Recent range expansion of an intermediate host for animal schistosome parasites in the Indo-Australian Archipelago: phylogeography of the freshwater gastropod Indoplanorbis exustus in South and Southeast Asia

Background: The planorbid snail Indoplanorbis exustus is the sole intermediate host for the Schistosoma indicum species group, trematode parasites responsible for cattle schistosomiasis and human cercarial dermatitis. This freshwater snail is widely distributed in Southern Asia, ranging from Iran to China eastwards including India and from the southeastern Himalayas to Southeast Asia southwards. The veterinary and medical importance of this snail explains the interest in understanding its geographical distribution patterns and evolutionary history. In this study, we used a large and comprehensive sampling throughout Indo-Malaya, including specimens from South India and Indonesia, areas that have been formerly less studied. Results: The phylogenetic inference revealed five highly divergent clades (genetic distances among clades: 4.4–13.9%) that are morphologically indistinguishable, supporting the assumption that this presumed nominal species may represent a cryptic species complex. The species group may have originated in the humid subtropical plains of Nepal or in southern adjacent regions in the Early Miocene. The major cladogenetic events leading to the fives clades occurred successively from the Early Miocene to the Early Pleistocene, coinciding with major periods of monsoonal intensification associated with major regional paleogeographic events in the Miocene and repeated climate changes due to the Plio-Pleistocene climatic oscillations. Our coverage of the Indo-Australian Archipelago (IAA) highlights the presence of a single clade there. Contrary to expectations, an AMOVA did not reveal any population genetic structure among islands or along a widely recognised zoogeographical regional barrier, suggesting a recent colonisation independent of natural biogeographical constraints. Neutrality tests and mismatch distributions suggested a sudden demographic and spatial population expansion that could have occurred naturally in the Pleistocene or may possibly result of a modern colonisation triggered by anthropogenic activities. Conclusions: Even though Indoplanorbis is the main focus of this study, our findings may also have important implications for fully understanding its role in hosting digenetic trematodes. The existence of a cryptic species complex, the historical phylogeographical patterns and the recent range expansion in the IAA provide meaningful insights to the understanding and monitoring of the parasites potential spread. It brings a substantial contribution to veterinary and public health issues

Disjunct distributions of freshwater snails testify to a central role of the Congo system in shaping biogeographical patterns in Africa

BACKGROUND: The formation of the East African Rift System has decisively influenced the distribution and evolution of tropical Africa´s biota by altering climate conditions, by creating basins for large long-lived lakes, and by affecting the catchment and drainage directions of river systems. However, it remains unclear how rifting affected the biogeographical patterns of freshwater biota through time on a continental scale, which is further complicated by the scarcity of molecular data from the largest African river system, the Congo. RESULTS: We study these biogeographical patterns using a fossil-calibrated multi-locus phylogeny of the gastropod family Viviparidae. This group allows reconstructing drainage patterns exceptionally well because it disperses very poorly in the absence of existing freshwater connections. Our phylogeny covers localities from major drainage basins of tropical Africa and reveals highly disjunct sister-group relationships between (a) the endemic viviparids of Lake Malawi and populations from the Middle Congo as well as between (b) the Victoria region and the Okavango/Upper Zambezi area. CONCLUSIONS: The current study testifies to repeated disruptions of the distribution of the Viviparidae during the formation of the East African Rift System, and to a central role of the Congo River system for the distribution of the continent´s freshwater fauna during the late Cenozoic. By integrating our results with previous findings on palaeohydrographical connections, we provide a spatially and temporarily explicit model of historical freshwater biogeography in tropical Africa. Finally, we review similarities and differences in patterns of vertebrate and invertebrate dispersal. Amongst others we argue that the closest relatives of present day viviparids in Lake Malawi are living in the Middle Congo River, thus shedding new light on the origin of the endemic fauna of this rift lake

The Drosophila Forkhead Transcription Factor FOXO Mediates the Reduction in Cell Number Associated with Reduced Insulin Signaling

