Establishing Foundational Nonarbitrary Distinctive and Categorical Relational Responding in Children with Autism.

The present study sought to evaluate a sequence of training procedures on the emergence of foundational relational responses that underly more complex distinctive (i.e., difference) and hierarchical (i.e., categorical) relational frames. In a multiple baseline design, an initial baseline period with three children with autism showed that the participants did not select nonidentical stimuli from an array when presented the contextual cue "different." Simple discrimination training was efficacious in establishing this response and the skill transferred to a novel set of stimuli without reinforcement. In a second baseline period, participants did not demonstrate conditional identical/nonidentical relational responses when provided the contextual cues "same" and "different." Conditional discrimination training with all three participants was again efficacious in establishing the conditional reflexive and distinctive responses and the skill transferred to untrained stimuli. In a third baseline period, participants did not demonstrate correct conditional categorization/sorting. Like in the prior two training conditions, training was efficacious in establishing the target response with a generalized transfer to untrained stimuli.

Data on vegetation across forest edges from the FERN (Forest Edge Research Network).

Many studies have focused on vegetation across forest edges to study impacts of edges created by human activities on forest structure and composition, or patterns of vegetation at inherent natural edges. Our objective was to create a database of plant-related variables across different types of edges from various studies (mainly from across Canada, but also in Brazil and Belize) to facilitate edge research. We compiled data on vegetation along more than 300 transects perpendicular to forest edges adjacent to clear-cuts, burned areas, bogs, lakes, barrens, insect disturbances, and riparian areas from 24 studies conducted over the past three decades. Data were compiled for more than 400 plant species and forest structure variables (e.g., trees, logs, canopy cover). All data were collected with a similar sampling design of quadrats along transects perpendicular to forest edges, but with varying numbers of transects and quadrats, and distances from the edge. The purpose for most of the studies was either to determine the distance of edge influence (edge width) or to explore the pattern of vegetation along the edge to interior gradient. We provide data tables for the cover of plant species and functional groups, the species and size of live and dead trees, the density of saplings, maximum height of functional groups and shrub species, and the cover of functional groups at different heights (vertical distribution of vegetation). The Forest Edge Research Network (FERN) database provides extensive data on many variables that can be used for further study including meta-analyses and can assist in answering questions important to conservation efforts (e.g., how is distance of edge influence from created edges affected by different factors?). We plan to expand this database with subsequent studies from the authors and we invite others to contribute to make this a more global database. The data are released under a CC0 license. When using these data, we ask that you cite this data paper and any relevant publications listed in our metadata file. We also encourage you to contact the first author if you are planning to use or contribute to this database.

Algae as Feedstuff for Ruminants: A Focus on Single-Cell Species, Opportunistic Use of Algal By-Products and On-Site Production.

There is a wide range of algae species originating from a variety of freshwater and saltwater habitats. These organisms form nutritional organic products via photosynthesis from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide. Ruminants can utilize the non-protein nitrogen (N) and the cell walls in algae, along with other constituents such as minerals and vitamins. Over recent decades, awareness around climate change has generated new interest into the potential of algae to suppress enteric methane emissions when consumed by ruminants and their potential to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide. Despite the clear potential benefits, large-scale algae-livestock feedstuff value chains have not been established due to the high cost of production, processing and transport logistics, shelf-life and stability of bioactive compounds and inconsistent responses by animals under controlled experiments. It is unlikely that algal species will become viable ingredients in extensive grazing systems unless the cost of production and practical systems for the processing, transport and feeding are developed. The algae for use in ruminant nutrition may not necessarily require the same rigorous control during the production and processing as would for human consumption and they could be grown in remote areas or in marine environments, minimizing competition with cropping, whilst still generating high value biomass and capturing important amounts of atmospheric carbon. This review will focus on single-cell algal species and the opportunistic use of algal by-products and on-site production.

Effects of a Bacillus-based direct-fed microbial on in vitro nutrient digestibility of forage and high-starch concentrate substrates.

