It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Saturday, September 10, 2022
Southern Ocean takes on the heat of climate change
IMAGE: PARADISE BAY IN THE SOUTHEARN OCEAN, MARCANDRELETOURNEUX/SHUTTERSTOCKview more
CREDIT: MARCANDRELETOURNEUX/SHUTTERSTOCK
In the past 50 years, the oceans have absorbed more than 90% of the excess heat caused by our carbon dioxide emissions, with one ocean absorbing the vast majority.
“The Southern Ocean dominates this ocean heat uptake, due in part to the geographic set-up of the region,” said UNSW PhD candidate Maurice Huguenin, the lead author of the new study published today in Nature Communications.
“Antarctica, which is surrounded by the Southern Ocean, is also surrounded by strong westerly winds,” Mr Huguenin said.
“These winds influence how the waters absorb heat, and around Antarctica they can exert this influence while remaining uninterrupted by land masses – this is key to the Southern Ocean being responsible for pretty much all of the net global ocean heat uptake,” he said.
Mr Huguenin said that these winds blow over what is effectively an infinite distance – cycling uninterrupted at southern latitudes – which continuously draws cold water masses to the surface. The waters are pushed northward, readily absorbing vast quantities of heat from the atmosphere, before the excess heat is pumped into the ocean’s interior around 45-55°S.
But, while ocean warming helps slow the pace of climate change, it is not without cost said co-author Professor Matthew England at UNSW Science and Deputy Director of ACEAS.
“Sea levels are rising because heat causes water to expand and ice to melt. Ecosystems are experiencing unprecedented heat stress, and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events is changing” Prof. England said.
“We still have a lot to learn about ocean warming beyond the 50 years highlighted in our study,” Mr Huguenin added.
“All future projections, including even the most optimistic scenarios, predict warmer oceans in the future.”
“If the Southern Ocean continues to account for the vast majority of heat uptake until 2100, we might see its warmth increase by up to seven times more than what we have already seen up to today.”
Prof. England said this will have an enormous impact around the globe including disturbances to the Southern Ocean food web, rapid melting of Antarctic ice shelves and changes in the conveyor belt of ocean currents.
The scientists used a novel experimental approach to find exactly where excess heat is taken up by the oceans and where it ends up after absorption. This was previously difficult to detect due to relatively sparse and short-lived measurement records.
The team ran a model with atmospheric conditions fixed in the 1960s – prior to any significant human-caused climate change. They then compared this model to others in which the oceans experience the past 50 years of climate change one ocean basin at a time. The results revealed that the Southern Ocean is the most important absorber of greenhouse gas-trapped heat and that its circulation – driven by winds – is uniquely set up to force this excess heat into the ocean interior.
To better understand how Southern Ocean heat uptake continues to evolve, the scientists call for ongoing monitoring of this remote ocean – including the deployment of additional deep-reaching Argo floats, which are pivotal for tracking ocean heat content. They also stress the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“The less carbon dioxide we emit into the atmosphere, the less ocean change and sea-level rise we will lock in,” the authors said.
“This can help limit the level of adaptation required by the billions of people living near the ocean, by minimising the detrimental impacts of ocean warming on both sea-level and their primary food source.”
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CAPTION
Global ocean heat uptake, heat loss and heat transport over the last half century, run through different historical simulations. The red and blue vertical arrows indicate heat gain and loss in each basin. The black (slanted) arrows show the heat transport rates.
Professor Matthew England, UNSW Science and Deputy Director of ACEAS at UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Please contact Jesse Hawley, UNSW Science.
IMAGE: THE EAST PACIFIC HAWKSBILL TURTLE IS AMONG THE MOST ENDANGERED SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS AND ONE OF THE OLDEST CREATURES ON EARTH. IN A NEW ASU STUDY SPANNING A 30-YEAR PERIOD, 95% OF POACHED SEA TURTLES CAME FROM TWO SPECIES — GREEN AND HAWKSBILL TURTLES — BOTH OF WHICH ARE LISTED UNDER THE U.S. ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT. ALSO, SOUTHEAST ASIA AND MADAGASCAR EMERGED AS MAJOR HOTSPOTS FOR ILLEGAL SEA TURTLE TAKE AND TRADE, PARTICULARLY FOR CRITICALLY ENDANGERED HAWKSBILLS, WHICH ARE PRIZED IN THE ILLICIT WILDLIFE TRADE FOR THEIR BEAUTIFUL SHELLS.view more
CREDIT: LINDSAY LAUCKNER GUNDLOCK
One of the most serious threats to wildlife biodiversity, in addition to the climate crisis, is the illegal killing and trafficking of animals and plants. Despite many laws against the black-market wildlife trade, it is considered to be one of the most lucrative illicit industries in the world.