Background: Forkhead transcription factors belonging to the FOXO subfamily are negatively regulated by protein kinase B (PKB) in response to signaling by insulin and insulin-like growth factor in Caenorhabditis elegans and mammals. In Drosophila, the insulin-signaling pathway regulates the size of cells, organs, and the entire body in response to nutrient availability, by controlling both cell size and cell number. In this study, we present a genetic characterization of dFOXO, the only Drosophila FOXO ortholog. Results: Ectopic expression of dFOXO and human FOXO3a induced organ-size reduction and cell death in a manner dependent on phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase and nutrient levels. Surprisingly, flies homozygous for dFOXO null alleles are viable and of normal size. They are, however, more sensitive to oxidative stress. Furthermore, dFOXO function is required for growth inhibition associated with reduced insulin signaling. Loss of dFOXO suppresses the reduction in cell number but not the cell-size reduction elicited by mutations in the insulin-signaling pathway. By microarray analysis and subsequent genetic validation, we have identified d4E-BP, which encodes a translation inhibitor, as a relevant dFOXO target gene. Conclusion: Our results show that dFOXO is a crucial mediator of insulin signaling in Drosophila, mediating the reduction in cell number in insulin-signaling mutants. We propose that in response to cellular stresses, such as nutrient deprivation or increased levels of reactive oxygen species, dFOXO is activated and inhibits growth through the action of target genes such as d4E-BP

Paleo-Drainage Basin Connectivity Predicts Evolutionary Relationships across Three Southeast Asian Biodiversity Hotspots

Understanding factors driving diversity across biodiversity hotspots is critical for formulating conservation priorities in the face of ongoing and escalating environmental deterioration. While biodiversity hotspots encompass a small fraction of Earth's land surface, more than half the world's plants and two-thirds of terrestrial vertebrate species are endemic to these hotspots. Tropical Southeast (SE) Asia displays extraordinary species richness, encompassing four biodiversity hotspots, though disentangling multiple potential drivers of species richness is confounded by the region's dynamic geological and climatic history. Here, we use multilocus molecular genetic data from dense multispecies sampling of freshwater fishes across three biodiversity hotspots, to test the effect of Quaternary climate change and resulting drainage rearrangements on aquatic faunal diversification. While Cenozoic geological processes have clearly shaped evolutionary history in SE Asian halfbeak fishes, we show that paleo-drainage re-arrangements resulting from Quaternary climate change played a significant role in the spatiotemporal evolution of lowland aquatic taxa, and provide priorities for conservation efforts. [Freshwater; geology; halfbeak; island radiation; Miocene; Pleistocene; river; Southeast Asia.

Does atracine promote attack of corn-cobs by Fusaria?

In zweijährigen Feldversuchen an zwei Standorten wurde überprüft, ob Atrazin den Befall von Maiskolben mit Fusarien fördert. Das Herbizid wurde in einer Aufwandmenge von 1,4 kg/ha (reiner Witkstoff) eingesetzt. Eine Erhöhung des Befalls konnte nicht festgestellt werden. An Fusarienarten wurden von den Kolben am häufigsten isoliert: F. poae, F. moniliforme, F. graminearum, F. oxysporum und F. culmorum.In two years of field trials at two localities it was investigated if atracine influences attack of corn-cobs by Fusaria. The herbicide was applied in a concentration of 1,4 kg/ha (active substance). No increase of attack was ascertained. The species of Fusaria most frequently isolates from cobs were: F. poae, F. moniliforme, F. graminearum, F. oxysporum and F. culmorum

Musikk på timeplanen. En komparativ analyse av innhold i grunnskolens læreplaner for musikk i Norge, England og Bayern

