Heat flux models have been used to predict metabolic rates of marine mammals, generally by estimating conductive heat transfer through their blubber layer. Recently, Kvadsheim et al. (1997) found that such models tend to overestimate metabolic rates, and that such errors probably result from the asymmetrical distribution of blubber. This problem may be avoided if reliable estimates of heat flux through the skin of the animals are obtained by using models that combine calculations of conductive heat flux through the skin and fur, and convective heat flux from the surface of the animal to the environment. We evaluated this approach based on simultaneous measurements of metabolic rates and of input parameters necessary for heat flux calculations, as obtained from four harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) resting in cold water. Heat flux estimates were made using two free convection models (double-flat-plate and cylindrical geometry) and one forced convection model (single-flat-plate geometry). We found that heat flux estimates generally underestimated metabolic rates, on average by 26-58%, and that small variations in input parameters caused large variations in these estimates. We conclude that cutaneous heat flux models are too inaccurate and sensitive to small errors in input parameters to provide reliable estimates of metabolic rates of marine mammals.

With cardiovascular disease the leading cause of death and disability in the United States, economically feasible and effective methods of prevention are needed. The Health and Religion Project (HARP) uses volunteers to provide cardiovascular risk-factor change programs to individuals in their church communities. The rationale for the use of volunteers in this setting is described, along with the design and initial response to the HARP volunteer training program. Two hundred twenty-two volunteers were certified across 16 study churches to conduct risk-factor change programs. Their certification exam performance demonstrated that they had mastered the knowledge and skills deemed necessary for their jobs. Overall, the trainees were very enthusiastic about their new roles. Based on this initial response, our partnership with churches for health promotion is worthy of further development.

Conspicuous sonic click sounds were recorded in the presence of cod (Gadus morhua), together with either harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus), hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) or a human diver in a pool. Similar sounds were never recorded in the presence of salmon (Salmo salar) together with either seal species, or from either seal or fish species when kept separately in the pool. It is concluded that cod was the source of these sounds and that the clicks were produced only when cod were approached by a swimming predatorlike body. The analyzed click sounds (n = 377) had the following characteristics (overall averages +/- S.D.): peak frequency = 5.95 +/- 2.22 kHz; peak-to-peak duration = 0.70 +/- 0.45 ms; sound pressure level (received level) = 153.2 +/- 7.0 dB re 1 microPa at 1 m. At present the mechanism and purpose of these clicks is not known. However, the circumstances under which they were recorded and some observations on the behavior of the seals both suggest that the clicks could have a predator startling function.

The pars distalis of parturient harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus) is divisible into three distinct zones based on the major cellular components of the different regions. A clear zonation is lacking in neonate seals, the medical "basophilic wedge" and the anterior gonadotrophic were small and difficult to identify. Five cell types were identified based on cytological characteristics: somatotrophs, mammotrophs, thyrotrophs, gonadotrophs and stellate cells; corticotrophs could not be identified, with any certainty, in any of the preparations, nor could the gonadotrophs be classified into LH, FSH, and ICSH cells. The pars intermedia enlarged during the early post-partum period and was large in the parturient females.

This data article informs about Chiropteran diversity, new records, ecosystem services and possible pathogen carriers in fragmented forests (sub-divided by utility corridors, man-made structures, untouched and secondary plantations) within districts Setiu (Setiu Research Station), Hulu Terengganu (Saok and Lasir waterfalls) and Besut (Gunung Tebu Forest Reserve) of state Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia. These bats were captured using harp traps and mist nets that were set 10 m apart across flyways, streams and less cluttered trees in the 50 m × 50 m transect zones (identified at each site). All animals were distinguished by morphology and gender before their release at the site of capture. The data comprise of five bat family groups Hipposideridae, Megadermatidae, Pteropodidae, Rhinolophidae and Vespertilionidae. It is interesting to note that untouched Saok Waterfalls is home to wide variety of bats listed (68.8%), followed by secondary forests of Gunung Tebu Forest Reserve (24.8%), untouched Lasir Waterfalls (4.8%) and lastly, Setiu Research Station as least favored (1.6%). Chiroptera like Cynopterus brachyotis (n = 23, 37.7%), Hipposideros bicolor (n = 6, 9.8%) and Scotophilus kuhli (n = 6, 9.8%) were most dominant in the checklist whereas Hipposideros armiger, Murina suilla and Scotophilus kuhlii are new data records in the fragmented forests of Terengganu. The data were interpret into Shannon, Simpson, Margalef, Menhinik and Evenness indices to individually or collectively distinguish chiropteran variety in Terengganu State whereas weight-forearm length (W/FA) informs about chiropteran Body Condition Index (-0.25 to 0.25). The function of bats were also identified to distinguish service providers (pollination and forests regeneration) and zoonotic pathogen carriers (in particular to Leptospira bacteria, Nipah virus and Sindbis virus).