Animals, especially endangered and threatened species, are often exploited and sold for their pelts or used as medicine, aphrodisiacs, curios, food and spiritual artifacts.
In a new study published in Global Change Biology, Arizona State University researchers estimate that more than 1.1 million sea turtles have been illegally killed and, in some cases, trafficked between 1990 and 2020. Even with existing laws prohibiting their capture and use, as many as 44,000 sea turtles were exploited each year over the past decade in 65 countries or territories and in 44 of the world’s 58 major sea turtle populations.
Despite the seemingly large number of poached turtles, the study shows that the reported illegal exploitation of sea turtles declined by approximately 28% over the last decade —something that surprised the researchers. They initially expected to see an overall increase in reported poaching.
“The decline over the past decade could be due to increased protective legislation and enhanced conservation efforts, coupled with an increase in awareness of the problem or changing local norms and traditions,” says Kayla Burgher, co-first author of the study and a doctoral student in ASU’s environmental life sciences program in the School of Life Sciences.
In addition to the slight decline, the researchers found that most of the reported illegal exploitation over the past decade occurred in large, stable and genetically diverse sea turtle populations.
Jesse Senko, co-first author of the study and an assistant research professor with the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society says this discovery may be a silver lining to the high number of turtles illegally exploited. “What this means is that most of these sea turtles came from healthy, low-risk populations, which suggests that, with a few exceptions, current levels of illegal exploitation are likely not having a major detrimental impact on most major sea turtle populations throughout the world’s oceans."
Senko adds, however, the results should be cautiously considered. “Assessing any illegal activity is difficult, and the take and trade of sea turtles is no exception, especially when it becomes organized or connected to crime syndicates. Our assessment also did not include eggs or turtle products, such as bracelets or earrings made from sea turtle shells that could not be easily attributed to individual turtles,” says Senko.
In the study, the researchers reviewed data from peer-reviewed journal articles, archived media reports, NGO reports, and online questionnaires to determine a comprehensive look at existing information on exploited sea turtles. The study revealed additional patterns and trends that may assist in determining conservation management priorities. For example, Vietnam was the most common country of origin for illegal sea turtle trafficking, while China and Japan served as destinations for nearly all trafficked sea turtle products. Similarly, Vietnam to China was the most common trade route across all three decades.
Across the 30-year study period, 95% of poached sea turtles came from two species — green and hawksbill turtles — both of which are listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Also, Southeast Asia and Madagascar emerged as major hotspots for illegal sea turtle take and trade, particularly for critically endangered hawksbills, which are prized in the illicit wildlife trade for their beautiful shells.
"Our assessment is an important foundation for future research and outreach efforts regarding illegal sea turtle exploitation. We believe this study can help conservation practitioners and legislators prioritize conservation efforts and allocate their resources to best help protect sea turtle populations from harmful levels of exploitation worldwide," says Burgher.
The research team says much more needs to be done to sustain global biodiversity.
“Increased support for governments lacking the resources to protect sea turtles is needed, along with support for communities to sustain human well-being in the face of restrictions or bans on sea turtle exploitation. We must develop conservation strategies that benefit both people and turtles,” says Senko.
The ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society is a unit of the College of Global Futures, within the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at ASU.
CAPTION
ASU assistant research professor and marine biologist Jesse Senko holds a recently captured green turtle at one of his study sites in Baja California Sur, Mexico. The turtle was released unharmed.
CREDIT
Cindy Vargas
Global maps from the ASU study in Global Change Biology show the magnitude of illegal exploitation by country during the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. Data from documented literature are shown by colored countries, while data from the in-country expert online questionnaire are shown with the diamond symbols.
