Rhondda E. Jones

Leaf shape and the host-finding behaviour of two ovipositing monophagous butterfly species

Abstract. 1. Ovipositing Eurema brigitta (Wallace) and Eurema herla (W. S. Macleay) butterflies were followed in the field to determine the nature and extent of the pre‐alighting discrimination shown by these insects towards their only host plant, Cassia mimosoides (L).

Effects of Tidal and Diel Cycles on Dugong Habitat Use

Abstract Quantifying the factors influencing behaviors of aquatic mammalian grazers may enhance the generic understanding of grazer ecology. We investigated diel and tidal patterns in movements of the dugong (Dugong dugon) by Global Positioning System–tracking 12 animals in 5 inshore–intertidal and 3 offshore–subtidal habitats along the coast of Queensland, Australia. We examined effects of tide height and time of day on the dugongs distance from 1) the nearest coast, 2) water >3 m deep, 3) actual water depth (bathymetry + tide ht) experienced, and 4) distribution of the directions of movements. Both tidal and diel cycles influenced dugong movement. Tracked dugongs tended to be closer to shore at high tide than at low tide and closer to shore at night than during the day. Onshore movement was more prevalent on incoming tides and in the afternoon and evening. Offshore movement was more prevalent on outgoing tides and from midnight through the morning until midday. Tidal and diel variation in water depths used by the inshore–intertidal dugongs was small, but probably underestimated, hidden by a sampling bias in the telemetry equipment. Onshore movement at high tide allowed dugongs to exploit intertidal seagrass beds. Dugongs are closer to shore in afternoons and evenings than in mornings. This behavior may be related to the avoidance of predators or watercraft. Our findings can be used to predict spatial patterns of dugongs within areas of conservation management significance and to assess, avoid, and mitigate adverse effects of anthropogenic disturbance.

The spatial distribution of rain forest butterflies at three sites in North Queensland, Australia

Surveys of the micohabitat distributioni of aduilt butterfly species were undertaken at thlee raiin forest sites in North QuLeenislanid, AuLstralia, enicomiipassinig a ranlge of r-aini forest vegetationi types. These surveys founi-d little evidence for a specialist canlopy faluna. Most species recorded in the canopy were often- seen close to the grounld. At all sites, most species were observed at the edge of the rain forest habitat; within the raini forest, more species were observed niear the grounid thani in the caniopy.

Humidity-terminated diapause in the tropical braconid parasitoid Microplitis demolitor.

1. Microplitis demolitor, a solitary braconid parasitoid of Helicoverpa armigera and Helicoverpa punctigera, uses an increase in relative humidity to signal the end of diapause and the re‐establishment of direct development.

Association of Lower Extremity Performance With Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is associated with impaired mobility and a high rate of mortality. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate whether reduced lower extremity performance was associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular and all‐cause mortality in people with PAD. Methods and Results A systematic search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted. Studies assessing the association between measures of lower extremity performance and cardiovascular or all‐cause mortality in PAD patients were included. A meta‐analysis was conducted combining data from commonly assessed performance tests. The 10 identified studies assessed lower extremity performance by strength tests, treadmill walking performance, 6‐minute walk, walking velocity, and walking impairment questionnaire (WIQ). A meta‐analysis revealed that shorter maximum walking distance was associated with increased 5‐year cardiovascular (unadjusted RR=2.54, 95% CI 1.86 to 3.47, P<10−5, n=1577, fixed effects) and all‐cause mortality (unadjusted RR=2.23 95% CI 1.85 to 2.69, P<10−5, n=1710, fixed effects). Slower 4‐metre walking velocity, a lower WIQ stair‐climbing score, and poor hip extension, knee flexion, and plantar flexion strength were also associated with increased mortality. No significant associations were found for hip flexion strength, WIQ distance score, or WIQ speed score with mortality. Conclusions A number of lower extremity performance measures are prognostic markers for mortality in PAD and may be useful clinical tools for identifying patients at higher risk of death. Further studies are needed to determine whether interventions that improve measures of lower extremity performance reduce mortality.

