Behavioral and physiological influences on the distribution of the flying squirrel, Glaucomys volans

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/56378/1/MP134.pd

Intra- and inter-familial behaviour of Glaucomys volans (Rodentia) following parturition

Experimental analysis and observational data on retrieving behaviour in female flying squirrels, Glaucomys volans, indicate that the retrieving drive is very strong, that females prior to 40 days post partum do not distinguish between their own young and those of other females (provided the babies are less than 40 days old), and that extra-familial young are usually attacked after 40 days post partum. Younger babies were retrieved by females more frequently than older ones (when the age difference was 18 to 19 days), regardless of whether they were intra- or extra-familial. Experimental evidence. although limited, suggests that odour is important in the female's ability to distinguish (1) between her own and extra-familial young over 40 days old, and (2) extra-familial young of any age after 40 days post partum. Females that had litters during the annual intensive food storing period retrieved nuts, when these were presented in lieu of babies, and placed them in their nests. Females sometimes `stored' their babies when these were presented after a sequence of nut retrieving.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/32810/1/0000184.pd

Tpl2 kinase regulates T cell interferon-γ production and host resistance to Toxoplasma gondii

Tpl2 (Tumor progression locus 2), also known as Cot/MAP3K8, is a hematopoietically expressed serine-threonine kinase. Tpl2 is known to have critical functions in innate immunity in regulating tumor necrosis factor–α, Toll-like receptor, and G protein–coupled receptor signaling; however, our understanding of its physiological role in T cells is limited. We investigated the potential roles of Tpl2 in T cells and found that it was induced by interleukin-12 in human and mouse T cells in a Stat4-dependent manner. Deficiency of Tpl2 was associated with impaired interferon (IFN)-γ production. Accordingly, Tpl2−/− mice had impaired host defense against Toxoplasma gondii with reduced parasite clearance and decreased IFN-γ production. Furthermore, reconstitution of Rag2−/− mice with Tpl2-deficient T cells followed by T. gondii infection recapitulated the IFN-γ defect seen in the Tpl2-deficient mice, confirming a T cell–intrinsic defect. CD4+ T cells isolated from Tpl2−/− mice showed poor induction of T-bet and failure to up-regulate Stat4 protein, which is associated with impaired TCR-dependent extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation. These data underscore the role of Tpl2 as a regulator of T helper cell lineage decisions and demonstrate that Tpl2 has an important functional role in the regulation of Th1 responses

Variation in the Structure of Bird Nests between Northern Manitoba and Southeastern Ontario

Traits that converge in appearance under similar environmental conditions among phylogenetically independent lineages are thought to represent adaptations to local environments. We tested for convergence in nest morphology and composition of birds breeding in two ecologically different locations in Canada: Churchill in northern Manitoba and Elgin in southeastern Ontario. We examined nests from four families of passerine birds (Turdidae: Turdus, Parulidae: Dendroica, Emberizidae: Passerculus and Fringillidae: Carduelis) where closely related populations or species breed in both locations. Nests of American Robins, Yellow Warblers, and Carduelis finches had heavier nest masses, and tended to have thicker nest-walls, in northern Manitoba compared with conspecifics or congenerics breeding in southeastern Ontario. Together, all species showed evidence for wider internal and external nest-cup diameters in northern Manitoba, while individual species showed varying patterns for internal nest-cup and external nest depths. American Robins, Yellow Warblers, and Carduelis finches in northern Manitoba achieved heavier nest masses in different ways. American Robins increased all materials in similar proportions, and Yellow Warblers and Common Redpolls used greater amounts of select materials. While changes in nest composition vary uniquely for each species, the pattern of larger nests in northern Manitoba compared to southeastern Ontario in three of our four phylogenetically-independent comparisons suggests that birds are adapting to similar selective pressures between locations