Global patterns of illegal marine turtle exploitation
ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE
7-Sep-2022
Childhood leukemia treatment 2022: Where we are now and what it takes
Pediatric cancer researchers publish collection of leukemia reviews in top journal Frontiers in Pediatrics; according to the authors, modern therapies could spare some children a stem cell transplantation
IMAGE: PROF. CHRISTINA PETERS, MD, POINTS OUT: "WE HAVE PUBLISHED HIGHLY TOPICAL AND CLINICALLY RELEVANT MANUSCRIPTS THAT ARE OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHILDREN WITH HIGH-RISK ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA. ONE OF THE MOST BURNING QUESTIONS FOR ME IS WHETHER WE STILL NEED STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION IN THE ERA OF MODERN IMMUNOTHERAPIES."view more
CREDIT: ST. ANNA CHILDREN'S CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in children, generally curable with contemporary chemotherapy. However, if the disease is classified as high-risk ALL and a stem cell transplantation becomes inevitable, total body irradiation is still the treatment of choice prior to transplantation. This was the conclusion drawn from the FORUM study, including 35 countries on five continents (Peters et al., Journal of Clinical Oncology 2020).
"As the largest study on this topic to date, we published the results in the top-ranked Journal of Clinical Oncology. Soon after that, Frontiers invited us – the international transplant consortium for ALL – to publish a collection of reviews and scientific reports on ALL in children," recalls Christina Peters, Affiliated Clinician at St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (St. Anna CCRI) and Senior Physician at St. Anna Children's Hospital. The editorial board of this Research Topic is formed by Christina Peters together with Assoc.-Prof. Adriana Balduzzi, MD (University of Milano Bicocca, Italy) and Prof. Peter Bader, MD (Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Germany).
Life at the price of long-term side effects? Although total body irradiation and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from healthy donors can be life-saving, long-term side effects sometimes have a massive impact on the quality of life of children and young adults. These include organ damage, growth retardation, and the development of secondary cancers. Hence, there was a dire need to clearly outline recent and previously published data, as well as to discuss potential new approaches, as did the aforementioned reviews.
"One of the most burning questions for me is whether we still need stem cell transplantation in the era of modern immunotherapies," Christina Peters points out. In the future, CAR-T cell or antibody therapies directly targeting leukemia cells could replace HSCT, which is addressed by three of the reviews mentioned. Jochen Büchner, MD, PhD, and colleagues are discussing the question of whether and when CAR-T cell therapy could be considered to bridge the time until transplantation and under what conditions it could replace transplantation. Another review, authored by Assoc.-Prof. Tony H. Truong, MD, and colleagues, is dedicated to the question which children should receive a stem cell transplantation at all. Of course, transplantation should only be considered for those patients who would not have a realistic chance of survival with 'milder' therapies. But it is exactly these boundaries that are currently shifting.
More than 59,000 views of our work So far, the review of Bianca A. W. Hoeben, MD, PhD, and colleagues, which deals with new methods of total body irradiation, has had the most views in this online collection. "In total, we have more than 59,000 views of our Research Topic by now. Accordingly, it seems to be on many people's minds whether and how we can improve transplantation methods to reduce side effects," says Christina Peters. For example, different radiotherapy centers have developed new methods of total body irradiation to achieve a lower irradiation dose in certain organs. There are, however, limitations to shield organs at risk without compromising the anti-leukemic and immunosuppressive effects – the latter to preserve a rejection of the transplanted cells.
In addition to the aforementioned long-term effects of irradiation and transplantation, acute side effects of transplantation also play a major role. These include infections during the period in which the immune system reconstitutes (Olga Zajac-Spychala et al.), or complications arising from a donor cells’ attack against the patient's healthy tissue. The prevention and treatment of the so-called Graft-versus-Host Disease are addressed by six of the articles in this Research Topic (Steven J. Keogh et al., Anita Lawitschka et al., Jacob Rozmus et al., Agnieszka Sobkowiak-Sobierajska et al., Matthias Wölfl et al., Natalia Zubarovskaya et al.).