Rates of metabolism in diapausing and reproductively active tropical butterflies, Euploea core and Euploea sylvester (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Abstract.  Although the ecology of diapause has been widely studied in the field, the underlying physiological responses occurring in tropical diapausing insects remain virtually unexplored. This is especially the case with rates of respiration in diapausing tropical insect species. The present study compares rates of metabolism, as assessed by measurement of carbon dioxide production, between two species of diapausing and reproductively active tropical butterflies, Euploea core (W.S Macleay) and Euploea sylvester (Fabricius), independent of temperature. Measurement of metabolism over a day‐time/night‐time regime confirms that these tropical butterflies display a diurnal rhythm in accordance with many other tropical and temperate insect species, regardless of developmental state. In addition, diapausing Euploea butterflies display rates of carbon dioxide production only 28% lower than those of reproductively active butterflies, and can terminate diapause within days of receiving the correct cues. Maintaining a similar metabolic rate throughout diapause, as well as a rapid termination of diapause, would enable these tropical butterflies to respond immediately to larval host plant resources, without the disadvantage of missing optimum conditions, allowing the species to maximize their reproductive potential.

Integration of occupation based intervention in hand injury rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

STUDY DESIGN Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). INTRODUCTION Engagement in daily occupations and day to day activities helps to restore function in individuals with injured hands and provides a platform to practise selected occupations. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a combination of Occupation Based Intervention (OBI) and Therapeutic Exercise (TE) compared to TE alone for the rehabilitation of hand injuries. METHOD A single center RCT, parallel group was conducted at the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital (KLGH), Malaysia. Forty-six adult clients with hand injuries who consented to participate were randomly allocated to either the OBI + TE group or to the TE group. RESULTS Following a ten week intervention program, statistical significance differences were found in DASH score (TE = 18.64 ± 14.84 vs OBI + TE = 9.50 ± 9.14, p = 0.02); total active motion (TE = 1035.85 ± 179.84 vs OBI + TE = 1203.65 ± 133.60, p = 0.01); neuropathic pain (TE = 2.90 ± 2.79 vs OBI + TE = 1.05 ± 2.01, p = 0.02); COPM performance (TE = 7.62 ± 2.03 vs OBI + TE = 9.53 ± 0.64, p < 0.001); and COPM satisfaction (TE = 7.60 ± 2.11 vs OBI + TE = 9.49 ± 0.76, p < 0.001) in favor of OBI + TE group. CONCLUSION This study highlighted the integration of OBI into hand injury rehabilitation improved outcomes for clients.

Search behaviour: strategies and outcomes

How an insect goes about finding its way to a food item or an oviposition site and starts to use it, has traditionally been divided into a number of stages. The commonest classification of the stages, following the parasitoid literature, is probably into habitat-finding, host-finding, host recognition, host acceptance, and host suitability. A much broader operational subdivision which has proved very useful for flying insects is into “pre-alighting” and “post-alighting” responses. The main advantage of this broader separation is that it avoids the problem of trying to define functional transitions — for example, when recognition stops and acceptance starts. Although the process is subdivided, an examination of the literature reveals that the greatest emphasis has been on the later stages; that is, on host recognition and acceptance, and on post-alighting responses. This emphasis is not surprising, for two reasons:

Metformin prescription is associated with reduced abdominal aortic aneurysm growth in three cohorts

It has been suggested that diabetes medications, such as metformin, may have effects that inhibit abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) growth. The aim of this study was to examine the association of diabetes treatments with AAA growth in three patient cohorts.

Association between the Advanced Glycosylation End Product-Specific Receptor Gene and Cardiovascular Death in Older Men

Advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptor (AGER) signaling has been implicated in atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a common genetic variation in the AGER gene is associated with cardiovascular (CV) death. We included 1304 older men who were genotyped for rs1035798:C>T, which is a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) mapped to the third intron of AGER. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to estimate the association of rs1035798:C>T with CV death. In addition we analyzed total RNA extracted from carotid atherosclerosis biopsies of 18 patients that did or did not have recent symptoms of cerebral embolization by quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). The minor T-allele of rs1035798:C>T was found to be associated with CV death under dominant (HR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.01–2.02, P = 0.04) and recessive (HR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.11–3.81, P = 0.02) models of inheritance even after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. No association was found between rs1035798:C>T and non-CV death. qRT-PCR results suggested that median relative expression of AGER isoform 1 and isoform 6 transcripts were approximately 6- (P = 0.01) and 2-fold (P = 0.02) greater, respectively, within carotid biopsies of symptomatic compared to asymptomatic patients. These data suggest that the minor (T) allele of rs1035798:C>T represents an independent susceptibility factor for CV death. The expression of AGER isoforms is different in atheroma from patients with recent symptoms. Further studies are needed to investigate if rs1035798:C>T influences the alternative splicing of AGER.