1. Harp and grey seal pups were examined during the post-weaning period to quantify their thermoregulatory abilities and thermal limits. 2. Deep body temperatures of harp seals (37.8 +/- 0.8 degrees C) were not significantly different from those of grey seals (38.9 +/- 0.4 degrees C). 3. As blubber depth declined during the fast, temperature gradients extended increasingly deeper into the muscle layer potentially decreasing heat loss. 4. Blubber conductivity (approximately 0.18 W/m/degrees C) did not vary regionally within an animal, or between animals or species. 5. Calculated lethal cold limits in air were between -85.4 degrees C and -116.1 degrees C, suggesting that fasting, weaned pups can easily cope with temperatures they would normally experience.

Heparin affin regulatory peptide (HARP), also known as pleiotrophin or heparin-binding growth-associated molecule, is an 18-kDa growth factor that has a high affinity for heparin. It constitutes with midkine and retinoic acid heparin-binding protein, a family of structurally related heparin-binding growth factors. A growing body of evidence indicates that HARP is involved in the control of cellular proliferation, migration and differentiation and plays a significant role in tumor growth and angiogenesis. HARP has a well described role in physiological as well as tumor angiogenesis, and is detected in various carcinomas, such as human breast and prostate cancer, neuroblastomas, gliomas, benign meningiomas, small cell lung cancer and mammary tumors, exhibiting a proto-oncogene function. It is also constitutively expressed in tumour cell lines and is involved in tumour growth and metastasis. Therefore, HARP appears to be a potential new target for the treatment or/and diagnosis of several types of cancer.

We have investigated the effect of continuous light and darkness on plasma levels of melatonin in relation to the extremely large and active pineal gland typically found in newborn seals. Plasma levels of melatonin in captive newborn harp (Phoca groenlandica) and hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) were generally extremely high, with peak concentrations ranging from 0.8 ng/ml to 62.3 ng/ml. Moreover, plasma melatonin showed a similar, pronounced rhythmicity, both outdoors under natural light conditions (hooded seal only) and indoors under either 30 h of continuous light (490 lux) or 30 h of darkness (0 lux). In all animals, the melatonin rhythm was closely associated with the outdoor light-dark cycle. We suggest that the melatonin rhythmicity in newborn seals is mainly under circadian control and that it originates by maternal influence in the foetus. Daytime plasma concentrations of melatonin were also measured in foetal hooded seals and their mothers. The foetal melatonin level was similar to daytime levels in newborns and was about five times higher than in their mothers, which indicates a significant flow of foetal melatonin to the mother. We speculate that the large pineal gland and high melatonin levels in the newborn seals are temporary consequences of a foetal strategy to affect the maternal blood supply during diving.

<AbstractText>MR elastography is a noninvasive technique that provides high diagnostic accuracy for the staging of liver fibrosis; however, it requires external hardware and mainly assesses the right lobe.</AbstractText><AbstractText>To evaluate the diagnostic performance of MRI cine-tagging for staging fibrosis in the left liver lobe, using biopsy as the reference standard.</AbstractText><AbstractText>Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved two-center prospective study.</AbstractText><AbstractText>Seventy-six patients with chronic liver disease who underwent an MRI cine-tagging examination and a liver biopsy within a 6-week interval.</AbstractText><AbstractText>2D-GRE multislice sequence at 3.0T with spatial modulation of the magnetization preparation sequence and peripheral pulse-wave triggering on two coronal slices chosen underneath the heart apex to capture maximal deformation with consecutive breath-holds adapted to patient cardiac frequency.</AbstractText><AbstractText>A region of interest was selected in the liver close to the heart apex. Maximal strain was evaluated with the harmonic phase (<em>HARP</em>) technique.</AbstractText><AbstractText>Spearman's correlation, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were performed.</AbstractText><AbstractText>Liver strain measured on tagged images decreased with higher histological fibrosis stage (ρ = -0.68, P < 0.0001). Strain values were significantly different between all fibrosis stages (P < 0.0001), and between groups of fibrosis stages ≤F3 vs. F4 (P < 0.05). Areas under the ROC curves were 0.95 (95% confidence interval: 0.89-1.00) to distinguish fibrosis stages F0 vs. F4, 0.81 (0.70-0.92) for stages F0 vs. ≥F1, 0.84 (0.76-0.93) for stages ≤F1 vs. ≥F2, 0.86 (0.78-0.94) for stages ≤F2 vs. ≥F3, and 0.87 (0.77-0.96) for stages ≤F3 vs. F4.</AbstractText><AbstractText>MRI cine-tagging is a promising technique for measuring liver strain without additional elastography hardware. It could be used to assess the left liver lobe as a complement to current techniques assessing the right lobe.</AbstractText><AbstractText>1 Technical Efficacy: 3 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019.</AbstractText>