"The publication of this Research Topic is a huge success for St. Anna CCRI. Together with the valuable contributions of a number of clinicians of St. Anna Children's Hospital, we have published highly topical and clinically relevant manuscripts that are of utmost importance for the treatment of children with high-risk ALL," highlights Christina Peters.
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About the FORUM Study The FORUM study demonstrated that patients over four years of age with high-risk ALL in need of a stem cell transplantation live longer and have a lower risk of relapse when they receive total body irradiation instead of chemotherapy in preparation for transplantation. After random assignment of 417 pediatric patients with high-risk ALL, a futility stopping rule was applied because it became apparent that patients receiving chemo-conditioning had a lower chance of cure and survival. FORUM is a randomized, international, multicenter phase III trial designed to investigate whether chemotherapy with fludarabine, thiotepa, and busulfan or treosulfan is non-inferior to total body irradiation plus etoposide as preparation prior to transplantation. The study, led by Christina Peters, is the result of a collaboration among international study groups (AIEOP-BFM-ALL-SG, IBFM-SG, INTREALL-SG, and EBMT-PD-WP).
• Are HLA-identical siblings still the best available donor for ALL? • The challenge of treating “older children”: what is the best transplant strategy for Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs)? • Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) for Philadelphia Chromosome positive (Ph+) and Ph-like ALL: could we omit Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT)? • Bispecific Antibodies before HSCT: less toxicity for better transplant outcome? • CAR-T cell therapy: only bridge to transplant? • T-cell depletion: Cyclophosphamide after transplantation versus in vitro T-cell depletion • Why is Total Body Irradiation so effective in high-risk ALL? • Total Body Irradiation forever? New chemotherapeutic options for irradiation-free conditioning • Minimal Residual Disease (MRD): Which level of negativity is relevant? • Current treatment options for acute Graft-versus-Host-Disease (GVHD) in children • Current treatment options for chronic GVHD in children • Immunoreconstitution and chimerism: a different story compared to adults? • Non-relapse mortality after HSCT: where are we now? • High-risk ALL: Transplant indications in 2021 • COVID-Infection after allogeneic stem cell transplantation • Transplantation for the youngest: better than chemotherapy?
About Christina Peters Christina Peters, MD, is Professor of Pediatrics at the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation of St. Anna Children's Hospital and Affiliated Clinician at St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute in Vienna. She is principal investigator of active studies within the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) and the International Berlin Frankfurt Münster Study Group (IBFM) for the treatment of pediatric leukemia. Her research interests include allogeneic hematopoietic transplantation in children and adolescents with malignant and non-malignant diseases from related and unrelated donors, infectious and toxic complications after stem cell transplantation, adoptive therapies for hematological malignancies and family oriented rehabilitation for children with life threatening diseases.
Christina Peters chaired the EBMT Pediatric Diseases Working Party between 2008 and 2014. She has authored and co-authored numerous papers in peer-review journals such as The Lancet, The New England Journal of Medicine, or The Journal of Clinical Oncology. Christina Peters acts as a regular reviewer of publications for hematology, pediatric and leukemia journals. She is a member of many professional societies including IBFM, the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR), the German and Austrian Society of Pediatric Hematology and the Austrian Gene Therapy Commission. Furthermore, Christina Peters is a member of the Advisory Board of the Austrian Ministry of Health, the Bioethical committee of the Austrian Prime Minister and member of the European Network Pediatric Research at the European Medicines Agency EMA (ENPREMA).
