Activity patterns of the nectar-feeding bat Leptonycteris yerbabuenae on the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico.

Temporal activity patterns of animals can indicate how individuals respond to changing conditions. Gregarious roosting bats provide an opportunity to compare activity patterns among individuals living in the same location to investigate how reproductive status or sex may influence activity budgets. We examined how the activity patterns of the nectarivorous bat Leptonycteris yerbabuenae vary depending on reproductive conditions, sex, and environmental conditions. We analyzed 5 years of individual mark-resighting data using daily detections of L. yerbabuenae marked with passive integrated transponder tags (PIT-tags) at 3 subterranean roosts on the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. We derived 4 metrics using PIT-tag detections at roost entrances to calculate periods inside the roost and time spent outside the roost (time of emergence, returns to the roost, hours inside the roost, and hours of activity). We found differences among pregnant, lactating, and nonreproductive females for roost returns, hours inside the roost, and hours of activity outside the roost. Lactating females spent the longest time outside the roost, suggesting that the energetic demands of lactation require longer foraging bouts. Contrary to our expectations, lactating females had the fewest returns to the roost during the night, suggesting that lactating females did not shorten foraging bouts to return to nurse pups. Activity patterns differed between females and males and among seasons associated with different food availability. Females had fewer returns during the night and spent more time outside the roost than males. The time of emergence for males was earlier than for females except during the nectar season when most females are reproductively active. Differences in activity patterns among reproductive status, sex, and environmental conditions show how individuals modify behaviors to meet their energetic demands. We demonstrate how mark-resighting data from PIT-tag systems at roost entrances can be used to compare activity patterns of gregarious roosting bats

Electron Cryotomography of Bacterial Secretion Systems

In biology, function arises from form. For bacterial secretion systems, which often span two membranes, avidly bind to the cell wall, and contain hundreds of individual proteins, studying form is a daunting task, made possible by electron cryotomography (ECT). ECT is the highest-resolution imaging technique currently available to visualize unique objects inside cells, providing a three-dimensional view of the shapes and locations of large macromolecular complexes in their native environment. Over the past 15 years, ECT has contributed to the study of bacterial secretion systems in two main ways: by revealing intact forms for the first time and by mapping components into these forms. Here we highlight some of these contributions, revealing structural convergence in type II secretion systems, structural divergence in type III secretion systems, unexpected structures in type IV secretion systems, and unexpected mechanisms in types V and VI secretion systems. Together, they offer a glimpse into a world of fantastic forms—nanoscale rotors, needles, pumps, and dart guns—much of which remains to be explored

Context-dependent conservation responses to emerging wildlife diseases

Emerging infectious diseases pose an important threat to wildlife. While established protocols exist for combating outbreaks of human and agricultural pathogens, appropriate management actions before, during, and after the invasion of wildlife pathogens have not been developed. We describe stage-specific goals and management actions that minimize disease impacts on wildlife, and the research required to implement them. Before pathogen arrival, reducing the probability of introduction through quarantine and trade restrictions is key because prevention is more cost effective than subsequent responses. On the invasion front, the main goals are limiting pathogen spread and preventing establishment. In locations experiencing an epidemic, management should focus on reducing transmission and disease, and promoting the development of resistance or tolerance. Finally, if pathogen and host populations reach a stable stage, then recovery of host populations in the face of new threats is paramount. Successful management of wildlife disease requires risk-taking, rapid implementation, and an adaptive approach."Funding was provided by the US National Science Foundation (grants EF-0914866, DGE-0741448, DEB-1115069, DEB-1336290) and the National Institutes of Health (grant 1R010AI090159)."https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1890/14024

Changes in PYY and gastric emptying across the phases of the menstrual cycle and the influence of the ovarian hormones

Nutrition-related studies avoid the participation of pre-menopausal women due to the potential effect of the menstrual cycle (MC) on their appetite regulation. It is generally accepted that women increase their energy intake during the luteal phase (LPh) compared to the follicular (FPh), however what happens in the menstrual phase (MPh) and how this might be regulated remains uncertain. Although some research indicates changes in the gastric emptying (GE) velocity, whether PYY is affected by the MC phase, remains unknown. The aim of this study was to assess whether eating the same breakfast in each of the three MC phases would change the GE time, the PYY response and post-prandial satiety such that they might affect subsequent food intake. Furthermore, the aim was to associate any potential differences to the fluctuations in estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) within a MC. Nine naturally cycling women attended to the laboratory to consume a standardised breakfast on three occasions, each of them representing one of the MC phases. Breath samples to measure GE time, plasma samples to quantify PYY levels and hunger scores were collected for a total of 4 h after which food intake was assessed by an ad-libitum buffet lunch. GE and PYY levels changed significantly across the phases of the MC (p < 0.05). GE was correlated to P4 and E2-P4 ratio (r = -0.5 and 0.4, respectively). To conclude, the appetite regulators PYY and GE time change depending upon the MC phases with GE time associated with the ovarian hormone levels which suggests the necessity of controlling the MC phase in studies looking at the appetite response

Talking Less during Social Interactions Predicts Enjoyment: A Mobile Sensing Pilot Study