CD8⁺ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes at primary sites as a possible prognostic factor of cutaneous angiosarcoma.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have been reported as a prognostic factor in various cancers and are a promising target for immunotherapy. To investigate whether TILs have any impact on the prognosis of angiosarcoma patients, 55 non-treated patients (40 patients at stage 1 with cutaneous localized tumors, 4 patients at stage 2 with lymph node metastases and 11 patients at stage 3 with distant metastases) with angiosarcoma were evaluated retrospectively by immunohistochemistry stained CD4, CD8, FOXP3 and Ki67. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate overall survival with patients at stage 1. Survival differences were analyzed by the log-rank test. Patients with higher numbers of CD8(+) TILs in their primary tumors survived significantly longer compared with patients with lower values. Moreover, the number of CD8 in TILs was positively correlated with a distant metastasis-free period. The total number of primary TILs (CD4 plus CD8) and CD8(+) primary TILs of stage 3 patients with distant metastases was positively correlated with their overall survival. To evaluate whether CD8(+) effector T cells are activated or differentiated, flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was performed. The percentages of CD8(+) T cells producing IFN-γ in PBMC were significantly higher in patients with angiosarcoma (n = 10) compared not only with that of healthy controls (n = 20) but also patients with advanced melanoma (n = 11). These results suggest that anti-tumor immunity is clinically relevant in angiosarcoma

Behavioral And Physiological Influences On The Distribution Of The Flyingsquirrel, Glaucomys Volans.

PhDZoologyUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/184040/2/6511005.pd

Size Hero : En attitydstudie om unga kvinnors inställning till tvärtomretuschering i magasin

Traditional retouching, where you make the body of a female model in a magazine thinner, has been common for a long time and is well known. Several studies indicates that showing ultra-thin images of female bodies in media can lower the body satisfaction of “ordinary” women which in some cases can lead to dangerous eating disorders. But in 2010 Swedish female magazine VeckoRevyn introduced a new type of retouching: Making some catwalk models bodies bigger instead, which we decided to call opposite retouching. This kind of retouching is aiming to widen the ideal picture that is sent out of how the female body should look like, and therefore having the readers reach a higher body satisfaction and becoming more at peace with the own body. This according to the magazine’s editor in chief, Linda Öhrn Lernstrom. In this attitude study we are looking to widen the knowledge about opposite retouching as a phenomenon by doing qualitative interviews with a number of young women in age 15 – 25 about their outlook on this new retouching. We later present as extensively as we can all these different outlooks, as well as by using Festinger’s social comparison theory, the social responsibility theory presented by Peterson and finally Hall’s representation theory, analyse these outlooks at a deeper level. Opposite retouching showed to be a controversial phenomenon among our respondents: Some of the women meant that the magazine takes their social responsibility and that this initiative is admirable, while some thought that it just makes some women’s body dissatisfaction even worse since even the thin catwalk models bodies weren’t “good enough”. The women in this study belong to the same age group and live in the same culture, which accordning to Hall is crucial for how one perceives media content, and had still such great differences of opinion when it came to the subject of opposite retouching. This indicates that this new retouching needs further investigation, and this attitude study strives to be a contribution to the research field

Size Hero : En attitydstudie om unga kvinnors inställning till tvärtomretuschering i magasin

Traditional retouching, where you make the body of a female model in a magazine thinner, has been common for a long time and is well known. Several studies indicates that showing ultra-thin images of female bodies in media can lower the body satisfaction of “ordinary” women which in some cases can lead to dangerous eating disorders. But in 2010 Swedish female magazine VeckoRevyn introduced a new type of retouching: Making some catwalk models bodies bigger instead, which we decided to call opposite retouching. This kind of retouching is aiming to widen the ideal picture that is sent out of how the female body should look like, and therefore having the readers reach a higher body satisfaction and becoming more at peace with the own body. This according to the magazine’s editor in chief, Linda Öhrn Lernstrom. In this attitude study we are looking to widen the knowledge about opposite retouching as a phenomenon by doing qualitative interviews with a number of young women in age 15 – 25 about their outlook on this new retouching. We later present as extensively as we can all these different outlooks, as well as by using Festinger’s social comparison theory, the social responsibility theory presented by Peterson and finally Hall’s representation theory, analyse these outlooks at a deeper level. Opposite retouching showed to be a controversial phenomenon among our respondents: Some of the women meant that the magazine takes their social responsibility and that this initiative is admirable, while some thought that it just makes some women’s body dissatisfaction even worse since even the thin catwalk models bodies weren’t “good enough”. The women in this study belong to the same age group and live in the same culture, which accordning to Hall is crucial for how one perceives media content, and had still such great differences of opinion when it came to the subject of opposite retouching. This indicates that this new retouching needs further investigation, and this attitude study strives to be a contribution to the research field