About St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute, St. Anna CCRI St. Anna CCRI is an internationally renowned multidisciplinary research institution with the aim to develop and optimize diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies for the treatment of children and adolescents with cancer. To achieve this goal, it combines basic research with translational and clinical research and focus on the specific characteristics of childhood tumor diseases in order to provide young patients with the best possible and most innovative therapies. Dedicated research groups in the fields of tumor genomics and epigenomics, immunology, molecular biology, cell biology, bioinformatics and clinical research are working together to harmonize scientific findings with the clinical needs of physicians to ultimately improve the wellbeing of our patients. www.ccri.atwww.kinderkrebsforschung.at
About St. Anna Children's Hospital Established in 1837 in the former suburb of Schottenfeld, St. Anna was the first children's hospital in Austria and the third independent hospital in Europe dedicated exclusively to the health of children. St. Anna Children's Hospital has evolved into an institution that provides state-of-the-art medical care. Thus, in addition to its performance as a general children's hospital, the Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine has also been able to establish an excellent reputation throughout Austria and internationally over the past 40 years as a center for the treatment of pediatric hematologic disorders and tumor diseases (cancer). www.stanna.at
JOURNAL
Frontiers in Pediatrics
SUBJECT OF RESEARCH
People
ARTICLE TITLE
Allogeneic Hematopoetic Stem Cell Transplantation for Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in the Era of Immunotherapy
COI STATEMENT
The authors declare that the editorial of this Research Topic was written in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
New major survey finds ‘healthy’ suntan myths persist despite warnings about skin cancer and aging
8 in 10 Europeans believe tans are attractive with almost as many (73%) saying tans are healthy
(7 September 2022, Milan, Italy) 8 in 10 Europeans believe tans are attractive with almost as many (73%) saying tans are healthy, according to a new study presented today at the 31st European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress.1
This is despite decades of awareness campaigns linking too much sun exposure to skin cancer and ageing in many countries.
Results from a survey, conducted by La Roche-Posay Laboratoires and IPSOS, of 17,000 people from 17 countries, including 6,000 people from the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Russia, found the ‘healthy tan’ and other myths about sun safety are still very much alive in Europe and other countries.
Other myths included believing sun protection was not needed in cloudy weather and that you did not need sunscreen if you already had a tan.
People surveyed from non-European countries, including North and South America, Africa, Oceania, and Asia, were slightly less enthusiastic about suntans than Europeans, with 67% saying a tan was attractive and 59% believing a tan was healthy.
Although 92% of Europeans were aware of the skin ageing risks posed by the sun (86% outside of Europe), 84% of them admitted they did not protect themselves all year round (79% outside of Europe).
Commenting on the findings, lead researcher Prof. Thierry Passeron stated: “This research shows just how entrenched the “healthy” suntan myth is – even in those who have already suffered sun damage or developed skin cancer.”
“We must drive awareness of the damage to skin cells caused by exposure to the sun, which can lead to photoaging and skin cancer. This is particularly important in Europe where sun protection appears most inadequate compared to other countries” added Prof. Thierry Passeron.
The survey also revealed that only 56% of Europeans know sun protection is useful when the weather is overcast (vs 64% outside of Europe), and 1 in 4 (24%) thought it was safe to go outside without sun protection when they were already tanned (vs 21% outside of Europe).
Only 1 in 10 (10%) of Europeans said they routinely or often used all forms of sun protection, such as applying sunscreen, staying in the shade, wearing a hat and protective clothing all year round, compared to 14% amongst those outside of Europe.
“The public must also understand that they need to protect their skin all year round, even during overcast weather conditions. Once sunscreen has been applied, it must be reapplied every 2 hours to ensure sufficient protection. Other measures such as wearing sunglasses, a hat, and protective clothing, and seeking shade when it is possible, are also key photoprotection habits”, commented Prof. Thierry Passeron.
According to latest estimates about 1.7% of adults in Europe have skin cancer (around 7.3 million people).2 Ultraviolet (UV) sun exposure is also responsible for more than 80% of visible photoaging signs, such as lines and wrinkles.3
ENDS
Notes to editors
A reference to the 31st EADV Congress must be included when communicating any information within this press release.
Other findings from the study include:
Just over half of Europeans (51%) said they were likely to wear a hat routinely or often, compared to 57% outside Europe.
When it comes to staying in the shade (73%) of Europeans said they did so routinely or often, compared to 80% of those outside Europe.
A second analysis by the team found awareness of the dangers of the sun were higher in at-risk* groups of people. But 59% of this group said they could not imagine coming back from a holiday without a tan, compared to 48% of those without a medical history.
62% of Europeans and 52% of non-Europeans applied sunscreen routinely or often, especially on their arms, legs, and chest. But 10% of Europeans said they never used suncream at all, compared to 16% outside Europe. Of those who applied sunscreen in the sun – 34% applied it only once a day, compared to 49% outside Europe.