Can we predict which conversations are enjoyable without hearing the words that are spoken? A total of 36 participants used a mobile app, My Social Ties, which collected data about 473 conversations that the participants engaged in as they went about their daily lives. We tested whether conversational properties (conversation length, rate of turn taking, proportion of speaking time) and acoustical properties (volume, pitch) could predict enjoyment of a conversation. Surprisingly, people enjoyed their conversations more when they spoke a smaller proportion of the time. This pilot study demonstrates how conversational properties of social interactions can predict psychologically meaningful outcomes, such as how much a person enjoys the conversation. It also illustrates how mobile phones can provide a window into everyday social experiences and well-being

Rethinking the reserve with a translational approach: novel ideas on the construct and the interventions

The concept of brain, cognitive, and neural reserves has been introduced to account for the apparent discrepancies between neurological damage and clinical manifestations. However, these ideas are yet theoretical suggestions that are not completely assimilated in the clinical routine. The mechanisms of the reserves have been extensively studied in neurodegenerative pathologies, in particular in Alzheimer's disease. Both human and animal studies addressed this topic by following two parallel pathways. The specific aim of the present review is to attempt to combine the suggestions derived from the two different research fields to deepen the knowledge about reserves. In fact, the achievement of a comprehensive theoretical framework on reserve mechanisms is an essential step to propose well-timed interventions tailored to the clinical characteristics of patients. The present review highlights the importance of addressing three main aspects: the definition of reserve proxy measures, the interaction between reserve level and therapeutic interventions, and the specific time-window of reserve efficacy

What makes a Thesis by Publication? An international study of policy requirements and restrictions

The thesis by publication is expanding across countries, institutions and disciplines, and so a more in-depth understanding of the format across contexts is warranted, to ensure that all stakeholders understand the implications of this format and implement it in a fair and transparent manner. This paper provides a cross-sectional analysis of policies related to the Thesis by Publication in six countries, investigating requirements and restrictions related to the timing and number of publications, publication and authorship status, preferred publication characteristics, and structure and format of the submission, with an ultimate aim to answer the question: what makes a Thesis by Publication? The findings show diversity across programs and flexibility within them, but present a common yet broad conceptualisation that maintains the integrity of doctoral research. Less attention to finer details may reflect flexibility and autonomy but may also lead to uncertainty for doctoral researchers, supervisors, and examiners.Peer reviewe

Influence of light conditions on the production of chrysolaminarin using Phaeodactylum tricornutum in artificially illuminated photobioreactors

The light conditions are of utmost importance in any microalgae production process especially involving artificial illumination. This also applies to a chrysolaminarin (soluble 1,3-β-glucan) production process using the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Here we examine the influence of the amount of light per gram biomass (specific light availability) and the influence of two different biomass densities (at the same amount of light per gram biomass) on the accumulation of the storage product chrysolaminarin during nitrogen depletion in artificially illuminated flat-panel airlift photobioreactors. Besides chrysolaminarin, other compounds (fucoxanthin, fatty acids used for energy storage [C16 fatty acids], and eicosapentaenoic acid) are regarded as well. Our results show that the time course of C-allocation between chrysolaminarin and fatty acids, serving as storage compounds, is influenced by specific light availability and cell concentration. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that with increasing specific light availability, the maximal chrysolaminarin content increases. However, this effect is limited. Beyond a certain specific light availability (here: 5 µmolphotons gDW-1 s-1) the maximal chrysolaminarin content no longer increases, but the rate of increase becomes faster. Furthermore, the conversion of light to chrysolaminarin is best at the beginning of nitrogen depletion. Additionally, our results show that a high biomass concentration has a negative effect on the maximal chrysolaminarin content, most likely due to the occurring self-shading effects.State Ministry of Baden‐Wuerttemberg of Food, Rural Affairs and Consumer ProtectionProjekt DEA

Prominence, promotion and positioning of the ‘Thesis by publication’ in six countries

The international nature of doctoral education creates interesting tensions where national systems, institutional policies, disciplinary customs, individual supervisor preferences, and doctoral researcher needs meet. The Thesis by Publication (TBP), a model where published works are included within the thesis, is available to doctoral researchers in many disciplines and institutions, but it is not a universally accepted format or approached in a homogeneous way. Policy has been known to shape practice, yet we know little about how institutional policies shape TBP practices across different national contexts. This study presents a content analysis of policy documents related to the TBP in public universities across six countries: Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Our goal is to understand the prevalence of the TBP and related policy documentation in different contexts, and how the model is promoted and positioned within the doctoral landscape. Findings from our study challenge the often-stated notion that the TBP is a universally understood format. Our findings also show the risks in the absence of explicit policies, as well as the possible inequalities that may arise as a result of a lack of policy transparency and synergy within and across contexts.Peer reviewe

White-nose syndrome restructures bat skin microbiomes

ImportanceInherent complexities in the composition of microbiomes can often preclude investigations of microbe-associated diseases. Instead of single organisms being associated with disease, community characteristics may be more relevant. Longitudinal microbiome studies of the same individual bats as pathogens arrive and infect a population are the ideal experiment but remain logistically challenging; therefore, investigations like our approach that are able to correlate invasive pathogens to alterations within a microbiome may be the next best alternative. The results of this study potentially suggest that microbiome-host interactions may determine the likelihood of infection. However, the contrasting relationship between Pd and the bacterial microbiomes of Myotis lucifugus and Perimyotis subflavus indicate that we are just beginning to understand how the bat microbiome interacts with a fungal invader such as Pd