Two experiments evaluated the effects of a Bacillus-based direct-fed microbial (DFM) on in vitro dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF; experiment 1) and starch (experiment 2) digestibility of a variety of ruminant feedstuffs. In experiment 1, 10 forage sources were evaluated: ryegrass, alfalfa hay, leucaena, corn silage, spinifex, buffel grass, flinders grass, Mitchell grass, Rhodes grass hay, and Queensland bluegrass. Experimental treatments were control (forages with no probiotic inoculation; CON) and forage sources inoculated with a mixture containing Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis (3.2 × 109 CFU per g; DFM). In vitro DM and NDF digestibility were evaluated at 24- and 48-h post-treatment inoculation. Treatment × hour interactions were noted for IVDMD (in vitro dry matter digestibility) and IVNDFD (in vitro neutral detergent fibre digestibility) (P ≤ 0.05). More specifically, DFM inoculation increased (P ≤ 0.03) IVDMD at 24 h in four forages and increased 48-h IVDMD (P ≤ 0.02) in alfalfa hay, ryegrass, leucaena, and Mitchell grass hay, but opposite results were observed for Queensland bluegrass (P < 0.01). A 24- and 48-h IVNDFD increased following DFM inoculation (P ≤ 0.02) in five forage sources, but reduced for Queensland bluegrass (P < 0.01). When the forages were classified according to their quality, main treatment effects were detected for IVDMD (P ≤ 0.02) and IVNDFD (P < 0.01). In experiment 2, five common cereal grains were evaluated-high-density barley (82 g/100 mL), low-density barley (69 g/100 mL), corn, sorghum, and wheat-under the same treatments as in experiment 1. In vitro starch digestibility (IVSD) was evaluated at 6- and 12-h following treatment inoculation. Treatment × hour interactions were observed for starch digestibility in three out of five concentrate sources (P ≤ 0.001). Inoculation of DFM yielded greater 24-h starch digestibility for high-, low-density barley, and wheat (P ≤ 0.02), but also greater at 48 h in wheat (P < 0.0001). Moreover, mean starch digestibility improved for corn and sorghum inoculated with DFM (P < 0.01). Using a Bacillus-based DFM (B. licheniformis and B. subtilis) improved the mean in vitro DM and NDF digestibility of different forage sources of varying qualities (based on crude protein content). Similarly, IVSD was also greater following DFM inoculation, highlighting the potential of this probiotic to improve nutrient digestibility and utilization in the beef and dairy cattle herd.

The use of live yeast to increase intake and performance of cattle receiving low-quality tropical forages.

The objective was to evaluate the effects of a specific strain of live yeast (LY) on growth performance, fermentation parameters, feed efficiency, and bacterial communities in the rumen of growing cattle fed low-quality hay. In experiment (exp.) 1, 12 Droughtmaster bull calves (270 ± 7.6 kg initial body weight [BW]) were blocked by BW into two groups, allocated individually in pens, and fed ad libitum Rhodes grass hay (8.4% of crude protein [CP]) and 300 g/bull of supplement (52% CP) without (Control) or with LY (8 × 109 colony-forming unit [CFU]/d Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077; Lallemand Inc., Montreal, Canada) for 28 d, followed by 7 d in metabolism crates. Blood and rumen fluid were collected before feeding and 4 h after feeding. In exp. 2, for assessment of growth performance, 48 Charbray steers (329 ± 20.2 kg initial BW) were separated into two blocks by initial BW and randomly allocated into 12 pens. The steers were fed Rhodes grass hay (7.3% CP) and 220 g/steer of supplement (60% CP) without or with LY (8 × 109 CFU/d) for 42 d, after a 2-wk adaptation period. In exp. 1, fiber digestibility was calculated from total fecal collection, and, in exp 2, indigestible neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was used as a marker. Inclusion of LY increased (P = 0.03) NDF intake by 8.3% in exp. 1, without affecting total tract digestibility. No changes were observed in microbial yield or in the efficiency of microbial production. There was a Treatment × Time interaction (P < 0.01) for the molar proportion of short-chain fatty acids, with LY increasing propionate before feeding. Inclusion of LY decreased rumen ammonia 4 h after feeding (P = 0.03). The addition of LY reduced rumen bacterial diversity and the intraday variation in bacterial populations. Relative populations of Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia varied over time (P < 0.05) only within the Control group. At the genus level, the relative abundance of an unclassified bacterial genus within the order Clostridiales, a group of cellulolytic bacteria, was reduced from 0 to 4 h after feeding in the Control group (P = 0.02) but not in the LY group (P = 1.00). During exp. 2, LY tended to increase average daily gain (ADG) (P = 0.08) and feed efficiency (P = 0.10), with no effect on NDF intake or digestibility. In conclusion, S. cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 reduced the intraday variation of rumen bacteria and increased the amount of NDF digested per day. These observations could be associated with the tendency of increased ADG and feed efficiency in growing cattle fed a low-quality forage.

A novel formulation technology for baculoviruses protects biopesticide from degradation by ultraviolet radiation.