90% of those in at-risk groups said they were aware of the risks the sun posed to their skin, yet 72% still regarded a tan as healthy, which is higher than those who had no history of skin cancer or other sun-exposure related skin conditions (62%). Additionally, of those who said they applied sunscreen in at-risk groups, only 1 in 4 (26%) applied it every 2 hours or more often than is recommended.
*These were defined as those with a history of skin cancer, pre-cancerous lesions, photo dermatosis, or those taking photosensitising or immunosuppressing drugs.
This survey was conducted by La Roche-Posay and IPSOS, in collaboration with 12 international experts in photoprotection to better understand the gaps in photoprotection education and prevention.
Contact:
For further information, the abstract or to arrange an interview with the study author, please contact press@eadv.org
About Prof.Thierry Passeron
Thierry Passeron is Professor and Chair of Dermatology at the University hospital of Nice. He also heads the laboratory INSERM U1065 team 12, C3M, dedicated to the study of molecular mechanisms involved in pigmentation and melanoma. Additionally, he is head of the University laser center in Nice. He is president of the Department of Clinical Research and Innovation at Nice University hospital and vice-president of Côte d’Azur University. He has 12 international patents and more than 300 publications in scientific journals (h-index 52). He is the co-founder of YUKIN therapeutics. His fields of research include pigmentary disorders (including vitiligo and melasma), melanoma, hidradenitis suppurativa, alopecia areata and lasers.
About EADV:
Founded in 1987, EADV is a non-profit organisation whose vision is to be the premier European Dermato-Venereology Society. The Academy counts over 7,000 members from 100 countries, providing a valuable service for every type of dermato-venereologist professional. EADV are dedicated to advancing patient care, education and research by providing a unique platform to bring people together and share ideas.
The EADV Congress occurs every year and the 31st EADV Congress will take place in Milan and online from 7-10 September 2022.
IMAGE: COELUROSAURAVUS ELIVENSIS PIVETEAU, 1926 (MADAGASCAR, LATE? PERMIAN), LECTOTYPE MNHN.F.MAP325A. A, DORSAL SURFACE OF INDIVIDUAL PRESERVED AS A NATURAL EXTERNAL MOLD; B, SILICONE CAST OF A. SCALE BAR EQUALS 5 CM.view more
CREDIT: BUFFA ET AL., JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
Researchers have run through near-perfect fossils of the World’s first gliding reptile with a fine-toothed comb and untangled hitherto unknown facets to discover it was a change in tree canopy which likely facilitated such flight in these creatures.
Since the first fossils of Coelurosauravus elivensis were discovered in 1907, there has been spirited debate over how the animal actually lived during the Late Permian Period – between 260 million to 252 million years ago – and how its unique body parts fit together.
By piecing together enough fossils to create a near-perfect skeletal reconstruction, new research provides fresh insights into the tetrapod’s morphology and its habits; and crucially establishes how it became the first-known reptile to glide.
“These dragons weren’t forged in mythological fire—they simply needed to get from place to place. As it turned out, gliding was the most efficient mode of transport and here, in this new study, we see how their morphology enabled this.”
The team examined three known fossils of C. elivensis, as well as a number of related specimens—all belonging to the family Weigeltisauridae. Their research focused on the postcranial portion—the body, including the torso, limbs, and remarkable gliding apparatus, known as the patagium. The latter is the membranous flap spanning the forelimbs and hindlimbs, also found in such living animals as flying squirrels, sugar gliders, and colugos.
Previous analysis of the reptile had assumed that its patagium was supported by bones that extended from the ribs, as they do in modern Draco species of Southeast Asia – which, to this day, amazes observers with its gliding flights between the rainforest trees it inhabits.
However, this thorough new examination suggests that the patagium of C. elivensis either extended from the gastralia—an arrangement of bones in the skin that covers the belly of some reptiles, including crocodilians and dinosaurs—or from the musculature of the trunk. This would mean that the gliding apparatus sat lower on the abdomen than it does in modern gliding lizards.
Combining this finding with others derived from the bone structure observed in the fossils, the researchers came up with a more refined vision of how this agile creature moved through its arboreal habitat.
