coverages of geology and vegetation. Plant communities were distinctly arrayed along the hydrologic gradient. The Salix exigua Nuttall (sandbar willow) community occurred mostly on surfaces with a recurrence interval of inundation shorter than 2.2 years; the Betula occidentalis Hooker (river birch) community peaked on sites with recurrence intervals of inundation between 2.2 and 4.6 years. The hydrologic position occupied by communities dominated by Populus angustifolia James (narrowleaf cottonwood) was strongly related to age of trees and species composition of understory shrubs. The fraction of riparian vegetation on surfaces historically inundated by the river decreased in the upstream direction from almost 100% near Uravan to <50% along the South Fork of the San Miguel River. In upstream reaches much of the physical disturbance necessary to maintain riparian vegetation is provided by valley-side processes including debris flows, floods from minor tributaries, landslides, and beaver activity. Where valley-side processes are important, prediction of riparian vegetation change based on alterations of river flow will be incomplete.