187 research outputs found
Data from: Chemical novelty facilitates herbivore resistance and biological invasions in some introduced plant species
No full textEcological release from herbivory due to chemical novelty is commonly predicted to facilitate biological invasions by plants, but has not been tested on a community scale. We used metabolomics based on mass spectrometry molecular networks to assess the novelty of foliar secondary chemistry of 15 invasive plant species compared to 46 native species at a site in eastern North America. Locally, invasive species were more chemically distinctive than natives. Among the 15 invasive species, the more chemically distinct were less preferred by insect herbivores and less browsed by deer. Finally, an assessment of invasion frequency in 2,505 forest plots in the Atlantic coastal plain revealed that, regionally, invasive species that were less preferred by insect herbivores, less browsed by white-tailed deer, and chemically distinct relative to the native plant community occurred more frequently in survey plots. Our results suggest that chemically-mediated release from herbivores contributes to many successful invasions.Funding provided by: Smithsonian InstitutionCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000014Award Number: Grand Challenges AwardFunding provided by: Smithsonian InstitutionCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000014Award Number: Scholarly Studies AwardFunding provided by: Smithsonian InstitutionCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000014Award Number: Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO)Funding provided by: Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100009201Award Number: Earl S. Tupper FellowshipMethods are described in:
Sedio, B. E., J. L. Devaney, J. Pullen, G. G. Parker, S. J. Wright, and J. D. Parker. Accepted. Chemical novelty facilitates herbivore resistance and biological invasions in some introduced plant species. Ecology and Evolution.
Lind, E. M., and J. D. Parker. 2010. Novel weapons testing: are invasive plants more chemically defended than native plants? PLOS One 5(5): e10429. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.001042
Uncertain Legacies: Resilience and Institutional Child Abuse, A Literature Review
No full textNo abstract available
Akt1 Polymorphisms Are Associated With Risk For Metabolic Syndrome
No full textConverging lines of evidence suggest that AKT1 is a major mediator of the responses to insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), and glucose. AKT1 also plays a key role in the regulation of both muscle cell hypertrophy and atrophy. We hypothesized that AKT1 variants may play a role in the endophenotypes that make up metabolic syndrome. We studied a 12-kb region including the first exon of the AKT1 gene for association with metabolic syndrome-related phenotypes in four study populations [FAMUSS cohort (n = 574; age 23.7 ± 5.7 years), Strong Heart Study (SHS) (n = 2,134; age 55.5 ± 7.9 years), Dynamics of Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) (n = 3,075; age 73.6 ± 2.9 years), and Studies of a Targeted Risk Reduction Intervention through Defined Exercise (STRRIDE) (n = 175; age 40-65 years)]. We identified a three SNP haplotype that we call H1, which represents the ancestral alleles at the three loci and H2, which represents the derived alleles at the three loci. In young adult European Americans (FAMUSS), H1 was associated with higher fasting glucose levels in females. In middle age Native Americans (SHS), H1 carriers showed higher fasting insulin and HOMA in males, and higher BMI in females. In older African-American and European American subjects (Health ABC) H1 carriers showed a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome. Homozygotes for the H1 haplotype showed about twice the risk of metabolic syndrome in both males and females (p \u3c 0.001). In middle-aged European Americans with insulin resistance (STRRIDE) studied by intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT), H1 carriers showed increased insulin resistance due to the Sg component (p = 0.021). The 12-kb haplotype is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance that needs to be explored in further populations. © 2010 The Author(s)
Stenopus pyrsonotus New species Of Stenopodidean Shrimp From The Indo West Pacific Region Crustacea Decapoda
No full textVolume: 93Start Page: 781End Page: 79
Purification Methods for Preparing Polymerase Chain Reaction Products for Capillary Electrophoresis Analysis
No full text
Risk-Adjusted Performance of Real Estate Stocks: Evidence From Developing Markets
No full textThis paper examines the performance of real estate stocks listed in seven developing markets in East Asia between 1992 and 2002. Using panel regressions, the goal is to identify determinants of the risk-adjusted returns of real estate securities traded in these markets. The empirical evidence suggests that size, book-to-market value, capital structure and market diversification have significant influence on the performance of real estate securities. Asset structure and development exposure, however, do not appear to have any significant effect on the returns behavior, while dividend yield has limited influence. As expected, interest rates and market condition have significant impact on the returns of real estate stocks. The Asian Financial Crisis also has an adverse impact on stocks? performance.
Actn3 Genotype Is Associated With Increases In Muscle Strength In Response To Resistance Training In Women
No full textThe α-actinin 3 (ACTN3) gene encodes a protein of the Z disk of myofibers, and a polymorphism of ACTN3 results in complete loss of the protein. The ACTN3 genotype (R577X) has been found to be associated with performance in Australian elite athletes (Yang N, MacArthur DG, Gulbin JP, Hahn AG, Beggs AH, Easteal S, and North K. Am J Hum Genet 73: 627-631, 2003). We studied associations between ACTN3 genotype and muscle size [cross-sectional area of the biceps brachii via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)] and elbow flexor isometric (MVC) and dynamic [1-repetition maximum (1-RM)] strength in a large group of men (N = 247) and women (N = 355) enrolled in a 12-wk standardized elbow flexor/ extensor resistance training program of the nondominant arm at one of eight study centers. We found no association between ACTN3 R577X genotype and muscle phenotype in men. However, women homozygous for the ACTN3 577X allele (XX) had lower baseline MVC compared with heterozygotes (P \u3c 0.05) when adjusted for body mass and age. Women homozygous for the mutant allele (577X) demonstrated greater absolute and relative 1-RM gains compared with the homozygous wild type (RR) after resistance training when adjusted for body mass and age (P \u3c 0.05). There was a trend for a dose-response with genotype such that gains were greatest for XX and least for RR. Significant associations were validated in at least one ethnic subpopulation (Caucasians, Asians) and were independent of training volume. About 2% of baseline MVC and of 1-RM strength gain after training were attributable to ACTN3 genotype (likelihood-ratio test P value, P = 0.01), suggesting that ACTN3 is one of many genes contributing to genetic variation in muscle performance and adaptation to exercise. Copyright © 2005 the American Physiological Society
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