Frequent mutation of BAP1 in metastasizing uveal melanomas

Metastasis is a defining feature of malignant tumors and is the most common cause of cancer-related death, yet the genetics of metastasis are poorly understood. We used exome capture coupled with massively parallel sequencing to search for metastasis-related mutations in highly metastatic uveal melanomas of the eye. Inactivating somatic mutations were identified in the gene encoding BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) on chromosome 3p21.1 in 26 of 31 (84%) metastasizing tumors, including 15 mutations causing premature protein termination and 5 affecting its ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase domain. One tumor harbored a frameshift mutation that was germline in origin, thus representing a susceptibility allele. These findings implicate loss of BAP1 in uveal melanoma metastasis and suggest that the BAP1 pathway may be a valuable therapeutic target.     

Determinism of the induction of the reproductive cycle in female Eurasian perch, Perca fluviatilis: Identification of environmental cues and permissive factors

In Eurasian perch, Perca fluviatilis, gametogenesis is induced by decrease of both temperature and photoperiod. However, a multiplicity of other factors can display non-permissive or modulating effects on the induction of the reproductive cycle. Consequently, a 9-week study was carried out to determine the environmental cues and permissive factors controlling the induction of the reproductive cycle in this species. A two-level fractional factorial design 2^8-4 was used in order to identify the influent factors from 8 environmental and nutritional ones and their 28 interactions. Tested factors were: (1) amplitude of temperature decrease, (2) time, (3) kinetics and (4) amplitude of photoperiod decrease, (5) initial nutritional state, (6) handling, (7) feeding rate and (8) light spectrum. Increase of gonadosomatic index (GSIi), proportion of female in exogenous vitellogenesis (EVP), plasma 17 β-estradiol (E₂) and cortisol levels, fat consumption and food intake were evaluated.This study showed that the amplitude of the decrease of temperature and the time of photoperiod decrease are the two main environmental cues controlling the induction of the reproductive cycle in Eurasian perch. GSIi was the highest (3.8%) when females were exposed to both low amplitude of temperature decrease and precocious decrease of photophase. It was the lowest (1.1%) when high amplitude of temperature decrease and late decrease of photophase were applied. Handling in association with temperature modulated the broodstock response. 100% of the unhandled fish held at 14 °C were at the exogenous vitellogenesis stage with mean E₂ and basal cortisol levels of 1.6 ng mL^− 1 and 9 ng mL^− 1 respectively. Handled fish and fish held at 6 °C exhibited lower vitellogenesis (40-73%) associated with lower E₂ (0.6-1.1 ng mL^− 1) and higher basal cortisol levels (37-89 ng mL^− 1). No other factor nor interaction displayed a cueing or non permissive effect on the induction of the reproductive cycle in female Eurasian perch. A first schematic model is proposed to explain the factorial determinism of the induction of the reproductive cycle.     

Parental participation in progeny and effective population sizes in experimental seed orchards of wild cherry Prunus avium L. (Batsch)

Parents and progenies genetic diversity, and male and female contributions to the seed crop were assessed in three experimental Prunus avium seed orchards. Collected data were used to compare different effective population sizes, based on phenological, seed crop and paternity analysis. Our results did not show any difference of genetic diversity between parents and progenies. A limited pollen pollution was detected. We showed that distance and coflowering among clones had a significant effect on effective pollination, and a significant effect of the production of flowers was revealed in one of the seed orchards. Our study also revealed a quite low number of effective size of fathers per mother, but high effective sizes of mothers, fathers and parents at the level of the seed orchard. Finally, the calculation of effective size of mothers, fathers and parents was not highly modified when having the complete information based on the paternity analysis.     

Establishing Conservation Easements on Forested Riparian Buffers: Opportunities for Long-term Streamside Protection

Forest riparian buffers are an important means of conserving land. The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) offers financial incentives to landowners to install forested riparian buffers under 10–15 year contracts. This study explores whether Pennsylvania CREP participants who had established a riparian buffer would also place it under a permanent conservation easement. A mail questionnaire was developed and administered to 685 CREP participants. It was found that the majority of the respondents are likely to leave their buffer intact when the CREP contract expires, but are hesitant to agree to conservation easements. Property rights, education and finances are among the key issues affecting acceptance of conservation easements.     

Water sensitivity, antimicrobial, and physicochemical analyses of edible films based on HPMC and/or chitosan

Several properties of chitosan films associated or not with hydroxypropylmethylcellulose polymer (HPMC) and HPMC films incorporating or not nisin and/or milk fat were studied. Nisin addition at a level of 250 microg mL-1 and likewise chitosan at 1% (w/v) concentration were efficient for total inhibiting Aspergillus niger and Kocuria rhizophila food deterioration microorganisms. HPMC and chitosan films were transparent, whereas nisin and/or fat incorporation induced a 2-fold lightness parameter increase and, consequently, involved more white films. Measurements of tensile strength, as well as ultimate elongation, showed that chitosan and HPMC initial films were elastic and flexible. High thermal treatments and additive incorporation induced less elastic and more plastic films. Water vapor transmission as far as total water desorption rates suggested that chitosan films were slightly sensitive to water. Water transfer was decreased by <60% as compared with other biopolymer films. Regarding its hydrophobic property, the capacity of fat to improve film water barrier was very limited.     

The parasitoid Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris eavesdrops on semiochemicals from its host Tuta absoluta and tomato

Journal of Pest Science - Semiochemicals such as herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) and host chemicals serve as communication signals for parasitoids searching for oviposition sites. The...     

Bone marrow lesions of the distal condyles of the third metacarpal bone are common and not always related to lameness in sports and pleasure horses

The metacarpophalangeal joint is a common site of pain in horses. Little information is available about bone marrow lesions in the distal condyles of the third metacarpal bone in sports and pleasure horses. Aims of this prospective, retrospective, observational study were to evaluate the prevalence of bone marrow lesions in the distal condyles of the third metacarpal bone, to describe their anatomic distribution and to correlate lesions with the presence of lameness and the level and type of activity. All sports and pleasure horses undergoing standing low‐field MRI of the front fetlock region between 2009 and 2016 were included and divided into three lameness groups according to the results of diagnostic analgesia. Bone marrow lesions were analyzed and graded by one reader. Grades were compared between anatomical locations and between lameness groups. A total of 166 horses were sampled. The prevalence of bone marrow lesions was 76.5% (127/166). The dorsal aspects of the medial condyle (31%, 39/127) and of the sagittal ridge (28%, 36/127) were the most commonly affected locations. There was no significant difference between both forelimbs (lame limb and non‐lame limb) of the same horse. Lesion severity was neither significantly associated with the lameness group nor with the type or level of activity. The prevalence of bone marrow lesions in the distal condyles of the third metacarpal bone is high in this population and the clinical significance is not always clear. Further studies are required to elucidate the clinical significance of this finding in sports and pleasure horses.