“Sharp, curved claws and compressed body form support the idea that was perfectly adapted to moving vertically up tree trunks. The similarity in length of the forelimbs and hindlimbs further indicate that it was an expert climber—their proportional length assisted it in remaining close to the tree’s surface, preventing it from pitching and losing its balance. Its long, lean body and whiplike tail, also seen in contemporary arboreal reptiles, further supports this interpretation,” adds Valentin Buffa.
And as for its similarity to Draco?
“C. elivensis does bear a striking resemblance to the contemporary genus Draco,” Valentin Buffa says. “While its habits were likely similar to those of its modern counterpart, we do see subtle differences though.
“Like Draco lizards, Coelurosauravus was able to grasp its patagium with its front claws, stabilize it during flight, and even adjust it, allowing for greater maneuverability. An additional joint in one finger, though, may have enhanced this capability. This may have been a necessary compensation for the lower positioning of the patagium, which likely made it more unstable.”
Coelurosauravus elivensis Piveteau, 1926 (Madagascar, late? Permian), paralectotypes MNHN.F.MAP317a,b. A, MNHN.F.MAP317b, dorsal surface of individual preserved as a natural mold; B, silicone cast of A; C, MNHN.F.MAP317a, ventral surface of individual preserved as a natural mold; D, silicone cast of C. Scale bar equals 5 cm
CREDIT
Credit to Buffa et al., Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
Coelurosauravus elivensis Piveteau, 1926 (Madagascar, late? Permian) MNHN.F.MAP327a. A, right lateral surface of individual preserved as a natural external mold; B, silicone cast of A. Scale bar equals 10 cm
CREDIT
Credit to Buffa et al, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
Coelurosauravus elivensis Piveteau, 1926 (Madagascar, late? Permian) MNHN.F.MAP327b. A, left lateral surface of individual preserved as a natural external mold; B, silicone cast of A. Abbreviations: cdv, caudal vertebra; pata, patagial spar; sk, skull elements. Scale bar equals 10 cm
CREDIT
Credit to Buffa et al., Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
Coelurosauravus elivensis Piveteau, 1926 (Madagascar, late? Permian), life reconstruction. Individuals clinging to Glossopteris trunk (Glossopteris leaves are associated with C. elivensis in the fossil assemblage) (Left), and gliding while grasping its wing (Right). The colors are based on the extant agamid Draco and chamaeleonid squamates
The postcranial skeleton of the gliding reptile <i>Coelurosauravus elivensis</i> Piveteau, 1926 (Diapsida, Weigeltisauridae) from the late Permian of Madagascar
ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE
9-Sep-2022
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Bullies have increased hazard for violent offences, shows comprehensive study
UNIVERSITY OF TURKU
Children who bullied others at the age of 8–9 have higher hazard for committing violent offences by the age of 31. This was shown in a Finnish Nationwide Birth Cohort Study conducted at the Research Centre for Child Psychiatry at the University of Turku, Finland.
Boys and girls who were frequent bullies had an increased hazard for violent offences as opposed to children who never bullied others. Boys who bullied frequently also had higher odds for violent offences compared to those who bullied sometimes. The relative hazard for boys who were frequent bullies to commit a severe violent offence such as homicide or aggravated assault during the follow-up period was almost three times as large as for the boys who never bullied. Being a victim of bullying was not associated with an increased risk of committing violent offences.
The study considered the background factors of socioeconomic status and possible childhood psychopathology. The association between bullying and violent offences remained even when the data were controlled for parental education level, family structure and possible child psychopathology. The results were also not impacted by the bully’s possible other bullying experiences, such as being a victim of bullying.
"Our study showed an association between bullying and violent offences both in men and women. These findings further confirm the previous notions that preventing bullying could possibly decrease violent offences," says Researcher Elina Tiiri from the Research Centre for Child Psychiatry of the University of Turku.
Research-based knowledge helps prevent issues
The study is part of a larger research project that aims to discover the connections between childhood psychosocial problems and mental health disorders, substance abuse issues, mortality, self-harming, criminality, life management, and marginalisation in adulthood.
"The research project produces knowledge that helps us develop services, early interventions, and prevention," says Professor of Child Psychiatry Andre Sourander from the University of Turku.