Norges musikkhøgskole. Masteroppgave. MusikkpedagogikkSammendrag. Hva som skal være musikkfagets innhold er et av de helt sentrale spørsmålene som må stilles når musikkundervisning skal planlegges. Denne masteroppgaven er en deskriptiv og komparativ analyse av læreplanene for grunnskolefaget musikk i henholdsvis Norge, England og den tyske delstaten Bayern. Fokuset har vært rettet mot å finne likheter og forskjeller mellom bestemmelser om nettopp musikkfagets innhold slik de kommer til uttrykk i de tre læreplanene. Jeg har valgt en metode som består av både kvalitative og kvantitative tilnærminger til tekstmaterialet. Det har blitt utviklet et kategorisystem for musikkfagets innhold som både er teoretisk forankret, men også i stor grad springer ut av de tre analyserte læreplanene, og som derfor i seg selv kan sies å være en del av studiens resultat. Med utgangspunkt i kategorisystemet ble det generert kvantitative data som blir presentert i form av tabeller og diagrammer. Disse dataene dannet så grunnlaget for den komparative analysen. Fokus på musikalske aktiviteter, sjangerbredde, kunnskap om musikk og sang som innhold i musikkfaget var noen av likhetene som ble funnet mellom planene. Forskjeller som kom til syne var blant annet at planene opererer med ulike musikkbegrep (noe som blant annet kommer til uttrykk gjennom dansens varierende rolle i de tre planene), samt at læreplanene i svært ulik grad omtaler lærestoff knyttet til den respektive nasjonale kulturarven. Komparative studier med et internasjonalt perspektiv er det ikke overveldende mye av på det musikkpedagogiske forskningsfeltet. Det å løfte blikket over egne grenser for å få kunnskap om forhold og praksiser i andre land kan danne grunnlaget for fruktbare diskusjoner, både på nasjonalt og internasjonalt nivå. Denne studien kan sees på som et bidrag til et slikt løftet blikk

Obligat anaerobe Bakterien in den Lungen von Patienten mit Cystischer Fibrose

Neben den fakultativ anaeroben Bakterien wie Pseudomonas aeruginosa und Staphylococcus aureus können auch obligat anaerobe Keime bei der chronischen CF-Lungeninfektion vorkommen. Innerhalb dieser Studie wurden Sputumproben von 39 CF- Patienten (31 Erwachsene, 8 Kinder) auf das Vorhandensein von obligaten Anaerobiern untersucht. Bei fast allen CF-Patienten (89,7%) wurde eine Vielzahl unterschiedlicher obligater Anaerobier gefunden. Erstmals konnte demonstriert werden, dass diese Keime in hohen Zahlen (1,3 x 107 ± 5,6 x 107 KBE/ml) vorliegen. Die Resistenzbestimmung ergab eine gute Wirksamkeit von Meropenem (3,6% resistente Stämme), reduzierte Wirkung von Piperazillin/Tazobactam (22,3%) und Clindamycin (23,7%), während Metronidazol (46,0%) und Ceftazidim (49,6%) erheblich schlechter wirkten. Nach Therapie von Exazerbationen verbesserten sich die Lungenfunktionsparameter der CF-Patienten signifikant, während die Keimzahlen im Sputum sich nicht veränderten. Bei 58% der Patienten mit Exazerbationen waren nach Therapie resistente obligate Anaerobier nachweisbar, was die unveränderten Keimzahlen erklärt. In Rachenabstrichen waren die Keimzahlen um mehr als drei Zehner-potenzen niedriger als im Sputum. Dies spricht eindeutig für eine Vermehrung der Bakterien im CF-Sputum. Bei Patienten mit akuten Lungenentzündungen waren dagegen keine obligaten Anaerobier nachweisbar, was die Spezifität dieser Keime für chronische Lungeninfektionen betont. Das Ausmaß der Beteiligung der obligaten Anaerobier an der Pathogenese der chronischen Lungeninfektionen ist noch nicht bekannt. Möglicherweise kann eine Therapie mit spezifischen Antibiotika, die auch gegen obligate Anaerobier wirksam sind, die Behandlung der chronischen CF-Lungeninfektion und somit auch die Lebens-erwartung der CF-Patienten verbessern. Die wichtigste Konsequenz der vorliegenden Arbeit besteht aber darin, dass alle zukünftigen Untersuchungen zur Pathogenese der chronischen Lungeninfektionen bei CF das obligatorische Vorkommen von obligaten Anaerobiern be-rücksichtigen müssen.von Claudia Rintele