SMARCAL1 (SWI/SNF Related, Matrix Associated, Actin Dependent Regulator Of Chromatin, Subfamily A-Like 1), also known as HARP, is an ATP-dependent annealing helicase that stabilizes replication forks during DNA damage. Mutations in this gene are the cause of Schimke immune-osseous dysplasia (SIOD), an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by T-cell immunodeficiency and growth dysfunctions. In this review, we summarize the main roles of SMARCAL1 in DNA repair, telomere maintenance and replication fork stability in response to DNA replication stress.

Seals are unique among mammals in that newborns have a large pineal gland and extremely high plasma levels of melatonin at birth. Melatonin levels are also high in the seal fetus but decline rapidly during the first few days of life. The aim of the present study was to provide quantitative information about the ultrastructure of the seal pineal gland using fetal, newborn, and adult hooded seals (Cystophora cristata), and newborn and adult harp seals (Phoca groenlandica). The relative and absolute volumes of pinealocytes (Pi), arteries and veins, nerves, connective tissue, capillaries and glial cells, as well as mitocondria and lipid droplets in Pi, were calculated by use of point count analysis. Whereas the pineal ultrastructure was similar in fetuses and newborns, both seal species showed a pronounced and particular reduction in the volume of Pi and a similar reduction in pinealocyte mitochondria. There was also a shift from unmyelinated to myelinated pineal nerves in adults compared with fetal/newborns. The selective and marked reduction of Pi may explain the zonated pineal structure typical of the adult seal. The results demonstrate that the fetal gland is as large and active as that of the newborn seal and support the notion that the large size and high activity of the pineal gland in the newborn seal is a fading consequence of its prenatal condition.

Herein we report a task-specific dystonia in a 48-year-old woman, with an unusual association between a familial harp-playing dystonia and essential tremor.

BACKGROUND

Panic disorder with/without agoraphobia (PD/PDA) is a prevalent anxiety disorder, associated with impairment in quality of life and functionality, as well as increased healthcare utilization. Extant research shows a relationship between stressful life events (SLEs) and the onset of panic attacks in adults who ultimately develop PD/PDA. However, limited attention has been paid to how SLEs might affect the severity of panic symptoms in individuals with PD/PDA. In this study, we examined the relationship between SLEs and panic symptom severity in adults with PD/PDA.

METHODS

Four hundred-eighteen adults with PD/PDA from the Harvard/Brown Anxiety Research Program (HARP), a long-term prospective longitudinal observational multicenter study of adults with a current or past history of anxiety disorders were included in this study. We examined occurrence of SLEs and their impact on panic symptom severity 12-weeks pre- and post-SLE.

RESULTS

A time-slope effect showed that participants had worsened panic symptoms over the course of the 12-weeks after family/friends/household and work SLEs. That is, their symptoms worsened progressively after the event, rather than immediately thereafter (i.e., significant symptom change within the same week of the event).

CONCLUSIONS

The sample may not be representative of the general population.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide new insights into how SLEs affect panic symptoms in adults with PD/PDA in that household-related SLEs, such as serious family arguments, and work-related SLEs, such as being fired, put some adults at risk for worsened panic symptoms within 12-weeks of the event.

There is an ongoing debate on how to correct leaf gas exchange measurements for the unavoidable diffusion leakage that occurs when measurements are done in non-ambient CO2 concentrations. In this study, we present a theory on how the CO2 diffusion gradient over the gasket is affected by leaf-mediated pores (LMP) and how LMP reduce diffusive exchange across the gaskets. Recent discussions have so far neglected the processes in the quasi-laminar boundary layer around the gasket. Counter intuitively, LMP reduce the leakage through gaskets, which can be explained by assuming that the boundary layer at the exterior of the cuvette is enriched with air from the inside of the cuvette. The effect can thus be reduced by reducing the boundary layer thickness. The theory clarifies conflicting results from earlier studies. We developed leaf adaptor frames that eliminate LMP during measurements on delicate plant material such as grass leaves with circular cross section, and the effectiveness is shown with respiration measurements on a harp of Deschampsia flexuosa leaves. We conclude that the best solution for measurements with portable photosynthesis systems is to avoid LMP rather than trying to correct for the effects.