The research was based on extensive, nationwide epidemiological data collected in 1989 in Finland. At the time of the data collection, the participants were 8–9 years old. When the participants were 30–31 years old, the researchers extracted information about their violent offence suspicions from the Finnish National Police Register. The study was participated by 5,400 subjects.
The study is part of the research flagship and centre INVEST, which aims at providing Finland and other societies with a new model of welfare state that is more equal and economically, demographically and socially more sustainable. INVEST is a research flagship of the Academy of Finland and joint research centre of the University of Turku and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
Newly identified genes may help protect crops against flooding, researchers say
IMAGE: (A) VENN DIAGRAM OF THE UPREGULATED GENES IN ARABIDOPSIS (UP_AT) AND RICE (UP_OS). THE OVERLAPPED GENES (40 GENES) ARE COMMONLY UPREGULATED GENES IN ARABIDOPSIS AND RICE. (B) VENN DIAGRAM OF THE DOWNREGULATED GENES IN ARABIDOPSIS (DN_AT) AND RICE (DN_OS). THE OVERLAPPED GENES (19 GENES) ARE COMMONLY DOWNREGULATED GENES IN ARABIDOPSIS AND RICE.view more
CREDIT: KEITA TAMURA, HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY
Flooding is a global risk, according to the World Bank, with the lives and property of billions of people threatened. Even more people are at risk of starvation as a knock-on effect of floods: the waters can drown crops. Now, researchers are getting closer to identifying the molecular processes underlying how floods deprive plants of oxygen — and how to engineer hardier crops.
Through a meta-analysis, which involves re-analyzing data from other studies en masse, the team from Hiroshima University’s Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life uncovered several common genes and their related mechanisms in rice (Oryza sativa) and thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana).
“Hypoxia is an abiotic stress for plants often caused by flooding,” said first author Keita Tamura, referring to the oxygen deprivation caused by oversaturation. “Although many studies have been performed previously, we thought hidden biological mechanisms might be found by analyzing multiple studies through a meta-analysis of publicly available data.”
The team focused on rice and thale cress since the genetics of both have been extensively studied, providing ample amounts of data. Rice is also considered one of the world’s most important crops, serving as a staple food for more than four billion people, according to the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research, so understanding how to prevent a hypoxia response in the plant is critical, Tamura said.
The researchers identified 29 pairs of RNA-sequencing data for thale cress and 26 pairs for rice for the plants in both normal oxygen and oxygen-deprived states from the available datasets. RNA-sequencing involves transcribing the genetic blueprints of the subject in a specific moment, meaning the data can be used to investigate which genes triggered which changes, according to corresponding author Professor Hidemasa Bono.
“By analyzing RNA-sequencing data of hypoxia treatments in thale cress and rice, we identified 40 and 19 commonly upregulated and downregulated genes in both species,” Bono said. “Among them, some WRKY transcription factors and cinnamate-4-hydroxylase, whose role in hypoxia response remain unknown, were commonly upregulated in both thale cress and rice.”
According to Bono, this common upregulation means that these molecular machineries became more active under oxygen deprivation, indicating they have specific mechanistic responsibilities for how the plants respond.
Bono and Tamura compared their results to a similar meta-analysis of hypoxia in human cells and tissue samples. They found two of the commonly upregulated genes in rice and thale cress were downregulated in their human counterparts.
“Our meta-analysis suggests distinct molecular mechanisms under hypoxia in plants and animals,” Bono said. “The candidate genes identified in this study are expected to elucidate novel molecular mechanisms of hypoxia responses in plants. Ultimately, we plan to manipulate one of the candidate genes through genome editing technology to create flood-tolerant plants.”
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The Center of Innovation for Bio-Digital Transformation, the Japan Science and Technology Agency’s open platform to facilitate collaboration between industry and academia, funded this research.
About Hiroshima University
Since its foundation in 1949, Hiroshima University has striven to become one of the most prominent and comprehensive universities in Japan for the promotion and development of scholarship and education. Consisting of 12 schools for undergraduate level and 4 graduate schools, ranging from natural sciences to humanities and social sciences, the university has grown into one of the most distinguished comprehensive research universities in Japan. English website: https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en