Biopesticides are biological pest control agents that are viewed as safer alternatives to the synthetic chemicals that dominate the global insecticide market. A major constraint on the wider adoption of biopesticides is their susceptibility to the ultraviolet (UV: 290-400 nm) radiation in sunlight, which limits their persistence and efficacy. Here, we describe a novel formulation technology for biopesticides in which the active ingredient (baculovirus) is micro-encapsulated in an ENTOSTAT wax combined with a UV absorbant (titanium dioxide, TiO2). Importantly, this capsule protects the sensitive viral DNA from degrading in sunlight, but dissolves in the alkaline insect gut to release the virus, which then infects and kills the pest. We show, using simulated sunlight, in both laboratory bioassays and trials on cabbage and tomato plants, that this can extend the efficacy of the biopesticide well beyond the few hours of existing virus formulations, potentially increasing the spray interval and/or reducing the need for high application rates. The new formulation has a shelf-life at 30 °C of at least 6 months, which is comparable to standard commercial biopesticides and has no phytotoxic effect on the host plants. Taken together, these findings suggest that the new formulation technology could reduce the costs and increase the efficacy of baculovirus biopesticides, with the potential to make them commercially competitive alternatives to synthetic chemicals.

Is subarctic forest advance able to keep pace with climate change?

Recent climate warming and scenarios for further warming have led to expectations of rapid movement of ecological boundaries. Here we focus on the circumarctic forest-tundra ecotone (FTE), which represents an important bioclimatic zone with feedbacks from forest advance and corresponding tundra disappearance (up to 50% loss predicted this century) driving widespread ecological and climatic changes. We address FTE advance and climate history relations over the 20th century, using FTE response data from 151 sites across the circumarctic area and site-specific climate data. Specifically, we investigate spatial uniformity of FTE advance, statistical associations with 20th century climate trends, and whether advance rates match climate change velocities (CCVs). Study sites diverged into four regions (Eastern Canada; Central and Western Canada and Alaska; Siberia; and Western Eurasia) based on their climate history, although all were characterized by similar qualitative patterns of behaviour (with about half of the sites showing advancing behaviour). The main associations between climate trend variables and behaviour indicate the importance of precipitation rather than temperature for both qualitative and quantitative behaviours, and the importance of non-growing season as well as growing season months. Poleward latitudinal advance rates differed significantly among regions, being smallest in Eastern Canada (~10 m/year) and largest in Western Eurasia (~100 m/year). These rates were 1-2 orders of magnitude smaller than expected if vegetation distribution remained in equilibrium with climate. The many biotic and abiotic factors influencing FTE behaviour make poleward advance rates matching predicted 21st century CCVs (~103 -104  m/year) unlikely. The lack of empirical evidence for swift forest relocation and the discrepancy between CCV and FTE response contradict equilibrium model-based assumptions and warrant caution when assessing global-change-related biotic and abiotic implications, including land-atmosphere feedbacks and carbon sequestration.

The effects of fungal root endophytes on plant growth: a meta-analysis.

Fungal root endophytes are plant associates that colonize root tissue internally without causing any obvious harm to their host. Although ubiquitous, this relationship is not well understood. Our objectives were to determine the effects of fungal root endophyte inoculation on plant biomass and nitrogen concentration by conducting an extensive meta-analysis. We also explored the effects of experimental conditions on the host-endophyte relationship. We performed analyses weighted with non-parametric variance on plant response to root endophytes from the Ascomycetes (excluding the Clavacipitaceae), including categorical analyses of 21 experimental factors, ranging from the identity of the host and the endophyte, to the composition of the growing medium. The response of total biomass to endophyte inoculation was 18% lower than non-inoculated controls, while individually, root biomass, shoot biomass, and nitrogen concentration responses to endophyte inoculation were neutral. The identities of both the host and the endophyte had an influence, as did the original source of the endophyte (whether or not the isolate used originated from the same host species). Experimental conditions also influenced the plant-endophyte relationship, with the most important being the availability and sources of carbon and organic nitrogen, particularly peat moss. Although our analysis demonstrates that overall plant biomass and nitrogen concentration responses to ascomycetous root endophyte inoculation is neutral to negative, these results are somewhat confounded by among-study differences in experimental conditions, which undoubtedly contribute to the high levels of variability in plant response seen in the literature.

Sunitinib in combination with docetaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors: a phase I dose-escalation study.

PURPOSE: Sunitinib in combination with docetaxel enhances antitumor activity in xenograft models of human breast and non-small cell lung cancer. We assessed the maximum tolerated doses (MTDs), safety, pharmacokinetic profiles, and preliminary efficacy of sunitinib plus docetaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors. METHODS: In this phase I study, successive patient cohorts received sunitinib 25, 37.5, or 50 mg/day for 4 weeks of a 6-week cycle (Schedule 4/2, 4 weeks on, 2 weeks off) or for 2 weeks of a 3-week cycle (Schedule 2/1, 2 weeks on, 1 week off) with docetaxel 60 or 75 mg/m(2) IV q21d to determine the MTDs of this treatment combination. RESULTS: Fifty patients enrolled: 10 on Schedule 4/2 and 40 on Schedule 2/1. MTDs were established as sunitinib 25 mg on Schedule 4/2 with docetaxel 60 mg/m(2) q21d, and as sunitinib 37.5 mg on Schedule 2/1 with docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) q21d. On Schedule 2/1, the most frequent dose-limiting toxicity was neutropenia (+/-fever; grade [G]3/4, n = 5) and the most common G3/4 non-hematologic adverse event (AE) was fatigue (G3, n = 8). Hematologic AEs were managed with growth factor support in 11 of 23 (48%) patients treated at Schedule 2/1 MTD. Three patients achieved a partial response at the Schedule 2/1 MTD. There were no pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions with either schedule. CONCLUSIONS: Oral sunitinib 37.5 mg/day on Schedule 2/1 with docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) IV q21d is a clinically feasible regimen with a manageable safety profile, no pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions, and shows antitumor activity in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Population dynamics of Empetrum hermaphroditum (Ericaceae) on a subarctic sand dune: Evidence of rapid colonization through efficient sexual reproduction.