Calreticulin (CRT) is a major calcium-sequestering protein in the endoplasmic reticulum and has been implicated in a variety of cellular functions. To analyze the function of CRT in rice, a yeast two-hybrid protein interaction assay was used for identifying interacting proteins. Fourteen of 17 interacting cDNA clones found coded for a novel histidine- and alanine-rich protein (OsHARP) of 342 amino acid residues. The mRNA expression level of OsHARP was up-regulated in rice seedlings treated with gibberellin (GA), but not ABA and showed a similar pattern as OsCRT mRNA. Rice plants transformed with the OsHARP promoter-GUS construct showed GUS staining in the basal parts of leaf sheaths, and although GUS activity increased when treated with GA(3), it was not as high an increase as when mRNA was analyzed. To elucidate the role of OsHARP in leaf sheath elongation, antisense OsHARP transgenic rice lines were constructed. The antisense OsHARP transgenic rice plants were consistently shorter than the vector control under normal conditions. To examine whether OsHARP expression would affect other proteins, basal leaf sheaths from antisense OsHARP transgenic rice plants were analyzed using proteomic techniques. In antisense transgenic-rice OsHARP plants, OsCRT was down-regulated and the levels of 20 other proteins were changed compared to the pattern of the vector control. These results signify an important role of HARP in rice leaf sheath cell division or elongation and suggest that CRT may interact with HARP during certain stages of development.

The present study was conducted to assess and validate the cross-reactivity of commercially available multiplex human and canine cytokine kits coupled with the Bio-Plex 200 platform to measure cytokines in three pinniped species, harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), gray seals (Halichoerus grypus), and harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus). Cytokines are important small proteins that help direct a proper immune response to pathogens. The human cytokine kit allowed the detection of cytokines in the supernatant of mitogen-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, but not in the three pinniped species studied, with the exception of TNFα and GM-CSF. In contrast, the canine cytokine kit appeared to cross-react with the majority of cytokines in the three pinniped species tested, including the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα, the Th1 cytokine INFγ, and the Th2 cytokine IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine. In addition, the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 were also measured in all pinniped species. Overall, the Bio-Plex 200 platform and the canine multiplex cytokine kit allowed the successful measurement of potentially clinically important pinniped cytokines. This additional tool may provide veterinarians with additional information to detect sub-clinical signs of inflammation or evidence for immune response, which may not be revealed during regular medical evaluation, e.g. physical examination, hematology, and serum chemistry.

This paper presents a new imaging method for quasi-static magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). Tagged magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of human lower leg was acquired with probe indentation using a MR-compatible actuation system. Indentation force was recorded for soft tissue elasticity reconstruction. Motion tracking and strain map of human lower leg are calculated using a harmonic phase (HARP)-based method. Simulated tagged MR images were constructed and analyzed to validate the HARP-based method. Our results show that the proposed imaging method can be used to generate accurate motion distribution and strain maps of the targeted soft tissue.

Heparin affin regulatory peptide (HARP), also known as pleiotrophin or heparin-binding growth-associated molecule, is a developmentally regulated extracellular matrix protein that induces cell proliferation and promotes neurite outgrowth in vitro as well as pre- and postsynaptic developmental differentiation in vivo. Here we have investigated the expression of HARP mRNA and protein in the perforant path lesioned C57B1/6 mouse hippocampal formation from 1 to 35 days after surgery. This type of lesion induces a dense anterograde and terminal axonal degeneration, activation of glial cells, and reactive axonal sprouting within the perforant path zones of the fascia dentata and hippocampus as well as axotomy-induced retrograde neuronal degeneration in the entorhinal cortex. Analysis of sham- and unoperated control mice showed that HARP mRNA is expressed in neurons and white and gray matter glial cells as well as vascular and pial cells throughout the normal, adult brain. Lesioning induced high levels of HARP mRNA in astroglial-like cells in the denervated zones of fascia dentata and hippocampus as soon as day 2 postlesion. This expression reached maximum at day 4, and declined toward normal at day 7-14. Combined HARP in situ hybridization and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemical staining and double immunofluorescent stainings for GFAP and HARP at day 4 postlesion showed colocalization of HARP mRNA and protein to hypertrophic GFAP-immunopositive astrocytes in the denervated areas. Finally, the axotomized entorhinal layer II neurons, which expressed high levels of HARP mRNA in the normal brain, exhibited a marked decline in hybridization signal after axotomy. The induction of high levels of HARP mRNA and protein in astrocytes in the denervated areas of fascia dentata and hippocampus is of particular interest as astrocytes and astrocyte-derived factors are known to be implicated in axonal growth and regeneration and in rescuing injured neurons.