The complex evolutionary history and phylogeography of Caridina typus (Crustacea: Decapoda): long-distance dispersal and cryptic allopatric species

The evolutionary history of the old, diverse freshwater shrimp genus Caridina is still poorly understood, despite its vast distribution – from Africa to Polynesia. Here, we used nuclear and mitochondrial DNA to infer the phylogeographic and evolutionary history of C. typus, which is one of only four species distributed across the entire range of the genus. Despite this species’ potential for high levels of gene flow, questions have been raised regarding its phylogeographic structure and taxonomic status. We identified three distinct lineages that likely diverged in the Miocene. Molecular dating and ancestral range reconstructions are congruent with C. typus’ early dispersal to Africa, possibly mediated by the Miocene Indian Ocean Equatorial Jet, followed by back dispersal to Australasia after the Jet’s closure. Furthermore, several different species delimitation methods indicate each lineage represents a distinct (cryptic) species, contradicting current morphospecies delimitation of a single C. typus taxon. The evolutionary history of C. typus lineages is complex, in which ancient oceanic current systems and (currently unrecognised) speciation events preceded secondary sympatry of these cryptic species

The Towuti Drilling Project:paleoenvironments, biological evolution, and geomicrobiology of a tropical Pacific lake

The Towuti Drilling Project (TDP) is an international research program, whose goal is to understand long-term environmental and climatic change in the tropical western Pacific, the impacts of geological and environmental changes on the biological evolution of aquatic taxa, and the geomicrobiology and biogeochemistry of metal-rich, ultramafic-hosted lake sediments through the scientific drilling of Lake Towuti, southern Sulawesi, Indonesia. Lake Towuti is a large tectonic lake at the downstream end of the Malili lake system, a chain of five highly biodiverse lakes that are among the oldest lakes in Southeast Asia. In 2015 we carried out a scientific drilling program on Lake Towuti using the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) Deep Lakes Drilling System (DLDS). We recovered a total of  ∼ 1018 m of core from 11 drilling sites with water depths ranging from 156 to 200 m. Recovery averaged 91.7 %, and the maximum drilling depth was 175 m below the lake floor, penetrating the entire sedimentary infill of the basin. Initial data from core and borehole logging indicate that these cores record the evolution of a highly dynamic tectonic and limnological system, with clear indications of orbital-scale climate variability during the mid- to late Pleistocene

A Comparison of the Modified Score for the Assessment of Chronic Rheumatoid Affections of the Hands and the Australian/Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index in Hand Osteoarthritis Patients

Objectives. To compare the modified score for the assessment and quantification of chronic rheumatoid affections of the hands (M-SACRAH) with the Australian/Canadian osteoarthritis hand index (AUSCAN) in hand osteoarthritis (HOA). Both are self-administered patient questionnaires, being designed to assess functional status, stiffness, and pain in affected patients, despite some differences in format, compass and arrangement of questions. Methods. 66 HOA patients (51 females), attending the outpatient clinic, were included. Patients completed the AUSCAN (15 visual analogue scales) (VAS) and the M-SACRAH (12 VAS). Results. AUSCAN-pain amounted to a mean of 41.9 (±2.9 SEM), AUSCAN-stiffness to 53.1 (3.7) and AUSCAN function to 42.6 (3.2). M-SACRAH-function amounted to 25.4 (2.4), M-SACRAH-stiffness to 42.6 (3.0), and M-SACRAH-pain to 43.7 (3.1). The total mean M-SACRAH was 37.2 (2.4) (all P's < .0001). The three respective domains of the two scores correlated significantly: pain: r = 0.73, stiffness: r = 0.75, and function: r = 0.76 (all P's < .0001). The four identical items in both scores also correlated significantly. No significant gender specific differences were observed. Conclusion. Despite a different scope of items, a significant high correlation of these two scores evaluating HOA patients could be demonstrated. We conclude that both scores are equivalently valuable for the assessment of health status in these patients