The importance of sexual reproduction for clonal plant species has long been underestimated, perhaps as a consequence of the difficulty in identifying individuals, preventing the study of their population dynamics. Such is the case for Empetrum hermaphroditum, an ericaceous species, which dominates the ground vegetation of subarctic ecosystems. Despite abundant seed production, seedlings are rarely observed. Therefore, prevalent seedling recruitment on a subarctic dune system provided an opportunity to study the population dynamics and spatial pattern of the colonization phase of this species. We established a 6-ha grid on the dune systems that extended from the shoreline to the fixed dunes and mapped and measured all E. hermaphroditum individuals in the grid. Moreover, we sampled 112 individuals just outside the grid to identify any allometric relationship between the size and age of the individuals, which allowed us to reconstruct population expansion. The overall size structure suggests that the population is still expanding. In the last 50 yr, E. hermaphroditum advanced more than 200 m in the dune system. Expansion started in the 1960s simultaneously at different distances from the shoreline. Colonization did not proceed gradually from the fixed dune toward the shoreline but instead individuals established earlier in the troughs between the dunes, with an increasingly clumped spatial pattern as the population filled in with time.

A phase I study of larotaxel (XRP9881) administered in combination with carboplatin in chemotherapy-naïve patients with stage IIIB or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: This primary objective of this phase I dose-escalation study was to define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose limiting toxicity (DLT) of larotaxel administered in combination with carboplatin in chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Eighteen patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC, in cohorts of three to six evaluable patients, were to receive every 3 weeks: larotaxel beginning at 45 mg/m(2) administered as a 1-h infusion, followed after 30 min by carboplatin (area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) = 6 mg/mL × min, later AUC = 5) as a 1-h infusion. Dose escalation of larotaxel up to 90 mg/m(2) was permitted according to DLT occurrence. Patients received ondansetron as prophylactic anti-emetic premedication. RESULTS: In view of the toxicity encountered, the carboplatin dose was decreased for the later part of the study to AUC = 5 mg/mL × min. Eight of 18 treated patients experienced DLTs in the first cycle, including neutropenia and associated complications, diarrhea and fatigue. The MTD of the combination was defined as larotaxel 60 mg/m(2) with a carboplatin AUC of 6 mg/mL × min. Neutropenia, reported at grade 3/4 in 15/18 patients (83%), was the most common severe adverse event, reaching grade 4 in 14 patients (78%). Eleven patients (61%) experienced grade 3/4 non-hematological toxicity, predominantly dehydration, fatigue, infection, nausea and vomiting. One patient (6%) achieved a partial response and 11 (61%) had stable disease. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of larotaxel and carboplatin is feasible and shows modest activity in chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced/metastatic NSCLC. The principal toxicity was grade 3/4 neutropenia.

Potassium, magnesium, and calcium: their role in both the cause and treatment of hypertension.

Despite advances in the prevention and treatment of hypertension over the past decade, hypertension remains an important public health challenge. Recent efforts to reduce the prevalence of hypertension have focused on nonpharmacologic means, specifically diet. An increased intake of minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium by dietary means has been shown in some but not all studies to reduce blood pressure in patients with hypertension. This review will discuss the roles of potassium, magnesium, and calcium in the prevention and treatment of essential hypertension with specific emphasis on clinical trial evidence, mechanism of action, and recommendations for dietary intake of these minerals. A high intake of these minerals through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables may improve blood pressure levels and reduce coronary heart disease and stroke.

Large-scale production and purification of recombinant Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris.

The gene coding for agglutinin from Galanthus nivalis (GNA) was expressed in, and secreted by, the methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris. Transformants of P. pastoris were selected and a process to produce and purify gram quantities of recombinant GNA was developed. GNA was secreted at approximately 80 mg l(-1) at the 200 1 scale and was purified to 95% homogeneity using hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The recombinant protein was similar to the protein synthesised in plant with respect to structure and biological activity.